Four DNG (GXR raw format) developers for Linux compared

Interesting thread.

I also use Linux about 98% of the time, but have a dual-boot install with Windows 7 on another disk.

I just got the Ricoh GXR and am really happy with it. I have been shooting RAW + fine JPG, and have to say that I am quite happy with the JPG output the camera produces.

Thus I decided to only even open the RAW files when I am not happy with a JPG output. I really feel I should spend less time on the computer, and more time shooting anyway.

Nevertheless, I have tried all of the raw programs mentioned here except Photivo, and found that Rawtherapee is the only one that is really stable and allows a great deal of editing. I especially like the "local contrast" in "Shadows/Highlights" and the LAB adjustments. However, a couple of DNGs showed some artifacts in Rawtherapee, and now I usually just reboot into Windows and run Photoshop (hey, my university got me the whole Master Suite for free, so why not use it?). I then just edit the DNG to my liking and save it as a tiff., then a screen-size optimized version in JPG, and delete the DNG.. I just want to be done with it, and be able to open the larger file with any photo viewer when I feel like it (tiffs open in most programs, DNG not).

But that's just my way of doing things.

And on a last note... I do most of my "good light" and exterior photos on medium format film anyway. I scan them in at about 8800x7100 pixels and drool over the image quality that MF film can produce Then the same as above, save a the full size "recurved" image in tiff, a screen-optimized version in JPG, and be done with it. Time to frame the slide and project it to the 8x8 foot screen!

P.S.: I also cannot wait for GIMP to be updated for 16bit support.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drtebi/