The best RAW converter? answer: D70

Javier Carrasco · Aug 26, 2005

I've tried almost every RAW converter and my final conclussion is that Nikon knows this cammera better than me. I've set up everything to the nikon's deffault with jpeg, fine and sRGB. I get the best jpeg pictures and with the best workflow available.

Now I just have to worry about composition, light, aperture and those sort of things I used to with film.

The fact is that I'm very disapointed with shooting in RAW. Too much effort and at the end of the day RAW pictures aren't that better.

Javier

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

I have a feeling that the forum might jump on you soon

However I also use jpeg, I have yet to experiment with RAW mainly because I don't feel I need to.

Javier Carrasco said:
I've tried almost every RAW converter and my final conclussion is
that Nikon knows this cammera better than me. I've set up
everything to the nikon's deffault with jpeg, fine and sRGB. I get
the best jpeg pictures and with the best workflow available.
Now I just have to worry about composition, light, aperture and
those sort of things I used to with film.

The fact is that I'm very disapointed with shooting in RAW. Too
much effort and at the end of the day RAW pictures aren't that
better.

Javier

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

Som Prasad · Aug 26, 2005

What I would really like is an option to shoot RAW+Fine JPG, that way one could use thed Fine JPG most of the time, but for the occasional shot which is exceptional one could go back to the RAW image and play arround with it. It would eat up memory quicker, but one could delete some shots or just acrry more cards.

Daniel Diaz · Aug 26, 2005

I've always shot in JPG with my D50, but recently I switched to RAW for the very reason to control all aspects of Exposure. For weddings I still shoot in JPG because the workflow would take waaayyy to long in RAW.

michalc · Aug 26, 2005

You are kidding.

D70 gives excellent results ONLY with RAW and Nikon Capture (now they finally improved the speed).

Either you don't care about the details or are just too lazy to use a simple Batch/Convert function.
--
mc

glacierpete · Aug 26, 2005

Try Rawshooter essentials. It is still free, until they launch the commercial version soon.

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

I don't think the D70 gives excellent results ONLY in RAW. I have some wonderful jpegs. I agree that RAW is better but it is all subjective.A simple batch convert is a waste of time unless all the shots are similar. I like to try and be creative with each shot (Create a unique image) and shooting RAW would slow me down waaaay to much.

michalc said:
You are kidding.

D70 gives excellent results ONLY with RAW and Nikon Capture (now
they finally improved the speed).

Either you don't care about the details or are just too lazy to use
a simple Batch/Convert function.
--
mc

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

thomas1973 · Aug 26, 2005

chilipalmer said:
I don't think the D70 gives excellent results ONLY in RAW. I have
some wonderful jpegs. I agree that RAW is better but it is all
subjective.A simple batch convert is a waste of time unless all the
shots are similar.

But that's what your D70 is doing! It's just 'batch converting' the images, in the sense that it applies the same tweaks and changes to all of them...

I'm not arguing that shooting jpg can be timesaving and liberating (as the shots is much more 'final' when you press the shutter), but also frustrating, when you want the best out of a super shot.

I've shot events in jpg, though, just for prints at normal 'postcard sized' prints. Worked great, everyone was pleased, including myself. I was very impressed by the D70's image quality straight from the cam. Very film like and un-digital, IMO.

Thomas.

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

I know that, thing is the benfits of RAW to me are lost as I post-process the image after the D70 does it's conversion using methods and tools not available in my RAW software. So I really don't see the point. Oh and the D70 jpegs look fine up to 20x30, inspected closely

thomas1973 said:
chilipalmer said:

I don't think the D70 gives excellent results ONLY in RAW. I have
some wonderful jpegs. I agree that RAW is better but it is all
subjective.A simple batch convert is a waste of time unless all the
shots are similar.

Click to expand...

But that's what your D70 is doing! It's just 'batch converting' the
images, in the sense that it applies the same tweaks and changes to
all of them...

I'm not arguing that shooting jpg can be timesaving and liberating
(as the shots is much more 'final' when you press the shutter), but
also frustrating, when you want the best out of a super shot.

