M9 & Lightroom

[Don Morley]

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As a dedicated CS3 & Elements 8 user I have only just downloaded my free copy of Lightroom 3.3 for my M9 because Leica and various fellow Forum members claim L/Room brings out that bit more from the M9 images than other software, especially in noise terms at higher ISO speed settings.

 

BUT CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY? - For unlike the umpteen Nikon & Canon models listed within Lightroom the M9 is not a separate choose-able option far as I can see?

 

Does this for instance mean Lightroom is in fact quietly recognising the fact I am using a M9, and is therefore making subtle changes at download time to my images without me even knowing about, or of course having any control over it?

 

Or am I simply missing the point, or possibly not finding, some specific M9 setting hidden within Lightroom which maybe needs Pre-clicking or pre-setting?? Please explain if you can. Thanks Don.

[Rolo]

If you look in the Metadata, you should see that Lightroom has indeed recognised your M9 and has adjusted your files accordingly in line with the pre set M9 Profile.

 

If you want to modify, or make your own Profile and save it to address every future M9 import you can do that too.

 

Note you can easily right mouse click, Edit In/CS3 Photoshop, modify and save the resulting Tiff file back into Lightroom alongside your DNG original. You can also do the same with other software including the NIK suite of programmes.

 

Enjoy, there's lots of features to take advantage of.

[mwilliamsphotography]

Isn't the current version of Adobe Camera RAW 6.3 for native DNG cameras (including the M9) using the same profile? Or does the OP have to have CS5 to utilize this update?

 

Marc

[Rolo]

Isn't the current version of Adobe Camera RAW 6.3 for native DNG cameras (including the M9) using the same profile? Or does the OP have to have CS5 to utilize this update? Marc

 

It is with ACR 6.3, but not usable with earlier versions than CS5. This was the reason I upgraded from CS4 to CS6 last year. It may have changed, but I haven't heard.

 

Don, you should review your ability to upgrade to CS6 as before long you may be forced to buy the full programme, rather than pay the much lower upgrade price. If you are a dedicated Photoshop user, as indeed I am, you might prefer to avoid other programmes and stick with what you know best. However, in that case I'd recommend the upgrade for the improved RAW conversion algorithms and the newly introduced Photoshop features.

[Reds]

It's knows it's a M9 ok - reports an 'embedded' profile. What it doesn't do is get the right White balance number !

[zlatkob]

As a dedicated CS3 & Elements 8 user I have only just downloaded my free copy of Lightroom 3.3 for my M9 because Leica and various fellow Forum members claim L/Room brings out that bit more from the M9 images than other software, especially in noise terms at higher ISO speed settings.

 

BUT CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY? - For unlike the umpteen Nikon & Canon models listed within Lightroom the M9 is not a separate choose-able option far as I can see?

 

To benefit from the new noise reduction, you just need to make sure you are using "Process: 2010 (Current)" in the Camera Calibration section of the Develop module. You can use any camera profile, and still benefit from the new high ISO noise reduction. The new noise reduction is not an M9-specific setting. I use Adobe Standard as the color profile for M9 files.

 

Once you have "Process: 2010 (Current)" selected, then adjust the noise reduction settings to taste. For example, try 15 luminance and 25 color as a default. For noisy high ISO files, set the luminance a little higher (perhaps 25) and the color much higher (up to 100).

 

You can make these new settings into a Preset that you apply to selected files, or you can make them your Default for all new files imported thereafter. To make them your Default, go to the Develop top menu, then select "Set Default Settings...", then click the button titled "Update to Current Settings".