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Software upgade/raw converter

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Dr_Love

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I just got a deal on an A9ii that I couldn't say no to. The one thing I didn't consider was software. I have old Capture1 and the last stand alone Lightroom6 and cs6 none of which will deal with the raw files.

I need to do some research before I make a purchase but in the meantime I'm looking for recommendations on a free raw converter to tide me over. is anyone else doing this? How has it changed your workflow?

What is the best way to do this? Convert to tiff then editor of choice? Is there a better file format to use? O don't think dng will ?be the answer.
 
Dr_Love said:
I just got a deal on an A9ii that I couldn't say no to. The one thing I didn't consider was software. I have old Capture1 and the last stand alone Lightroom6 and cs6 none of which will deal with the raw files.

I need to do some research before I make a purchase but in the meantime I'm looking for recommendations on a free raw converter to tide me over. is anyone else doing this? How has it changed your workflow?

What is the best way to do this? Convert to tiff then editor of choice? Is there a better file format to use? O don't think dng will ?be the answer.
Click to expand...
I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony
 
Converting to DNG is probably the best answer. The Adobe converter is simple and efficient. Several programs can convert DNG files, and the ACR in CS6 Photoshop is excellent.

Don Cox
 
Last edited:
Dr_Love said:
I need to do some research before I make a purchase but in the meantime I'm looking for recommendations on a free raw converter to tide me over. is anyone else doing this? How has it changed your workflow?
Click to expand...
Raw conversion has improved greatly over the past ten years, and I even find the expense of an Adobe subscription worthwhile because of this. That being said, the free RawTherapee and Darktable raw processors are packed with numerous advanced features, but these apps are not easy to use.
Member said:
What is the best way to do this? Convert to tiff then editor of choice? Is there a better file format to use? O don't think dng will ?be the answer.
Click to expand...
When I use a third party raw converter, I'll save it as a 16 bit TIFF and then pull it into Photoshop. As these TIFFs are huge, I'll delete them when I'm done with them.
 
As was already mentioned, ACR and PS are best proven industry standard making the workflow as easy and straightforward as possible. For a monthly fee equal to two coffees :-) for which you get the most recent versions of all included SW there is nothing to think of, I guess.

The Adobe photography plan contains:

- Photoshop (including ACR)

- Bridge

- Lightroom

- Premiere Rush

- Creative Cloud with 20 GB of a cloud storage
 
Mark S Abeln said:
That being said, the free RawTherapee and Darktable raw processors are packed with numerous advanced features, but these apps are not easy to use.
Click to expand...
I find that ease of use depends on which software you learned first. For what I need Darktable does my processing quickly and simply, whereas Lightroom I find clunky and irritating, but i accept that people used to lightroom will find the open source alternatives very different.
 
Dr_Love said:
Gato Amarillo said:
Guy Parsons said:
I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony
Click to expand...
I you're looking for free, this would be the first thing I'd try. Especially if you're already using C1.

I don't know your reasons for sticking with older software, but PS and ACR have improved tremendously since PS6 -- IMO well worth 10 bucks a month.

Gato
Click to expand...
Im not planning to stick with old software. I just looking for a bandaid fix while I research my long term solution without feeling rushed.
Click to expand...
In that case I'd definitely try the free Capture One, just on the grounds it might be a bit better tuned to Sony images than some of the others. And maybe for you a bit less learning curve.
 
Gato Amarillo said:
Dr_Love said:
Gato Amarillo said:
Guy Parsons said:
I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony
Click to expand...
I you're looking for free, this would be the first thing I'd try. Especially if you're already using C1.

I don't know your reasons for sticking with older software, but PS and ACR have improved tremendously since PS6 -- IMO well worth 10 bucks a month.

Gato
Click to expand...
Im not planning to stick with old software. I just looking for a bandaid fix while I research my long term solution without feeling rushed.
Click to expand...
In that case I'd definitely try the free Capture One, just on the grounds it might be a bit better tuned to Sony images than some of the others. And maybe for you a bit less learning curve.
Click to expand...
I agree, and while I have C1 Express for a Fuji I still prefer Lr and Ps. But no reason not to use free, and you can still use your existing Lr version to do some organizational chores. Frankly I don't think you're find a free version of software as good.
 
Tom_N said:
Graham Meale said:
Don't Lightroom 6 nd Photoshop CS6 come with Camera Raw?
Click to expand...
Lightroom doesn't use Camera Raw. It has the Raw conversion code baked in. Photoshop uses Camera Raw, but Photoshop CS6 can only use ACR versions 7.0 through 9.1.1.
Click to expand...
Older Camera raw doesnt have what I need. The new cam was introduced 2019 which is why the need for the upgrade.
Tom_N said:
Those might not be recent enough to support the OP's new camera.
Click to expand...
this is why I need new software
Tom_N said:
https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-compatible-applications.html
Click to expand...
 
Guy Parsons said:
Dr_Love said:
I just got a deal on an A9ii that I couldn't say no to. The one thing I didn't consider was software. I have old Capture1 and the last stand alone Lightroom6 and cs6 none of which will deal with the raw files.

