[Marc Sabatella]

Yes...the DNG & PEF? I recently read that DNG is the more widely used/accepted format. Is that correct?

Not sure where you read that, but no, I don't think that's true. DNG is "universal" - meaning it can be be used for any camera (although most cameras don't provide that option themselves - you need to use converter software), but I wouldn't say more people actually use it. I suppose if you you count the Canon & Nikon people using it, there are more of them than Pentax people, period, so in that sense this might be right, but among pentax people - the only ones who have PEF as an option - I'd be surprised if more use DNG.

Check out various threads on this or the PP forum or the beginner's forum for thousands of posts discussing the tradeoffs, but since they are both RAW formats that contain exactly the same image data, we're really discussing minute differences in details that are inconsequential to most people.

[iFoto]

Yes...the DNG & PEF? I recently read that DNG is the more widely used/accepted format. Is that correct?

yes, thats correct
PEF is only Pentax, as fare as i know - you have to use the pentax software

if you use other programs, like photoshop, lightroom etc. to open your RAW files
you should use DNG

[Canada_Rockies]

yes, thats correct
PEF is only Pentax, as fare as i know - you have to use the pentax software

if you use other programs, like photoshop, lightroom etc. to open your RAW files
you should use DNG

I use Lightroom, and have no problem with it and my PEF files. I shoot PEF because DxO prefers it, and I use DxO. I have seen a thread that I cannot locate that suggests that DNG files don't contain the "lost" pixels that provide the software with a base pure black, and that this can sometimes cause problems.

On the other hand, DNG contains all the EXIF data within the file, so XMP sidecar files are not needed. Scott Kelby recommends immediate conversion to DNG for this reason. Take your pick.

Take note as well that Mr. Pentax provides the option. The big guys don't. You only get the proprietary NEF files from Nikon, for example.

[FHPhotographer]

yes, thats correct
PEF is only Pentax, as fare as i know - you have to use the pentax software

if you use other programs, like photoshop, lightroom etc. to open your RAW files
you should use DNG

Sorry, but that's not accurate. I've used Aperture, LR, PS Elements and CS4 and they all work just fine with PEF. Sounds like some disinformation to push the DNG format,
Brian

[Wheatfield]

Sorry, but that's not accurate. I've used Aperture, LR, PS Elements and CS4 and they all work just fine with PEF. Sounds like some disinformation to push the DNG format,
Brian

To be fair, Brian, Adobe can be woefully slow about supporting Pentax PEF files.
I know that when the K10 came out I had to switch to DNG because it was months before Adobe supported the K10. I've heard similar tales of woe from Mac users and Aperture regarding time to support, so it's not as cut and dried as you make it out to be either.

[timstone]

When in doubt...use your local walmart or other cheap printing service for proofs

[Marc Sabatella]

To be fair, Brian, Adobe can be woefully slow about supporting Pentax PEF files.

And actually, Adobe is quicker than most. Of you use software other than Pentax's, then every time a new camera model comes out, you can expect some sort of delay before the new camera is supported. Might be weeks, might be months.

So it's true the first people to buy a new model when it comes out often end up using DNG out of necessity - most software can use DNG from cameras they don't otherwise support. Some return to PEF once their software supports their camera, others don't.

Of course, on the flip side, there are a few stone-age applications that still don't support DNG at all.

[icywarm]

I tried PEF when i first got my KX, might have to go back and see if I can get out of the DNG rut... is it a rut... ah something different anyways... all looks the same when i covert it to BMP to work in Paint...

[viewfinder]

Wow! I was misinformed! Thanks for all the info.

Is there anything else I should know as far as settings are concerned? Thanks for all the feedback

[murphysf]

Hello
I own a K100D.
When I first got it I was shooting jpeg with with the color space set to Adobe 1998. Not a good idea.
When I figured it out I switch ed the colorspace back to sRGB.
I noticed that some of my filenames start with _IGP and some IMGP.
I believe that the _IGP are the files shot in adobe 1998 and IMGP are teh ones shot in sRGB
anyone know?
ideas?
Thanks

[Silent Street]

In professional practice, the colour space you use is also determined by the end use: if you are printing, use the sRGB profile (but printers do not strictly use RGB, for four colour mix). If only displaying for the web, email, etc, AdobeRGB (a bit bigger of a colour spectrum). Colour printing though is also impacted by the media type and finish.


All commercial advertising and professional studios are profiled to AdobeRGB and it is an industry-specific and consistent standard.
In some specialised digital printing applications, combometric (two or more colour spaces blended and expanded as one through mathematical interpolation) provide for unique and accurate colour rendition (particularly working from analogue media to digital print) with specific printing — totally out of the in-camera profiling area.

For the purpose of beginners with their first digital camera, any profile can be used at all and switched out in image editing software e.g. Lightroom: just remove colour profile and assign another. I think gaining and progressively refining a knowledge of colour theory, profiling, calibrating and viewing — whether on-screen or preparing for print, should be a priority for all new users of digital cameras.

[pschlute]

If only displaying for the web, email, etc, AdobeRGB (a bit bigger of a colour spectrum).

I assume a mistype on your behalf. For the web and email folk should stick to sRGB

For the purpose of beginners with their first digital camera, any profile can be used at all and switched out in image editing software e.g. Lightroom: just remove colour profile and assign another

I disagree here. For not just beginners, but also established amateur photographers, if you are going to use a wider gamut than sRGB you need to invest in a wide gamut monitor (not cheap). Otherwise you cannot see all the colours.that AdobeRGB produces.