RAW shooting, PEF or DNG?

**Gian** · 09-09-2009, 12:04 AM

hello All,

I hope not to start a war, but I would like to know from you raw shooters, if you do PEF or DNG.

If you do not bother to say why, just use the poll.

thanks!
-Gian

**Ash** · 09-09-2009, 12:09 AM

PEF - lossless, but more compact.

dlacouture · 09-09-2009, 12:34 AM

DNG, as :
- size is not a concern in-camera (300+ DNG on my 8GB SD card...)
- DNG embeds a camera colour profile (but it can be extracted and added to PEF-converted DNGs later)
- Adobe DNG converter strips some information when converting from PEF (the black pixels stripes that can be used to correct the k20's magenta tinge)...

ChooseAName · 09-09-2009, 04:49 AM

Originally posted by Ash

PEF - lossless, but more compact.

I use PEF for this reason, but if there is a very good reason to use DNG, please let me know.

mysterick · 09-09-2009, 06:14 AM

seems to be the catchword here from what I have read.

shaolin95 · 09-09-2009, 08:04 AM

PEF here because of the smaller size and because I thought I could just convert to DNG without losing any info...which it seems it is incorrect.

Marc Sabatella · 09-09-2009, 08:27 AM

I recommend searching this forum; this subject is discussed every couple of weeks so there is a *ton* of existing discussion on the tradeoffs. Note the specific model matters a lot. On some models, the PEF files are not compressed, on other models, the PEF files are compressed but the DNG files are not; the K-7 compressed them both.

GLXLR · 09-09-2009, 03:14 PM

DNG b/c that's the only thing Samsung cameras got...

Shashinki · 09-09-2009, 03:52 PM

DNG = I do not have to update to CS4 to process K20D files and above on ACR. (I don't like SilkyPix and my PS does not support updated ACR with K20D compatability)

Miserere · 09-09-2009, 07:53 PM

PEF for the smaller size (I convert to DNG in ACR then save to hard drive). But since I'm now using 4GB cards instead of 2GB (and I very rarely fill them), I might give straight DNG a whirl and see what happens.

The thing is, with my K10D, the DNG files are not compressed, while ACR produces compressed DNGs, so even if I shot DNG I would still have to convert to lossless DNG before saving to disk. If the K-7 shoots compressed DNG, then that's what I'll use once I get a K-7.

Rich_A · 09-09-2009, 08:31 PM

I'll voice another 'amen' for DNG for a couple of reasons: 1) I hate having proprietary RAW formats that might "disappear" or simply not be supported by a future Adobe upgrade (I'm still P.O.'ed about them not supporting the Canon G10 RAW format for CS3!) and 2) because hard drive space to me is trivial when it comes to the costs involved with point #1 as well as how cheap it will be 6 months from now. For example, I bought a 500GB external HD in January for under $200 and that seems expensive now!

Nothing is absolutely future-proof, but the concept of an open-source RAW format is here to stay. Look at what Leica just introduced for their M9 as an example. It will be easier in the future to find an application that reads a standardized format than it will be a proprietary one. Anyone remember JPEG2000? Yeah, no one else does either. Or how about the old Kodak Image CD formatting? I got burned on that one when digging out some old CD's from the early 90's. The point is, try to choose a format that's going to be around for a while. DNG is here to stay, why not adopt a standard?

As far as space on the SD card... 8GB Transcend SD cards are under $20 at Amazon! I mean, come on... as long as your camera supports SDHC, spend the money (equivalent to 3 rolls and film) and be done with it.

falconeye · 09-11-2009, 03:47 AM

I don't like the poll.
As Marc said, it is pointless.

More interesting though:

Who switched from K20D/PEF (smaller) to K-7/DNG (more standard)?

MikePerham · 09-11-2009, 06:09 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Who switched from K20D/PEF (smaller) to K-7/DNG (more standard)?

I did! Used to shoot PEF and convert to DNG on importing into Lightroom, now shoot straight to DNG with the K-7.

cupic · 09-11-2009, 06:49 AM

Well I use both (I have CS2 and k20D in PEF it isnt supported)K10d in PEF and k20D has DNG

cheers

**Canada_Rockies** · 09-11-2009, 09:21 PM

As of yesterday, DNG. Until then I shot PEF. Blame Scott Kelby. If I have to convert on import to avoid the sidecar files for EXIF, I might as well just start with DNG. I will get a few less shots on a card, but I have five cards so, that's not a big deal.

View Poll Results: Raw shooters, do you use PEF or DNG?
PEF	52	50.49%
DNG	51	49.51%
Voters: 103. You may not vote on this poll

09-09-2009, 06:14 AM	#5
mysterick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 44266 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 567	Universal, open source... seems to be the catchword here from what I have read.

