Dbl00buk Loc: Orlando

Hi Hogs. Just interested to find out if anyone is using an auto adjust option when converting raw.
My main S/W converter and editor is Capture One and my secondary is LR.
There are occasions when I don't have enough time to sit and tweak after converting so I'll click the auto adjust option.
I like the auto adjust feature in Capture One except that it gets too picky and tends to over adjust. LR has a plug in (forget the name) that's not to bad, but nothing stellar. Are there any standalone converters that are pretty good at this?
Thanks, Greg

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

When you say auto adjust is it something like Lightroom's Auto Tone feature where exposure, etc get adjusted during the conversion process?

I do not convert RAW files bringing them into Lightroom any more. For one thing, the Nikon D850 files are 52 Mb and converting them to DNG just takes too long, even on a dual CPU system with Gb Gb RAM

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

In Lightroom, I sometimes use the 'auto' as a starting point for images that I have not created a preset for.
I have presets for all of my lenses and basic settings for the type of photographs I normally take.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

When the converted image in LR appears way off I sometimes use auto as a starting point or just discard it.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I use them both and boy do they save time. In Lightroom it is part of my import preset settings, and in C1 it is easy enough to apply auto adjust after import to a group of files and it will custom optimize each one. In most cases I can get proof quality results in seconds.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I use Lightroom as my number 1 eating program. I often use the Auto Tone, both in the Library Module and in the Develop Module. If I've taken many shots of the same subject, think wild animal, then I can use the Auto Tone button to auto tone all of the shots taken in the same light. This lets me quickly look over the shots to see which ones I like best and then I edit each of those shots as I want to. Auto Tone is also good if you've taken shots that are somewhat underexposed as it will let you immediately see which ones might work out. I do everything I can the easy way whenever possible!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Rather than auto-convert Raw, why not just use the JPEG which is an in-camera auto-converted? Why complicate the photo and delude oneself into thinking that an auto-convert is better than the in-camera RAW to JPEG. If you have to use Auto, then that indicates that one is not a master of RAW. If the Camera generated JPEG is not of ones liking it can be post processed... and if need be then one can go back and work with the RAW. [skillfully]

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I fully agree with dpullum, just shoot jpeg and have it done.

Dbl00buk Loc: Orlando

Interesting feedback, thanks.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Sometimes I use the auto adjust in Camera Raw. It is usually not what I ultimately want but sometimes it's right on. If you think it's "overdone" you can tweak it by adjusting the opacity in the saved file to turn down the effects.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I always start with Auto and tweak it from there.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I, pretty much, don't Auto anything. I keep track of how much I push my exposure and adjust for that in ACR, along with adjusting a few other settings. Then, into PS for final touches to the print. If I don't have time to make the adjustments I know I'll want to make, I don't do anything until I do have the time.
--Bob

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Hi, just another thought on this after seeing some of the replies. When editing it's ultimately not about the Auto Tone or auto adjust in any program or perhaps, in many cases, even about the program you use as long as the program is not a "quickie" program like the Apple photos program. It's about the user and how well the user knows the program that he/she is using. Auto anything is just a starting point and is a quick way to begin the wonderful and exciting process of editing your images. Working fast can be important when you have to go through 5000 files and you want to get it done. I generally edit some small portion of my images right away on my laptop, even during a trip at times. In Costa Rica just a week or so ago I had edited about 40 images before I got on the plane to head home and I've been working on the others I've chosen steadily since then. I simply imported the catalog of the edited images from my laptop Lightroom to my desktop Lightroom to avoid having to process already processed images on my desktop. I work fast and fairly streamlined because I like to see the finished product. You can see some of my Costa Rica images in the gallery section if you care to. Get a program, learn it, use any auto features you can that will help you get started, and get to creating beautiful images that will please you and, perhaps, others, too.

leftj Loc: Texas

I like Photolemur.

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

Thanks for a well-reasoned, thoughtful and clear response. Anything can be of value if it helps you achieve your vision. The elites to whom "auto-anything" is akin to using a Brownie Instamatic and photo processing at Thrifty Drug are missing the point of auto as an initial and highly-modifiable setting. Don't like it? Don't use it... but don't look down on others that do!