RAW Converters redux

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bmoag - 05 Oct 2006 23:19 GMT

Since Adobe does not yet support the D80 in the CS2 raw converter I have
again been playing with other converters that do support the D80:
Nikon NX, Bibble and Capture One (LE only) and the Adobe Lightroom Beta 4.
Since I prefer to make limited adjustments in the raw converter and hand the
image off to CS2 early in the processing it is hard to have an overwhelming
preference for one raw converter over another.
NX is a kind of a slow memory hog compared to other converters but it is
growing on me.There are particular features of any of these converters that
could be considered strengths or weaknesses depending on personal
preference.
They all allow the same basic image manipulations and when the image is
opened in CS2 it is at about the same stage in every way regardless of the
raw converter, at least for the way, rightly or wrongly, that I do things.
So if someone has a strong preference for a particular raw converter based
on what it does to the image (and not for example the ease of making batch
conversions): why?

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Kory Blinn - 06 Oct 2006 02:12 GMT

Personaly, I used to import my RAW into CS2 through camera raw, which I
loved until it's odvious D80 issue. I have started using Lightroom
before the D80 came out but have moved almost all of my production into
it since beta 4. I used NX for a bit thinking the new editing features
were interesting but was not doing the trick. I prefer doing detailed
editing in CS and NX just isn't good enough or closely related.
Lightroom is practicaly built with photoshop as a brother. Makes life
easy for me. plus it's editing features. in terms of advanced darkroom
techniques are fantastic and quick. "lights out" mode has to be the
simplest and greatest feature. I don't care about batch all that much
but I realize that lightroom and camera raw are great for syncing and
batching. I love lightrooms methods to organzie once you understand and
use them from start to finish.
Hope this helps. I'd be more than happy to go into detail about stuff
if you want.

> Since Adobe does not yet support the D80 in the CS2 raw converter I have
> again been playing with other converters that do support the D80:
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> on what it does to the image (and not for example the ease of making batch
> conversions): why?

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TW - 07 Oct 2006 23:07 GMT

I am using PS CS and have tried RSE, Bibble, and Lightroom. I like RSE
interface the most but Bibble is growing on me. However, I have absolutely
the worst experience with Lightroom. I am stuck in the first screen. It is
not obvious what to do. I don't know how to get it to see my raw files. It
is just my experience.

> Personaly, I used to import my RAW into CS2 through camera raw, which I
> loved until it's odvious D80 issue. I have started using Lightroom
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>> batch
>> conversions): why?

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tomm42 - 06 Oct 2006 13:49 GMT

I think NX's control points are fantastic but it hasn'r been enough for
me to buy it. I use a D200 so I don't have a problem with ACR. It also
has slightly better color than ACR. But I can do enough in ACR to cover
the difference. I try to do alot in the RAW converter and fine tune and
sharpen (smart sharpener is very nice) in Photoshop. Is the Lightroom
raw converter more like Raw Shooter Premium or ACR? NX I would think
gives you more color versitility than even Photoshop, but it is not all
there yet and you still need Photoshop. I'm looking forward to trying
Lightroom and Capture 1.

Tom

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