DNG Compression algorithm

[jip]

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How does the M (Typ 240) DNG compression work and how does it compare to the M9 compression.

 

Is it safe to use the compression now, or does it throw away data.

 

So the real question is what of the following is true?!

 

#1 Uncompressed:

Lossless

bigger filesize, but less cpu intensive (since it doesn't have to be unpacked, and packed in the camera)

 

#1 Compressed:

Lossless

Smaller file size, but more cpu intensive, maybe slower write speed to the SD cards in camera. Has to be unpacked on the PC/MAC and be packed by the camera.

 

#2 Compressed:

Lossy

Throws away data albeit 'empty' data to save space, so no compression actually, just 'optimizing' the file.

 

 

Are any of the statements true, and which is true and which is not.

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[Fgcm]

This is true:

 

#1 Compressed:

Lossless

Smaller file size, but more cpu intensive. Has to be unpacked on the PC/MAC and be packed by the camera.

 

I think the camera is faster when using compressed DNG. The bottleneck is the SD, not the CPU.

 

Franco

[Rick]

Jip, the algorithm used by Leica is lossless. There is no reason not to use it. Period. QED. You will not lose anything and you will be able to reconstruct every single bit recorded by your M240. There are only advantages to using the compressed function your M240 offers you.

 

 

When you import to LR you should use the LR lossless format that imports your DNG and saves it as a LR DNG. The LR DNG is optimized for LR and stores your information so that LR can read the DNG (which is different from the Leica DNG) and utilize multithread and multi-core processing. LR also stores a faster rendering preview which makes browsing through your library much faster. To utilize these features in LR, import as "Copy as DNG."

 

Rick

[Rick]

How does the M (Typ 240) DNG compression work and how does it compare to the M9 compression.

 

Is it safe to use the compression now, or does it throw away data.

 

So the real question is what of the following is true?!

 

#1 Uncompressed:

Lossless

bigger filesize, but less cpu intensive (since it doesn't have to be unpacked, and packed in the camera).

 

#1) Most CPU intensive (slowest).

 

#1 Compressed:

Lossless

Smaller file size, but more cpu intensive, maybe slower write speed to the SD cards in camera. Has to be unpacked on the PC/MAC and be packed by the camera..

 

#2) Less CPU intensive (faster).

 

#2 Compressed:

Lossy

Throws away data albeit 'empty' data to save space, so no compression actually, just 'optimizing' the file..

 

#3) Does not "throw away" data. Yes, it does save space. Yes it does compress (compress doesn't mean lossy). Yes, it does optimize the file, if you mean, it makes the file smaller and optimizes I/O functionality and processing.

[jip]

Jip, the algorithm used by Leica is lossless. There is no reason not to use it. Period. QED. You will not lose anything and you will be able to reconstruct every single bit recorded by your M240. There are only advantages to using the compressed function your M240 offers you.

 

 

When you import to LR you should use the LR lossless format that imports your DNG and saves it as a LR DNG. The LR DNG is optimized for LR and stores your information so that LR can read the DNG (which is different from the Leica DNG) and utilize multithread and multi-core processing. LR also stores a faster rendering preview which makes browsing through your library much faster. To utilize these features in LR, import as "Copy as DNG."

 

Rick

 

Thanks for now I've always just copied the DNG's since I though they were DNG anyway... I will start doing 'Lightroom DNG' (can't recall the exact name right now) since my 12 core MacPro should make stuff seriously faster, especially with the newly installed PCI-E SSD's in RAID!

 

Okay I'm geeking off topic.

 

Thanks!

 

I though with the M9 you actually lost data, especially in high ISO range... this means they changed the way they 'compress'? From Lossy to Lossless I assume?!

[Fgcm]

Yes, they changed the compression algorithm

Franco

[leica lux]

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[...]

When you import to LR you should use the LR lossless format that imports your DNG and saves it as a LR DNG. The LR DNG is optimized for LR and stores your information so that LR can read the DNG (which is different from the Leica DNG) and utilize multithread and multi-core processing. LR also stores a faster rendering preview which makes browsing through your library much faster. To utilize these features in LR, import as "Copy as DNG."

 

Rick

 

Thanks Rick, I thought Leica DNG is about the same as LR DNG.

Will change this in my WF

[01af]

... since I thought they were DNG anyway.

There are several different DNG versions out there. Leica DMR, M8, and M9 were using the DNG 1.0 format. The Leica M (Typ 240) now is using DNG 1.3 format. Lightroom can handle all DNG formats, and when importing through "Copy as DNG" then it will convert into DNG 1.4 format which currently is the latest. Rather than using Lightroom's import function, you can also use the Adobe DNG Converter to convert from any older DNG format into DNG 1.4 (or into any other DNG version).

 

Converting to DNG 1.4 is useful as this format supports the new Fast-Load Data feature which speeds up browsing through large amounts of raw files in Bridge and Lightroom.

[leica lux]

Converting to DNG 1.4 is useful as this format supports the new Fast-Load Data feature which speeds up browsing through large amounts of raw files in Bridge and Lightroom.

 

Thanks, is there an option/feature within LR to convert already imported files into DNG 1.4?

[01af]

Is there an option/feature within Lightroom to convert already imported files into DNG 1.4?

Yes, sure. In the Library module, see "Library > Convert Photo to DNG ...".

[Rick]

Thanks, is there an option/feature within LR to convert already imported files into DNG 1.4?

 

Adobe DNG converter is a stand alone application that you can use to covert your DNG files to the latest DNG version. Adobe - Adobe Camera Raw and DNG Converter : For Macintosh

 

This converter is also found in Bridge. When in Get Photos from Camera when importing them, you can choose the "convert to DNG" option.

 

In Light Room you can convert on import by choosing "Copy as DNG". Or, you can import as DNG by choosing "Copy" and you will just have the native RAW format from the camera, which in the case of Leica is DNG. In the case of Canon it is CR2 or CRW, for example. All of these are RAW formats. DNG is the only open format and is supported by Adobe and will remain an open format as promised by Adobe and they have submitted the format to ISO. So, it should be the RAW format that is most likely to be supported and readable in the future.

 

Anyway, to convert any RAW file (CR2,CRW, DNG, etc...) you have imported into LR to DNG after it is already in your library, go to the "Library Menu" while in the Library module and select "Convert Photos to DNG..."

 

This will bring up a dialog box and I would choose these options:

 

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You can also convert them to DNG on export. This would allow whomever you are sending them to to see all of your edits instead of just seeing the unedited side-car image.

 

In Adobe Camera Raw, in Photo Shop, at the bottom left there is an option to "Save Images" which brings up a dialog box and gives you the choices to save the images. There is a "Format" choice and you can select "Digital Negative."

 

Rick

[Rick]

Yes, sure. In the Library module, see "Library > Convert Photo to DNG ...".

 

01af - This is the one sentence version.

[leica lux]

Thanks guys, that worked like a charm