I need to do some research before I make a purchase but in the meantime I'm looking for recommendations on a free raw converter to tide me over. is anyone else doing this? How has it changed your workflow?

What is the best way to do this? Convert to tiff then editor of choice? Is there a better file format to use? O don't think dng will ?be the answer.
Click to expand...
I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony
Click to expand...
Last I heard C1 was doing away with the manufacturer versions. I'll have to look into it further.
 
I would start with the Sony version of Capture One while investigating a more permanent solution. Maybe you'd even want to stick with Capture One, although it's quite expensive.

For an Open Source solution, a temp fix while you shop around, LightZone is nice. I can't speak for it's compatibility with your camera though.

For a long-term solution, check out ACDSee. No subscription, relatively easy to learn, and very affordable.
 
So I have started my research for a long term software solution. I downloaded Sony's imaging edge. Not an option.

I downloaded the latest trial of C1. Feels just like the old one but more features. Odd thing is on the trial version i can't find an export tab to process the final edit. Trial version restriction perhaps?

All good until I looked at the latest pricing. Holy crap! Gone way up.

I am actually now considering something I said I'd never do, looking at Adobe subscription. The price for just lr and ps seems fair. I'm still having trouble getting my head around a subscription model

Another option i just thought of. Ps elements? Does it come with acr? Could possibly do raw conversion there then process a tiff in my older LR or C1.

Other good options for reasonable $?
 
You could try Adobe's DNG converter (as someone else suggested earlier). It's free.

You might have to experiment with the compatibility settings for the output – the DNG format itself changes from time to time, presumably because some newer Raw formats have data that you can't completely express in an older version of DNG.
 
Dr_Love said:
Another option i just thought of. Ps elements? Does it come with acr? Could possibly do raw conversion there then process a tiff in my older LR or C1.
Click to expand...
Elements is pretty good for basic work. It has a stripped-down version of ACR.
Member said:
Other good options for reasonable $?
Click to expand...
There are, but I’m not familiar with them.
 
Dr_Love said:
So I have started my research for a long term software solution. I downloaded Sony's imaging edge. Not an option.

I downloaded the latest trial of C1. Feels just like the old one but more features. Odd thing is on the trial version i can't find an export tab to process the final edit. Trial version restriction perhaps?

All good until I looked at the latest pricing. Holy crap! Gone way up.
Click to expand...
Like I said above...

I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony

It downloads the full version of course but the free licence number supplied allows installation with a few things disabled on one computer only, from my experiments.

So, did you try the free version? Basically the same engine as the expensive one but some features disabled until they see $$$. It always worked for output for me, but haven't used it for a while as it is so clunky to use compared to the excellent $$$ DxO Photolab.

Just now downloaded and tried my free licence number but that failed as I must still have the latest free version also installed on another computer in the house. So proved the free limit is one computer, would need to create a separate new account with a different email to get a second free licence number.

When I log in I see...

5ac69d8083314028917cf95f097c1dbc.jpg

Sniff! No more installations possible after the first one.
Member said:
I am actually now considering something I said I'd never do, looking at Adobe subscription. The price for just lr and ps seems fair. I'm still having trouble getting my head around a subscription model

Another option i just thought of. Ps elements? Does it come with acr? Could possibly do raw conversion there then process a tiff in my older LR or C1.

Other good options for reasonable $?
Click to expand...
 
Guy Parsons said:
Dr_Love said:
So I have started my research for a long term software solution. I downloaded Sony's imaging edge. Not an option.

I downloaded the latest trial of C1. Feels just like the old one but more features. Odd thing is on the trial version i can't find an export tab to process the final edit. Trial version restriction perhaps?

All good until I looked at the latest pricing. Holy crap! Gone way up.
Click to expand...
Like I said above...

I have to presume that Capture One Express for Sony is still free https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express/sony

It downloads the full version of course but the free licence number
Click to expand...
purchased cam used, no license
Guy Parsons said:
supplied allows installation with a few things disabled on one computer only, from my experiments.

So, did you try the free version? Basically the same engine as the expensive one but some features disabled until they see $$$.
Click to expand...
exactly why I purchased the first time. The cripple hammer...no local adjustments on the sony express
Guy Parsons said:
It always worked for output for me, but haven't used it for a while as it is so clunky to use compared to the excellent $$$ DxO Photolab.
Click to expand...
tell me more about this dxo you mention.
Guy Parsons said:
Just now downloaded and tried my free licence number but that failed as I must still have the latest free version also installed on another computer in the house. So proved the free limit is one computer, would need to create a separate new account with a different email to get a second free licence number.

When I log in I see...

5ac69d8083314028917cf95f097c1dbc.jpg

Sniff! No more installations possible after the first one.
Guy Parsons said:
I am actually now considering something I said I'd never do, looking at Adobe subscription. The price for just lr and ps seems fair. I'm still having trouble getting my head around a subscription model

Another option i just thought of. Ps elements? Does it come with acr? Could possibly do raw conversion there then process a tiff in my older LR or C1.

Other good options for reasonable $?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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