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Pixel 5 and DNG

Started Dec 2, 2020 | Discussions
David T. Long Senior Member • Posts: 2,069
Pixel 5 and DNG

I have been experimenting raw (dng) with various camera apps (e.g., Lightroom, open camera, Procam, Firstlight).

What I observe:

1) there is a significant difference in file size between the native Pixel app and the others. The others are 23, 847 KB while the Pixel is 13,626 KB,

2) the Pixel dng shows a thumbnail image (like a jpg file) in its folder while the others just the dng logo (which for me is typical DNG either out of camera or converted from a raw file with Adobe DNG converter., and

3) in Camera Raw I can adjust the Pixel image in terms of adobe color (e.g., adobe landscape), for the others not so and it is like bringing in a jpg via bridge into Camera Raw and have choices of color and black and white.

edit 4) also the Pixel image is more zoomed in.  They all are using the same lens as only the Pixel can switch to the others now.  An Android issue I have been tole.

All of this makes me wonder what is going into the DNG files and if they are truly Raw.

Anyone have some ideas on this?

dave

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David T. Long
East Lansing, Michigan

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I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Pixel 5 and DNG

Others own true Pixel models and may know more. My experience with various GCam mods on a Moto phone has been that DNGs generated by GCam v. 6.x have been "full sixed", i.e. 23mpx, the same as DNGs generated by other, "manual-style" camera apps I use. By contrast, the couple of GCam version 7.x apps that work on my phone only generate compressed DNGs, about half the size at 12mpx. It may be that's the way the underlying Pixel app is built now. I noticed some developer discussion at XDA forums indicating they consider the qualititative difference negligible - that's for users to decide. I haven't made much use of DNG capability for the GCams, enjoying the reliable one-click HDR+ algos - tend to use manual control apps when feeling more creative and anticipating post-processing.

You might be interested to try something like Open Camera (or the good Hedgecam2 spin) on your phone to compare full sized DNGs. Open Camera's documentation of HDR indicates it implements the Pixel Visual Core on true Pixel devices, and renders HDR+, which would include rendered DNGs. On my Moto phone (without Visual Core), Open Camera and other manual-style apps produce uncompressed DNGs in HDR modes.

Ruby Rod Contributing Member • Posts: 690
Re: Pixel 5 and DNG

I recently started messing with RAWs from my Moto g7. My goto app is Qimage. It's really a printing program, but offers some unique ways to optimize RAW files. It's strong point is full color management. It has a unique sharpening tool that's better than most, but quite limited noise reduction tools. It's unsurpassed for printing, though the learning curve can be a bit steep. My RAWs are about 25 meg and Qimage displays them with no problem, thumbs or full.

http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/

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Ruby

paul cool
paul cool Veteran Member • Posts: 3,136
Re: Pixel 5 and DNG

David T. Long wrote:

I have been experimenting raw (dng) with various camera apps (e.g., Lightroom, open camera, Procam, Firstlight).

What I observe:

1) there is a significant difference in file size between the native Pixel app and the others. The others are 23, 847 KB while the Pixel is 13,626 KB,

2) the Pixel dng shows a thumbnail image (like a jpg file) in its folder while the others just the dng logo (which for me is typical DNG either out of camera or converted from a raw file with Adobe DNG converter., and

3) in Camera Raw I can adjust the Pixel image in terms of adobe color (e.g., adobe landscape), for the others not so and it is like bringing in a jpg via bridge into Camera Raw and have choices of color and black and white.

edit 4) also the Pixel image is more zoomed in. They all are using the same lens as only the Pixel can switch to the others now. An Android issue I have been tole.

All of this makes me wonder what is going into the DNG files and if they are truly Raw.

Anyone have some ideas on this?

dave

I sruggle to find my raw images when using lightroom and  connecting to pc but ok when using mobile lightroom .

 paul cool's gear list:paul cool's gear list
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