iPad supports RAW files [Merged]

[Alnitak]

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Why not transfer say 4 gig of DNGs to the iPad and see how much the available space decreases by? If transfers the DNGs as Jpegs then the available space should decrease by a lot less than 4 gig.

 

I did exactly this tonight. It is very clear that iTunes is doing the exact same thing it does with photos for the iPhone and iPod: It is resizing them and converting ALL raw formats to jpegs. The jpegs it makes are about 1.1MB in size on average. I sent nearly 250 raw files in three different formats to the iPad. Total size of the raw files was 10GB; total size on the iPad was just under 260MB.

 

So, one thing is clear: Files put on the iPad from iTunes are converted to jpegs. Exactly how this is related to the camera connection kit and the fact that Apple states that it will support raw files is unclear. I suppose we will all know more in a few weeks when it ships.

 

Jeff

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[stunsworth]

Jeff, thanks for that.

 

Regarding the camera kit, being pessimistic "raw support" may only mean that it will read the raw files in order to produce the Jpegs. Being optimistic it may support them in their native format. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[sanyasi]

I have now loaded enough photos on the iPad through the iTunes sync process to conclude that Apple Tech Support is wrong. As others have pointed out, the files that go from the computer to the iPad are compressed files--most likely jpegs. To obtain further confirmation, I spent some time on the Apple and other forums last night. This question has been raised on the Apple forum and the answer is consistent with my observations. The files are compressed.

 

For the pessimists out there, there is good news about the Camera Connection kit. The people on the Apple forum said that the kit will work like the one that was available for the iPod. Apparently, that kit transfers the DNG files to the iPod. If you only shoot DNG, the iPod will store, but not display them. If you opt for DNG with a jpeg sidecar file, you apparently can view the jpeg files on the iPod. The person writing on the forum indicates that there is no reason to believe the kit for the iPad will work differently.

 

To try to obtain more solid information, I have sent an email to AppleInsider asking that they do an article on the iPad and RAW photography that addresses these issues. I also have raised the issue with David Pogue of the New York Times. In the past, he has been responsive to these sorts of questions.

 

Granted, the jpeg playback is a bummer to the extent you viewed your iPad as a third way to back up files. Yet, I would not be too dismissive of the iPad if I were a professional photographer. The iPad can viewed as your 30 second elevator speech. You are unlikely to walk around with your portfolio at all the times, but with the iPad you can have a quick way to display your work in case someone asks while you are reading a book or emailing in a coffee shop.

 

And finally, I read yesterday in a newspaper that TSA is going to treat the iPad like an iPhone rather than a computer, which means you will not have to take it out every time you go through security--although I want to see if that is how it works in practice before I believe it.

[wlaidlaw]

So if Sanyasi is correct, for Apple to say that the iPad supports RAW is an incorrect statement. Mac/iPhoto/iTunes support RAW and can produce a displayable image on the iPad. The iPad cannot display a RAW image by itself. Storing a file is not supporting it. If this is the case, it makes it much less likely that I would get one.

 

Wilson

[Alnitak]

Thanks for the research, Sansayi. This pretty much confirms what I figured in general about the kit: it would transfer raw files, but not read them. This makes a lot of sense, as the iPad uses the iPhone OS. As far as I know, Apple has never said that the iPad "supports" raw files anyway: the only mention of raw files is with the Camera Connection Kit, which says that it will support raw files, but that's much different than the device fully supporting them.

 

As for the TSA, I don't believe that newspaper article. The TSA treats my Kindle as a computer, so I can't see how they would treat the iPad any differently. I'll guarantee that you will be required to take it out of your bag and put it in a tray. I'll get to test that concept this week as I am flying from LAX to Heathrow (and then on to Zurich) on Saturday.

 

However, none of this dims my enthusiasm for the iPad one bit. It's a fabulous device with tremendous utility. For example, on this upcoming flight, I will have several movies, a selection of music, and a couple of books. It will be a great single device to use on the 11-hour flight, and the battery will last for the whole flight (although I will have access to an outlet and will likely use it). I also think that we will likely see apps that have raw support, since the iPad definitely has the power required to decode raw files.

 

Jeff

[stunsworth]

I also think that we will likely see apps that have raw support, since the iPad definitely has the power required to decode raw files.

 

That's possible, but since an app lives in its own little 'sandbox' it would make it difficult for files uploaded by one app to be accessible to another.

 

Likewise I don't know if there are any APIs available to allow a 3rd party app to access RAW files uploaded to the iPod using the connection kit.

