16 Or 8 bit M8 files in Lightroom

[mitchell]

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When working and exporting M8 files in Lightroom, is there an advantage to 16 bit files even though the M8 produces 8 bit?

 

Has anyone on the forum made a general guide to LR choices with the M8.

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

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[mitchell]

Another question: in Lightroom, what's the difference between DNG and dng? Which do you recommend?

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

[carstenw]

I don't know what the difference between DNG and dng is. Where do you see these?

 

There is an advantage to working in 16 bits, however, if you make major corrections. The 8 bits in the DNG are not linearly encoded, and will be "unfolded" into 14 bits, and stored in 16 bits, as there is no 14 bit format. If you then choose to make your white balance, exposure adjustment, and so on, while working in 8 bits, you may see some posterisation. Once you have done all the adjustments in 16 bits, however, you can export to 8 bits, and it should be fine. 8 is enough for good visual quality, but not enough to be robust in the face of major adjustments.

[Guest sirvine]

Mitchell,

 

I'd say the biggest M8-specific consideration in Lightroom is making presets for the develop module that are a good starting point for further adjustments. As you might expect with any software, Lightroom's default RAW conversion values are not entirely appropriate for the M8. There is some prior discussion about this, and I provided a while back some preset values that worked well for me.

 

Sol

[ho_co]

Another question: in Lightroom, what's the difference between DNG and dng?

Mitchell--I don't have Lightroom, but in general the M8 writes files with the majuscules. Adobe products use the lower-case alternative.

 

So when the file comes from the M8, it is titled Lxxxxxxx.DNG. If you now let an Adobe product convert it to a more compressed file, the new default filename will be Lxxxxxxx.dng; this default can be changed in Adobe DNG converter (for example) or manually on each file. There is no difference.

 

Repeating: In terms of names, there is no difference between DNGs and dngs.

 

In terms of size, the M8 uses a unique type of dng compression which Adobe products can compact even more. However, all the data in the original M8 DNG are maintained in the more compact version.

 

In terms of usage, I believe I have read that Capture One can read the M8 original files but not (yet) the output of Adobe DNG Converter when run on the same files. Otherwise there is no functional difference.

 

I hope this helps and is more or less on topic. I'm sure others closer to the Lightroom question will correct and refine my assumptions.

 

--HC

[stunsworth]

I believe I have read that Capture One can read the M8 original files but not (yet) the output of Adobe DNG Converter when run on the same files

 

This is correct, in the version that ships with the M8 at least, I don't know about the 'Pro' version.

[ho_co]

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Thanks for the corroboration, Steve!

 

Boy, this little digital wonder is taxing my memory daily!

 

--HC

[mitchell]

Without the forum, this technophobe would be lost. Talk about "depending on the kindness of strangers..." Well by now, many of you are not so strange.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Mitchell

[Shootist]

Although I have LR I very rarely use it.

I do use PS CS3 with ACR 4.1 and when I open M8 DNG files in ACR I export/open then in PS as 16 bit files. I do very little in ACR other then some BW adjustments and maybe color and tint adjustments. All other image adjustments are made in PS, Curves/levels, whatever and sharpening. I find that when I open the image in PS as, maybe a pseudo, 16bit file It doen't break down as easy as using 8bit files.