M8 DNG and Lightroom 2 DNG

[steven:s]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Given both of these are DNG format, I am just wondering if there is any need to convert to the Lightroom DNG format on import or can I leave in the Leica format?

Which is better for processing in Lightroom?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Pintpot]

I import my files direct into lightroom without any problems - DNG I'm told is all the same,

or am I wrong?

 

Tony

[jpattison]

Adobe designed DNG as an open RAW format that any company can use. Leica intelligently use this format for all their RAW generating cameras. Other makers do, hopefully everyone will do so in future. It makes sense to have a "digital negative" that has an ongoing future.

Importing your file as is will create the same file as converting it to DNG, so there's no need. I always converted my Canon RAW to DNG in Lightroom, I never used the Canon software.

 

Digital Negative (file format) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Regards,

John

[01af]

There is absolutely no need to convert your raw files from Leica DNG to Adobe DNG; Lightroom (and Camera Raw, too) will happily digest both flavours equally well. Still, it does make sense to convert to Adobe DNG because it will losslessly compress the files considerably and thus, save space in your digital archive. The option is yours.

[Pintpot]

The great thing about Lightroom is that you can reprocess your DNG as much as you like

and as often as you like without any change to the file, any changes you do make are only applied to the print, or if you wish you can export the changed file as a TIFF and use other software to ptint , crop or whatever.

 

Your DNG file is as 'shot' - like the negs in your darkroom, and you can re-visit them whenever you want and produce different results each time should you want to.

 

Direct import as DNG into Lightroom is by far the best way to work and I think faster than any other way of processing your files.

 

Tony