Aperture 1.1 and R-D1

[kepstein]

Anyone using this combo yet? I think that R-D1 files converted to DNG will now work.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[kepstein]

Still no one using this combo? I don't belive that it will read raw or dng files, but I was wondering if a batch run through PhotoRAW with conversion to tiff would be a good workflow. Does this defeat the need for a non-destructive raw processor such as Aperture?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[jlw]

The specs page says it does support the DNG format, with the following footnote:

"1. DNG files must be generated by the Adobe DNG Converter, with the "Convert to Linear Image" option turned off, and created from RAW formats that are otherwise already supported by Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later."

I'm not sure what the "already supportd by Mac OS X..." part means. Guess I won't know until I have a chance to try it, which in turn won't happen until I get a compatible graphics card.

In principle a 16-bit TIFF or Photoshop file should still contain all the same information as the original raw file, meaning you're still retaining the advantage of being able to do subsequent nondestructive edits. But it would be significantly bigger than the raw file, which would mean you can keep fewer images in your working library.

 

[kepstein]

The specs page says it does support the DNG format, with the following footnote:

"1. DNG files must be generated by the Adobe DNG Converter, with the "Convert to Linear Image" option turned off, and created from RAW formats that are otherwise already supported by Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later."

The part about being already supported is the problem. RD-1 files are not supported by 10.4.3.

 

[jlw]

Well, they're "supported" in the sense that the file system can manage them, even if applications that use the system-level raw file support (such as iPhoto) can't display the image content.

That's the part that I find ambiguous.

I may try posting something on the Aperture discussion forum to see if I can get someone to pin this down more exactly. I'd like to use Aperture and am willing to make the hardware investment necessary, but I need to know that it's going to be a complete solution for all the raw file types I need to manage.

 

[kepstein]

Well, they're "supported" in the sense that the file system can manage them, even if applications that use the system-level raw file support (such as iPhoto) can't display the image content.

The RD-1 is not on Apple's list of RAW supported cameras as shown here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300884

Here is the Adobe Camera RAW support list:

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html

This is why I am currently using Lightroom instead of Aperture, although I usually prefer Apple software.

Ken

 

[jlw]

I've put a huge amount of time into the Lightroom betas, not only using them but in viewing all of Adobe's training videos and listening to their self-congratulatory podcasts -- but I still can't help feeling that it's just Bridge with some lipstick on it. In fact, I had to stop using it for anything serious, because I found that posting a big shoot using it is significantly slower than using Bridge.

I noticed from the start that the R-D 1 wasn't on the supported-camera list; the real question is whether or not DNG files made from R-D 1 files will work. I need to convert all my raw files to DNG anyway because it's the only fairly wieldy way of dealing with shoots that have a mix of Epson and Nikon shots (I'm often simultaneously using the Epson with 50mm lenses and shorter plus a Nikon DSLR for 85 and longer.)

Since there's still no unambiguous info about what constitutes a DNG file that's "supported under Mac OS X," I guess further research will be needed...

 

[kepstein]

Since there's still no unambiguous info about what constitutes a DNG file that's "supported under Mac OS X," I guess further research will be needed...

I believe that I read on the Aperture site that, for a DNG file to work, the RAW format for the camera must be supported by the OS. I have read that this is so because the DNG file is basically an "envelope" for the RAW file.