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09-09-2009, 12:04 AM	#1
Gian Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laveno Mombello, Italy Posts: 135	RAW shooting, PEF or DNG? hello All, I hope not to start a war, but I would like to know from you raw shooters, if you do PEF or DNG. If you do not bother to say why, just use the poll. thanks! -Gian

09-09-2009, 12:09 AM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	PEF - lossless, but more compact.

09-09-2009, 12:34 AM	#3
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	DNG, as : - size is not a concern in-camera (300+ DNG on my 8GB SD card...) - DNG embeds a camera colour profile (but it can be extracted and added to PEF-converted DNGs later) - Adobe DNG converter strips some information when converting from PEF (the black pixels stripes that can be used to correct the k20's magenta tinge)...

09-09-2009, 04:49 AM	#4
ChooseAName Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southeast USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 390	Originally posted by Ash PEF - lossless, but more compact. I use PEF for this reason, but if there is a very good reason to use DNG, please let me know.

09-09-2009, 08:04 AM	#6
shaolin95 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	PEF here because of the smaller size and because I thought I could just convert to DNG without losing any info...which it seems it is incorrect.

09-09-2009, 08:27 AM	#7
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I recommend searching this forum; this subject is discussed every couple of weeks so there is a ton of existing discussion on the tradeoffs. Note the specific model matters a lot. On some models, the PEF files are not compressed, on other models, the PEF files are compressed but the DNG files are not; the K-7 compressed them both.

09-09-2009, 03:14 PM	#8
GLXLR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sugar Land, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 684	DNG b/c that's the only thing Samsung cameras got...

09-09-2009, 03:52 PM	#9
Shashinki Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 355	DNG = I do not have to update to CS4 to process K20D files and above on ACR. (I don't like SilkyPix and my PS does not support updated ACR with K20D compatability)

09-09-2009, 07:53 PM	#10
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	PEF for the smaller size (I convert to DNG in ACR then save to hard drive). But since I'm now using 4GB cards instead of 2GB (and I very rarely fill them), I might give straight DNG a whirl and see what happens. The thing is, with my K10D, the DNG files are not compressed, while ACR produces compressed DNGs, so even if I shot DNG I would still have to convert to lossless DNG before saving to disk. If the K-7 shoots compressed DNG, then that's what I'll use once I get a K-7.

09-09-2009, 08:31 PM	#11
Rich_A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Montana Photos: Gallery Posts: 213	I'll voice another 'amen' for DNG for a couple of reasons: 1) I hate having proprietary RAW formats that might "disappear" or simply not be supported by a future Adobe upgrade (I'm still P.O.'ed about them not supporting the Canon G10 RAW format for CS3!) and 2) because hard drive space to me is trivial when it comes to the costs involved with point #1 as well as how cheap it will be 6 months from now. For example, I bought a 500GB external HD in January for under $200 and that seems expensive now! Nothing is absolutely future-proof, but the concept of an open-source RAW format is here to stay. Look at what Leica just introduced for their M9 as an example. It will be easier in the future to find an application that reads a standardized format than it will be a proprietary one. Anyone remember JPEG2000? Yeah, no one else does either. Or how about the old Kodak Image CD formatting? I got burned on that one when digging out some old CD's from the early 90's. The point is, try to choose a format that's going to be around for a while. DNG is here to stay, why not adopt a standard? As far as space on the SD card... 8GB Transcend SD cards are under $20 at Amazon! I mean, come on... as long as your camera supports SDHC, spend the money (equivalent to 3 rolls and film) and be done with it.

09-11-2009, 03:47 AM	#12
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	I don't like the poll. As Marc said, it is pointless. More interesting though: Who switched from K20D/PEF (smaller) to K-7/DNG (more standard)?

09-11-2009, 06:09 AM	#13
MikePerham Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Prince George, BC Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 642	Originally posted by falconeye Who switched from K20D/PEF (smaller) to K-7/DNG (more standard)? I did! Used to shoot PEF and convert to DNG on importing into Lightroom, now shoot straight to DNG with the K-7.

09-11-2009, 06:49 AM	#14
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	Well I use both (I have CS2 and k20D in PEF it isnt supported)K10d in PEF and k20D has DNG cheers

09-11-2009, 09:21 PM	#15
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	As of yesterday, DNG. Until then I shot PEF. Blame Scott Kelby. If I have to convert on import to avoid the sidecar files for EXIF, I might as well just start with DNG. I will get a few less shots on a card, but I have five cards so, that's not a big deal.