How many FastRAWViewer users here?

In this recent thread, there was some talk about using RawDigger and FastRAWViewer to get a more accurate report on actual RAW exposure values:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/58298914

I have looked at these two programs, and while I can see how FRV can allow more accurate view of the RAW data for bracketed shots, I am not sure that it will improve my results where I am not bracketing, and I'm reluctant to introduce more steps into my workflow, as I'm always a year or more behind reviewing photos. I've used Lightroom since it was released, and it works pretty well most of the time, but I do struggle with DR issues and always seem to be making a choice between shadow detail or highlight retention.

I'm interested in hearing from those who are using FRV integrated in their workflow with another RAW processor like LR, and how it works for you. I'm using an E-M5 and E-PM2, and shoot in A mode most of the time, using the histogram and "blinkies" to check exposure, which I know is based on the JPEG settings I've chosen, which recently have been Vivid, with H/S settings at 250/5. After finding that the JPG histogram is way off (RAW shows underexposure, and histogram shows nothing, even at a setting of 10 in camera), I've changed the camera to Natural (and may try muted) to see if I can get the histogram to more accurately show what the sensor clipping levels are.

I use frv to purge images (poor focus, blown out, poor composition, unneeded images in a bracket set,...) before importing to Lr.  Although I convert to ding on import, I have Lr save a copy of the native raw file that latter gets written to a bluray disk (that I hope I never have to use).  Frv makes culling file quicker and saves backup space for me

Like Bill, I sometimes use FRV because it can be useful for culling quickly, better than judging by eye. But IME the number of times this advantage happens is not all that often.

However, if you want to use it as a dynamic range improvement tool, bear in mind that FRV doesn't know your camera, so the upper and lower limits shown on the raw histogram are generic. If you want to customise those limits you need to use it in conjunction with RawDigger I believe.

A good one could.

No, that's the one with more talent and ego than sense. Ultimately self-limiting.

TN Args wrote:

Like Bill, I sometimes use FRV because it can be useful for culling quickly, better than judging by eye. But IME the number of times this advantage happens is not all that often.

However, if you want to use it as a dynamic range improvement tool, bear in mind that FRV doesn't know your camera, so the upper and lower limits shown on the raw histogram are generic. If you want to customise those limits you need to use it in conjunction with RawDigger I believe.

I just want to correct myself here -- apparently FRV calculates the clipping point for each shot individually, so it is smarter than I thought. Ya live and learn.

TN Args wrote:

TN Args wrote:

Like Bill, I sometimes use FRV because it can be useful for culling quickly, better than judging by eye. But IME the number of times this advantage happens is not all that often.

However, if you want to use it as a dynamic range improvement tool, bear in mind that FRV doesn't know your camera, so the upper and lower limits shown on the raw histogram are generic. If you want to customise those limits you need to use it in conjunction with RawDigger I believe.

I just want to correct myself here -- apparently FRV calculates the clipping point for each shot individually, so it is smarter than I thought. Ya live and learn.

Thanks, all. I just imported several hundreds photos from yesterday's outing at the local raptor sanctuary, so I will give it a try on these.

Yes, natural JPEG setting is much better for judging exposure using blinkies. Also I suggest to set minimal contrast, sharpness and saturation in camera. Then you should have JPEG-RAW variation reduced to ~0.3 EV. This is in daylight on white or green/yellow subjects. Variation in artificial light will be bigger. Don't know how to reduce it.

This is how Fast RAW Viewer will help for single shots - you will learn the difference between RAW and JPEG exposure in different lighting conditions.
Fast raw viewer is really fast. I use it to quickly browse hundreds of photos and see how I exposed shots, noticing mistakes. Then I press 'c' key on photos I select and FRV copies them to given folder. In the end I import that folder to Lightroom. It's much faster to do selection in FRV than in LR.