Simple but good viewer/converter for DNGs?

[Chazphoto]

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Hi,

 

I'm very new to this and learning about the M9 I'm working with (for pleasure, if you see what I mean). I have downloaded the Adobe DNG codex so that I can see the Leica files in Windows photoviewer, but am wondering if there is a better programme out there that will result in a better view of the image and a worthwhile conversion and save to JPG format? I have Lightroom on the home PC, but am looking for something simpler, smaller and cheaper (free?) for use on the office laptop?

 

Is this is a silly question? All suggestions/comments gratefully received.

 

Thanks

 

Chazphoto

[jaapv]

It appears to me that you want to use the camera in (DNG+)JPG mode. But if you only use it to view your images in Windows Viewer I wonder why you bought such a capable camera. To see the quality of the photographs you took you need to develop and print them properly. I suggest you get Scott Kelby’s book for Lightroom.

[anupmc]

Hi,

... I have Lightroom on the home PC, but am looking for something simpler, smaller and cheaper (free?) for use on the office laptop?

 

...

 

Why bother when…

 

Lightroom End User License Agreement

2.4 Portable or Home Computer Use. The primary user of the Computer on which the Software is installed may install a second copy of the Software for his or her exclusive use on either a portable Computer or a Computer located at his or her home, provided the Software on the portable or home Computer is not used at the same time as the Software on the primary Computer.

[Printmaker]

I'm a huge fan of Adobe Bridge/Camera Raw/Photoshop. I find LightRoom too slow.

[lucerne]

Hi,

 

I'm very new to this and learning about the M9 I'm working with (for pleasure, if you see what I mean). I have downloaded the Adobe DNG codex so that I can see the Leica files in Windows photoviewer, but am wondering if there is a better programme out there that will result in a better view of the image and a worthwhile conversion and save to JPG format? I have Lightroom on the home PC, but am looking for something simpler, smaller and cheaper (free?) for use on the office laptop?

 

Is this is a silly question? All suggestions/comments gratefully received.

 

Thanks

 

Chazphoto

Chaz.

 

By working only with the JPEGS, you are choosing a workflow which is going to result in you not seeing the full quality of the images from your M9. In fact, I was faced with a similar problem. Only take final processed images to your office if you must!

.

My solution was to ditch the PC and move to a Macbook. It displays DNG files and does come with software that allows editing of the JPEGs without the need for any additional applications although Lightroom is strongly advised .( Other excellent RAW processors are available.). I was amazed at what I had been missing. I took the SD card from my camera and visited a computer store. I put the card in and couldn't believe what I was immediately seeing. I purchased it the following day and haven't regretted it. For the whole of 2013 I had been admiring my images on an office quality Dell laptop and completely missing the best part of the Leica experience .. Now I can really see what I'm getting and what I'm doing during processing in Lightroom. After a lifetime with PC's, and never having used a Mac, the one week with the Mac has been a revelation. Don't be too economical. The image processing and display have to be capable of handling the fabulous output from your body and the lenses.

 

So: Find a store with PC's and Macs and compare the simplicity and speed of loading and reviewing your images in each.

Good luck.

[Chazphoto]

Hi, thanks for moving the thread to the right place and for all the replies. I haven't had a chance to read the last one in detail, but wanted to try to explain.

 

I'm really new to digital photography, being a late adopter. I haven't got a lot of time for digital development - never did for film development. I haven't even loaded the copy of Lightroom I bought 5 months ago onto the PC!

 

Now, I could criticise myself for that also, but I'm looking for some solutions that will help. I read that the M9's JPG engine wasn't the best, so have taken my first few photographs as DNGs. I found the Adobe codec, so at least I can see the photos on a decent screen. They look OK for first tries with a new camera (and new to rangefinders and Leica generally), but they take a short while to load and I don't know if I'm viewing the DNG or a conversion to a JPG and whether that conversion could be handled better.

 

If the advice is to convert using Lightroom, can some let me know whether I need to set up some defaults or can just use the LR4 presets?

 

Thanks

 

Chazphoto

[Chazphoto]

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PS: I may be asking entirely the wrong question, by the way! Think of it this way: if you were away from your normal processing environment, how would you get to view the photos from your M9 in as best quality as you could, but without actually delivering a final result that you would be printing or otherwise publishing?

 

Thanks

 

Chaz

[jaapv]

Mac Preview. Or even better put a second copy of LR on your notebook.

BTW, you will never be viewing a DNG. Everything your monitor shows is an interpretation in JPG.

 

You must use LR to get the photo optimal for your taste. The presets cannot be anything but a starting point. Do get the Scott Kelby book.

[Chazphoto]

Thanks all. It looks as though I need to take the plunge into Lightroom.

 

Cheers

 

Chazphoto

[Duane Pandorf]

Thanks all. It looks as though I need to take the plunge into Lightroom.

 

Cheers

 

Chazphoto

 

Hey Chaz. You have a top end camera to shoot with that makes marvelous files in the DNG RAW format. I was in your same shoes at one time and felt a little overwhelmed with Lightroom and what it was going to take to get up to speed to learn how to get the most out of this great camera.

 

Scott Kelby's Lightroom Book is an excellent source. But what I wanted was an easy and understandable system on ingesting my images the same way and when and what Develop Module sliders to use.

 

I purchased George Jardine's training videos and they were perfect for me. You can download them or watch them online.

 

George Jardine (he's one of the original Lightroom product managers).

 

Here's a link to a couple of his free videos to give you taste to see if this would work for you.

 

George's Free Videos

 

I have no affiliation with his products other than a very happy customer.

[Broadside]

A great free viewer is Irfanview. With the plug-ins it can handle most formats and is great for resizing and producing images suitable for the web and much more.

I wouldn't be without it.