RAW or DNG: Newbee question... I am using Nikon equipment. They have a propitiatory RAW format NEF. I am about to install LightRoom 6 and have noticed that there is an option to import...

Shaker Loc: New England

Newbee question...

I am using Nikon equipment. They have a propitiatory RAW format NEF. I am about to install LightRoom 6 and have noticed that there is an option to import by 'copying' the files as DNG.

I understand that DNG is an open source RAW format.

Is it wise to import by using the 'copy as dng' choice when importing directly from camera. (it also gives me a choice of where to put them, i believe)

If so... can I also use this import command to import files and folders already on my comuter into LightRoom ... and then simply delete the NEF files...?

After only 2 months of shooting, I have thousands of NEF already on my computer. As I install non-cc LightRoom today or tomorrow and begin to import pictures, I really really wish to begin with a solid, wise, simple foundation of how things are brought in and stored and labeled.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

Shaker wrote:

Newbee question... br br I am using Nikon equipme... (show quote)

I could be wrong, but I think your camera would have had to save the shot as a DNG or you would have to have converted your NEF to DNG using a DNG conversion program, before importing into Lightroom. My Pentax cameras have the option of saving as the native RAW or DNG.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Keep the NEF format. DNG is nothing more than a 'wrapper'. It can encapsulate JPG and whatever format ACR opens so*... Really not worth the time and waste of time.

If you take the time to read articles on the web many past user of DNG regret having selected that as their 'standard'.

As to get a good understanding of what LR does you have incredible dedicated forums to LR (including Adobe own forums and tutorials). As to visual training you have YouTube (free), among others many others that are paying.

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* While I am dismissive of the DNG format for not being a 'pure DNG' converter when you convert a JPG onto a DNG then the file is treated as 'raw' so it is never overwritten.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

marki3rd wrote:

I could be wrong, but I think your camera would have had to save the shot as a DNG or you would have to have converted your NEF to DNG using a DNG conversion program, before importing into Lightroom. My Pentax cameras have the option of saving as the native RAW or DNG.

You sadly are. DNG is a 'conversion' program. It can take any ACR compatible file and transforming it into a DNG....

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Shaker wrote:

Newbee question... br br I am using Nikon equipme... (show quote)

DNG is supposedly "future proof," against obsolescence, but may not give you the absolute best color conversion from your NEFs. Save original files on another drive, the cloud, DVD, etc... If you need to exchange raw files (why would you?), DNG works. If the camera company goes out of business, DNG files will still be supported because the format is universal.

If camera manufacturers other than Pentax and a couple others thought DNG was TRULY a good idea, they would have switched long ago.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

There are pros and cons of the DNG format that make for good reading and discussion. But, keep it simple. Keep the NEFs.

"I really really wish to begin with a solid, wise, simple foundation of how things are brought in and stored and labeled."

There are plenty of quality explanations or tutorials. Famous names in the Lightroom training world that I like are are Julieanne Kost, Tim Grey, Matt Kloskowski. Lynda.com has Jan Kabili and Chris Orwig. Matt Kloskowski has a brand new Lightroom for beginners course and Jan Kabili has "Up and Running With Lightroom".

A common and good suggestion for the first step is to isolate a dozen copies of photos in a temporary folder and start Lightroom with a temporary catalog. Once you get comfortable, then work on the thousands.

The most common mistake at the beginning is thinking that photos are "in" Lightroom. They are not. They are where you put them. "Importing" in Lightroom means registering their location in the Lightroom catalog file.

Good luck and ask lots of questions.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

CAREFUL!!!!!!! Importing photos already in the computer into Lightroom only makes Lightroom "aware" of the photo and where it's located and makes a spot to record any changes you make to the photo in it's catalog. The Changes, not the photo are in Lightroom.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

Rongnongno wrote:

Keep the NEF format. DNG is nothing more than a '... (show quote)

DNG has been around since 2004. I know of no one today regretting converting. DNG is RAW. It eliminates unnecessary information, reducing files sizes as it encapsulates xmp files within the image as opposed to two separate files if not converted. If you are going to say people regret, you should state the reasons, otherwise you are just spreading unfounded information that the greater community does not accept. One of the strongest reasons to convert is to safely adopt a standard. Every new camera that comes out on the market has its very own format. if you keep the original file format, there is a chance that it could be orphaned by the manufacturer. In fact that did happen years ago with Nikon. Today many manufactures has adopted dng as an option with in the camera. Many software manufacturers have adopted the dng format as well. For more pros and cons check out

http://blogs.adobe.com/photoshop/2015/12/dng-pros-cons-and-myths.html

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Mark7829 wrote:

DNG has been around since 2004. I know of no one ... (show quote)

Shaker Loc: New England

that is a great link. with both pros and cons and great explanations.
i will be studying it

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Yeah DNG id not being dropped...

http://petapixel.com/2015/07/16/why-i-stopped-using-the-dng-file-format/

This is just one among many...

This was discussed before and a rehash.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

Rongnongno wrote:

You sadly are. DNG is a 'conversion' program. It can take any ACR compatible file and transforming it into a DNG....

Because I am not familiar with Lightroom, I was "wrong" to the extent that I said "convert prior to importing to Lightroom". A conversion to DNG none the less does take place during the import. DNG is not a conversion program, it is an alternative RAW format and other RAW formats are converted to it by whatever means.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

burkphoto wrote:

If camera manufacturers other than Pentax and a couple others thought DNG was TRULY a good idea, they would have switched long ago.

That's a nonsense statement. Pentax and some other camera companies offer DNG as an in camera option to their Native RAW format. That alone shows they think the option is a good idea else why would they go to the trouble to offer it.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I have been using DNG conversion from NEF since I started using Lightroom. I like the fact that it imbeds the XMP file with the main DNG file thus giving you only one file to deal with instead of two. I have never had a situation where my NEF files look any better or worse than the converted DNG files, it's still a RAW format. You can convert to DNG in Lightroom and still keep your NEF files in a separate folder but to me it's just a duplication of effort.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

marki3rd wrote:

Because I am not familiar with Lightroom, I was "wrong" to the extent that I said "convert prior to importing to Lightroom". A conversion to DNG none the less does take place during the import. DNG is not a conversion program, it is an alternative RAW format and other RAW formats are converted to it by whatever means.

You are right DNG is not a conversion program, it is a format resulting from a conversion through adobe dng converter or ACR.

It is an alternative of sorts as DNG (shell) can encapsulate any format that is accepted including jpg and as such should never be mentioned as 'raw' file. For that reason alone DNG is not reliable as an exchange format since it is hard to figure out what is inside w/o inspecting the content first.

Another drawback while manufacturer make an effort (for good reason) to have their raw files readable by their own software (and usually converted to TIFF ~ optional) DNG converters have to wait from a few weeks to a few months before before a new camera format is available.

I am not typing of saying 'Do not use it' but 'be aware of the drawbacks'. If you search dng/raw you will notice numerous accounts of photographers stopping using this format. As to cross application/software it is a joke, not many software developers lose their time with dng. The delay between new cameras raw and dng converter is just too long.