I've shot events in jpg, though, just for prints at normal
'postcard sized' prints. Worked great, everyone was pleased,
including myself. I was very impressed by the D70's image quality
straight from the cam. Very film like and un-digital, IMO.

Thomas.

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

thomas1973 · Aug 26, 2005

chilipalmer said:
I know that, thing is the benfits of RAW to me are lost as I
post-process the image after the D70 does it's conversion using
methods and tools not available in my RAW software. So I really
don't see the point. Oh and the D70 jpegs look fine up to 20x30,
inspected closely

Good to know

I just never tried printing jpg's that size. BTW, this discussion has again made me realize the D70 is more than enough for what I do, and xx MP sensor's are not really paramount.

Thomas.

raymondox · Aug 26, 2005

I find that very few if any of the pictures I shoot are perfect (well perfect for me), especially if I want to size them for particular formats. This means I do post processing on JPEG. Given I can tweak even more in RAW costs me no more time and effort than JPEG.

I also shoot in RAW and basic jpeg, the basic jpeg is more than good enough for quick use of the pictures with no post processing.

Sounds like you don't want ot do anything except use the photos straight out of the camera which of course is your choice.

--
Bluenose

michalc · Aug 26, 2005

I tried Rawshooter. It is good in extractiing detail but it is really hard to get a picture that looks so nice and smooth as NC.

I know 99$ is pain in the a** but since you paid $1000 for a camera it is a shame not to fully be able to use its potential.

I think Nikon Capture is well worth the money... even in Photoshop I have to tweak a bit more to get similar results. Of course PS has more creative tools but price is also different.

--
mc

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

Um none of my shots are left alone after leaving the camera I tweak the curves and add some USM, sometimes I make b/w. The things is I can't do that before I convert to jpeg, can I? I find that RAW software is cumbersome and not as flexible or easy to use as other image editors like Paint Shop Pro.

Now if I could fully manipulate RAW in Paint Shop Pro that would be excellent

I know I can use PS but that is waaay to expensive. I am still amazed how much money y'all have on this forum, you seem to be able to buy things at the drop of a hat

raymondox said:
I find that very few if any of the pictures I shoot are perfect
(well perfect for me), especially if I want to size them for
particular formats. This means I do post processing on JPEG. Given
I can tweak even more in RAW costs me no more time and effort than
JPEG.

I also shoot in RAW and basic jpeg, the basic jpeg is more than
good enough for quick use of the pictures with no post processing.

Sounds like you don't want ot do anything except use the photos
straight out of the camera which of course is your choice.

--
Bluenose

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

thomas1973 · Aug 26, 2005

raymondox said:
Sounds like you don't want ot do anything except use the photos
straight out of the camera which of course is your choice.

No, you got me wrong. I shoot RAW almost exclusively. And I spend WAY too much time processing them in ACR ;-)

I do feel the results are worth it, though, but horses for courses... Fortunatly, I've gotten better at only spending time on the images that are potential keepers. Oh, and Bruce Fraser's book on ACR RAW helped my workflow and my ACR RAW technique a lot too.

Thomas.

Thomas Comerford · Aug 26, 2005

chilipalmer said:
Um none of my shots are left alone after leaving the camera I tweak
the curves and add some USM, sometimes I make b/w. The things is I
can't do that before I convert to jpeg, can I? I find that RAW
software is cumbersome and not as flexible or easy to use as other
image editors like Paint Shop Pro.

Have you ever used Nikon Capture? With NC you could make a curves adjustment, dial in some USM, make a slight adjustment to the exposure/WB if necessary, then apply those same settings to a dozen other NEFs and batch-convert them to jpeg. It's interface is nowhere near as nice as Photoshop, obviously, but I find it helps me to reduce the amount of work I'll need to do in Photoshop. The newer versions of NC has a B&W conversion aswell although again, not up the same standard as Photoshop.

jeremyInMT · Aug 26, 2005

Javier Carrasco said:
I've tried almost every RAW converter and my final conclussion is
that Nikon knows this cammera better than me. I've set up
everything to the nikon's deffault with jpeg, fine and sRGB. I get
the best jpeg pictures and with the best workflow available.
Now I just have to worry about composition, light, aperture and
those sort of things I used to with film.

