Apple has just released the "Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.04" with support for the K-3.
This solves the issue I had brought up here (well, it's not solved for the iPad yet, but my solution isn't helping there directly, either)
--------- the following is not an issue any more ----------
If you're using a K-3 and a Mac, you are probably aware of the fact that Apple's software (Preview, QuickView, iPhoto, Aperture as well as the iPad Camera Connection Kit) do not support the K-3's RAW files (neither PEF nor DNG).
The currently only solution known to me is to use Adobe's DNG Converter to convert the files into a format that Apple's software understands.
Now, the reason for this problem is just just a single specific byte K-3's DNG files, i.e. the "DNG Backward Version" field, which says that it requires software that supports version 1.2, and Apple's software seems to have a problem with this.
However, when I change this value from 1.2 to 1.1, then it works, i.e. iPhoto and Aperture can display the DNG files.
Sadly, it's not clear who is at fault here. Could be that the K-3's DNG files contain data that is essential to using the RAW files, and if Apple's software does not understand this new information, it does good to reject these files in order to prevent misinterpretation. However, it also could just be that Apple's software has a bug and can handle these 1.2 DNG version files just fine, and the rejection is a just mistake.
So, let's try to find this out empirically (unless this has already been done and I'm just not up to date?).
I've written a simple program that modifies the DNG files by changing this one value in the files. It does not change any image data - only a value that tells software whether it should be able to handle this file or not. The software makes it so that Apple's software accepts the file, that's all. And with that, it *seems* to work. However, maybe there are subtle tings that do not work. Let's find out.
You can download the program here:
http://files.tempel.org/Various/Pentax%20K-3%20RAW%20Fixer.app.zip
Just start the program, then drag files into the window - it'll convert them immediately to the Apple compatible version. You can also revert them back the original version or just check the current version.
Then open them in iPhoto or Aperture. Also try a conversion thru the Adobe DNG converter and see if you find any differences in the results. I hope not, and that would be empirical proof that this fix works. It should be easy for Ricoh to apply this in a firmware update then.
(The advantage of this tool over using the Adobe DNG Converter is that it does not need to create copies of your DNG files, and that it's faster. Also, if this turns out to be a reliable solution, I can issue this "fix" to both Apple and Ricoh, maybe they'll be quicker to update their software then.)
Last edited by tempelorg; 03-21-2014 at 03:50 PM.