[Alnitak]

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That's possible, but since an app lives in its own little 'sandbox' it would make it difficult for files uploaded by one app to be accessible to another.

 

Likewise I don't know if there are any APIs available to allow a 3rd party app to access RAW files uploaded to the iPod using the connection kit.

 

In the case of an iPad app, I wouldn't really care if another app could or couldn't see the files. However, I also believe that's not the case. For example, there is no app to read PDF's on the iPad, but once I installed one, the Mail app could tell that there was a supporting app for that file type, and used that app to open PDF files attached to emails--so there is some ability to understand file type associations, which is quite different from the sand boxing of the applications during run time.

 

I think comparisons to the iPod are not relevant, as they use a different OS and have a substantially different architecture as well.

 

Jeff

[Alnitak]

For those who have bemoaned the lack of multi-tasking in the iPhone OS, today's announcement was a big one: OS 4, due out this summer, will have multitasking.

 

Apple - iPhone - iPhone OS 4 Preview

 

Jeff

[stunsworth]

...OS 4, due out this summer, will have multitasking...

 

But only if you are using a 3GS iPhone. Older phones won't multitask.

[Alnitak]

But only if you are using a 3GS iPhone. Older phones won't multitask.

 

Yes, but this is an iPad thread and that was the point.

[stunsworth]

I only mentioned it because you refered to an update to the iPhone software, I thought it might be of interest to iPhone users.

[tpkoester]

...

As for the TSA, I don't believe that newspaper article. The TSA treats my Kindle as a computer, so I can't see how they would treat the iPad any differently. I'll guarantee that you will be required to take it out of your bag and put it in a tray. I'll get to test that concept this week as I am flying from LAX to Heathrow (and then on to Zurich) on Saturday.

...

Jeff

 

Yesterday we flew from Ft. Myers via Charlotte International to Frankfurt Rhein-Main. I had an iPad and a Kindle in my carry-on baggage. I had to take out neither of them when passing TSA in Ft. Myers and Charlotte.

 

ciao tpk

[Alnitak]

Yesterday we flew from Ft. Myers via Charlotte International to Frankfurt Rhein-Main. I had an iPad and a Kindle in my carry-on baggage. I had to take out neither of them when passing TSA in Ft. Myers and Charlotte.

 

ciao tpk

 

Which just goes to show how inconsistent the TSA is. At LAX, I had to put it in a separate bin, but they also make me do that with my Kindle. In Heathrow, I had to put it in a bin as well. On a Swiss flight to Zurich this evening, they didn't want me to have it on my lap for landing, even though it was turned off because it was a "computer" and computers have to be stowed.

 

So, your mileage will vary depending on the person who sees it and what they think it is.

 

All of that said, it was great to have on the plane for reading my magazines and playing some games. I didn't watch a movie as I was trying to sleep.

 

On the photography side, I think we are going to see some nice apps to put your portfolio on for display. I downloaded a Flickr app that copies all of your Flickr photos to the iPad where you can browse them off line in a whole variety of ways. It's a great little app, but I am sure even better ones will be forthcoming.

 

Jeff

[vafa]

Hi, my iPad shows two images, one original jpeg and one embedded jpeg. The smaller embedded jpeg is pixeleted and very poor quality. Have you guys experienced same and how can I get rid of the embedded file so it won' show duplicates.

 

Thanks,

Vafa

[Alnitak]

Vafa,

 

Where are you seeing this? The photos app? How are you copying the files to your iPad?

 

Jeff

[vafa]

Hi Jeff,

I used iTunes on a widows vista to sync the photos and I'm using the photo app which was pre loaded on the iPad. And somehow there are two copies of same file one regular jpeg and a pixleaited one.

 

Vafa

[vafa]

I just looked at the Ipad photo's and it appears that the duplicates are only in the folders that I shot with M8 (I shoot raw and jpeg setting) and looks like its the DNG files that show pixelated! Some how in my case it is not converting DNG files to jpeg!

 

Vafa

[wlaidlaw]

Has anyone received their camera/card connection kit yet, as I see they are now being sent out. I will be very interested to see how this will work when you are taking DNG's only.

 

Wilson

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[Alnitak]

Ignore the ad above; there are much better apps out there.

[Alnitak]

Has anyone received their camera/card connection kit yet, as I see they are now being sent out. I will be very interested to see how this will work when you are taking DNG's only.

 

Wilson

 

Mine is on its way. I'll report back when I get it.

 

Jeff