The fact is that I'm very disapointed with shooting in RAW. Too
much effort and at the end of the day RAW pictures aren't that
better.

The pictures are a lot better. The improvement in results has a lot to do with post-processing capability of the user I think. I don't mean this in a harsh way, but the better my PP abilities have gotten, the more difference I notice between JPG and NEF. If you use JPG from in camera, you just start with worse data, period. If you shoot in raw format, you still worry about exposure and depth of field. Then in post processing you can get the most of your photos. Like someone else said though, horses for courses. I shoot jpg sometimes also, but find that NEF's give much more latitude for improvement. I try to nail it in camera, and then take it to a new level in post. Even shooting NEF and directly converting to jpg has shown to be higher quality than shooting in camera find quality large jpg.

Javier Carrasco said:
Javier

--
D70 and photo discussion
D70 custom tone curves @ http://forum.mastersphoto.net

Shutterbugin · Aug 26, 2005

That is absolutely not tre. Don't get me wrong - I shoot in RAW, because of the ability to control so many aspects of the image in POST, but I think you point that you can only get good results with RAW is not true at all.

If you get perfect exposure, correct white balance, etc - there is absolutely nothing wrong JPG shooting. Some people always shoot JPG - because they get the image right in the first place, and do not have to rely on post-processing.

michalc said:
You are kidding.

D70 gives excellent results ONLY with RAW and Nikon Capture (now
they finally improved the speed).

Either you don't care about the details or are just too lazy to use
a simple Batch/Convert function.
--
mc

--
ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

michalc · Aug 26, 2005

Shutterbugin said:
That is absolutely not tre. Don't get me wrong - I shoot in RAW,
because of the ability to control so many aspects of the image in
POST, but I think you point that you can only get good results with
RAW is not true at all.

If you get perfect exposure, correct white balance, etc - there is
absolutely nothing wrong JPG shooting. Some people always shoot JPG

because they get the image right in the first place, and do not

have to rely on post-processing.

We're not living in a perfect world. You are not able to tell what is the best contrast/sharpening/WB etc during shooting. Shooting in RAW you don' t care.

If good is ok with you, good for you. I bought a dslr to have best shots. I would buy a P&S otherwise..

Shutterbugin said:
michalc said:

You are kidding.

D70 gives excellent results ONLY with RAW and Nikon Capture (now
they finally improved the speed).

Either you don't care about the details or are just too lazy to use
a simple Batch/Convert function.
--
mc

Click to expand...

--
ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

--
mc

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

I take it you have to buy it?

Thomas Comerford said:
chilipalmer said:

Um none of my shots are left alone after leaving the camera I tweak
the curves and add some USM, sometimes I make b/w. The things is I
can't do that before I convert to jpeg, can I? I find that RAW
software is cumbersome and not as flexible or easy to use as other
image editors like Paint Shop Pro.

Click to expand...

Have you ever used Nikon Capture? With NC you could make a curves
adjustment, dial in some USM, make a slight adjustment to the
exposure/WB if necessary, then apply those same settings to a dozen
other NEFs and batch-convert them to jpeg. It's interface is
nowhere near as nice as Photoshop, obviously, but I find it helps
me to reduce the amount of work I'll need to do in Photoshop. The
newer versions of NC has a B&W conversion aswell although again,
not up the same standard as Photoshop.

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

chilipalmer · Aug 26, 2005

Again some software that requires purchasing

thomas1973 said:
raymondox said:

Sounds like you don't want ot do anything except use the photos
straight out of the camera which of course is your choice.

Click to expand...

No, you got me wrong. I shoot RAW almost exclusively. And I spend
WAY too much time processing them in ACR ;-)

I do feel the results are worth it, though, but horses for
courses... Fortunatly, I've gotten better at only spending time on
the images that are potential keepers. Oh, and Bruce Fraser's book
on ACR RAW helped my workflow and my ACR RAW technique a lot too.

Thomas.

--
Lewis
http://chilipalmer.deviantart.com/gallery/

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