RAW Files Converted to JPEG When I Import to Lightroom (Page 2): Actually they won’t be in the trash because they were imported directly into Lightroom and were never in another...

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

mikeroetex wrote:

1) If you have not emptied the trash on your PC, the photos in question should still be on your PC.
2) Paul is correct. I have never seen software have a mind of its own. Software is stupid and only follows your directions. That applies to LRC and software on your camera. Retracing your workflow steps will often find your misstep.

Actually they won’t be in the trash because they were imported directly into Lightroom and were never in another location to delete from. The OP was under the impression that LR was converting them during import. Once deleted from the card they only exist on the computer is where Lightroom copied them too.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Actually they won’t be in the trash because they were imported directly into Lightroom and were never in another location to delete from. The OP was under the impression that LR was converting them during import. Once deleted from the card they only exist on the computer is where Lightroom copied them too.

Sorry if I misunderstood. This statement led me to believe he had transferred to his PC before deletion.

.... As part of my workflow, when I finish culling and processing photos from a given shoot, I delete all the photos I'm not keeping. I do this on the PC, not the camera, which was a recommendation I read on UHH several years ago.)

I still stand by retracing his workflow steps and checking camera settings. Lightroom doesn't misbehave on its own!

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

I noticed awhile ago that when I shoot at high speed the camera (can't recall whether Canon, SONY or Panasonic) switched from RAW to JPG no doubt to make the high speed (11+/- frames/sec) work.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I just can't tell you how many times I hear about file management problems for those who use Lightroom. I personally won't touch it because of my lack of understanding with the required knowledge to operate Lightroom with out issue. I find it to simply copy my files via the operating system, that is select and copy, keeping the image files on the original source (camera card) then deleting after I confirm the files are where I want them and in the proper formate. Once I confirm the files are there and where I want them, and a backup is confirmed, you do do as you wish. Lightroom and its file management system is just too complicated. I deal with thousands and thousand of images, butte to the fact I mainly shoot birds. I don't want to run 1/2 way around the world and end up with technical issues. I have a friend I traveled to Barrow Alaska last summer to photography arctic waterfowl and come home and loose all of his images because of his lack of understanding of file management systems in Lightroom.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Nalu wrote:

I just can't tell you how many times I hear about ... (show quote)

"....the required knowledge to operate Lightroom with out issue."

That can be a significant challenge. Posts from people making a mess out of it are not uncommon. I started with it when it was version 4 and less capable or complex. That might be 20 years ago. It has evolved to an "ecosystem" of multiple applications tied together.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Nalu wrote:

I just can't tell you how many times I hear about ... (show quote)

Nothing in your answer helps the OP solve his issue. People who rant about not understanding LR must have never been to a library and used a card catalog and the Dewey decimal system before. Same concept. Find your favorite Sports book in Section 701 -713, unless somebody picks it up and moves it elsewhere in the library. The book is still in the library, just cannot be found because it was logged into section 700. Your book arrived at the library in the mail (the SD card), was unboxed by the librarian and labeled for storage (importing files) and placed on the designated shelf (your hard drive structure). Editing a photo is akin to making notes in the book margins or highlighting a paragraph. But change the book cover for a Biology book or simply carry the book somewhere else and dump it on another shelf and suddenly LR went crazy!

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

mwsilvers wrote:

As a general rule it is best to import all your files into Lightroom and then back them up before deleting them from your original source. It is the safest way to ensure you don't lose anything.

To save time/steps, why not just let Lightroom copy all imported files to a second location that you identified in the import dialog? Of course we assume that in the normal course of business a formal backup is made on a regular schedule (or event) of the official photo files with their edits made in LR or PS or whatever other editors one might use.

At some future date once the formal backup has been completed all those ‘second copy’ of files imported can be deleted from the second location you identified during the original import using Lightroom.

BobPeterson Loc: Massachusetts

globetrekker wrote:

Yesterday I noticed that a subset of the photos I ... (show quote)

I don't know about other cameras but if I start a video I can capture stills at the same time that will be jpg's regardless of the camera being set to capture RAW in photo mode. Did you by chance capture some stills while shooting video?
As Paul said Lightroom doesn't change the file to jpg on import. The only options are to Move, Copy, Add, Copy as DNG

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

BobPeterson wrote:

I don't know about other cameras but if I start a video I can capture stills at the same time that will be jpg's regardless of the camera being set to capture RAW in photo mode. Did you by chance capture some stills while shooting video?
As Paul said Lightroom doesn't change the file to jpg on import. The only options are to Move, Copy, Add, Copy as DNG

Good thought, but no, I didn’t shoot any video.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

Today I shot some photos and imported them into LrC. 298 photos. I noticed that some, a minority, are JPEGs. I created a Smart Collection, and it tells me that 27 of the photos are JPEG. I have not touched the Quality setting in my 60D. I'm wondering if I don't understand it. But this never happened before my LrC upgrade. Here is a photo of my Quality setting. The RAW selection, plus the dash in the JPEG field, means that I am only shooting RAW, right? This is one of the last times, if not the last time, I shoot with my 60D. (Just got an R10. Waiting for the lens adapter to arrive.) But I'd really like to understand why some photos are imported as JPEG. I'll see if this continues with my R10. If it does, I guess I'll take CHG_CANON's suggestion and open a support ticket with Adobe.

(Download)

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Do you ever shoot in Auto mode or use any of the scene modes? I believe those only capture in JPEG.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Do you ever shoot in Auto mode or use any of the scene modes? I believe those only capture in JPEG.

Rarely and I definitely did not today.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

globetrekker wrote:

Today I shot some photos and imported them into Lr... (show quote)

So, this is seemingly interesting, but tells us next to nothing useful.

Your RAW files are in the folder used as import. Begin there and verify for yourself. Verify at the OS level (file manager), outside of Lightroom.

Your RAW files are on the source camera card used by the camera. Begin there and verify for yourself.

These two questions are the first of the relevant details. What is on the card? When viewed from your computer and sorted by shooting time and / or file name, are there CR2s (RAW) interspersed by JPEGs in the sequential numbering of the files?

If there are only RAW files on the camera card, now we'd have something to consider about LR's operation. But, if the JPEGs came from the camera, then we have something to consider in the camera (human) configuration.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

CHG_CANON wrote:

So, this is seemingly interesting, but tells us ne... (show quote)

Thanks, Paul. I can't fully investigate in this manner now because, out of habit, I followed my usual workflow yesterday. That includes using LRC to delete unwanted files at the conclusion of my PP session, and formatting the card (in the camera). I will say that looking in Explorer at the folder I imported into, I see 1 JPEG files among the 11 files I kept. The rest are RAW except for one DNG generated by Denoise.

I will try to remember to not delete and format right away if/when this happens again. I would have no problem learning that this is human error, but honestly, I just don't think that is the case. I have importing files the way I always do. I haven't touched the Quality setting in my 60D. The only thing that has changed is my upgrade to LRC. And my camera is about to change. Not sure yet whether I'll have one more session with my 60D before I'm up and running with my R10.

Thank you and please stay tuned.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

globetrekker wrote:

Thanks, Paul. I can't fully investigate in this ma... (show quote)

Oh well ...