>10% space savings for M11 DNG files with DNG Cleaner app

[Guest]

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I just tried the effect of using DNG Cleaner (Mac version / Windows version) on M11 DNG raw files.

On a sample folder of 120 DNGs I achieved a 11% space reduction, with some files >20%, and all smaller than the original.

The tool achieves those results through lossless compression of the raw data. I have not observed any adverse effects, e.g. compatibility with RAW editors like C1 and Lightroom remains unchanged, all metadata is preserved (unless you use the option in DNG Cleaner to remove it). I confirmed with tools like RawDigger that all image data is preserved and that DNG Cleaner works with M11 files.

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[hmzimelka]

A 9% saving on my end on a sample batch of 300 images. Took forever to process on MacOS.
936 seconds for 300 images on an M1Pro Macbook.

Seems like it's making use of one thread only. So I'm afraid for my workflow that space savings is not worth the time.

Edited April 22, 2022 by hmzimelka

[Guest]

1 hour ago, hmzimelka said:

A 9% saving on my end on a sample batch of 300 images. Took forever to process on MacOS.
936 seconds for 300 images on an M1Pro Macbook.

Seems like it's making use of one thread only. So I'm afraid for my workflow that space savings is not worth the time.

Since it works in a batch, if you select the option 'overwrite original' no manual work is required. Unless you require results immediately, just run it in a break or in the background (you don't have to wait for it to complete ...), then processing speed doesn't matter? The space savings should also translate into e.g. 10% faster speed opening in editing apps, from that point of view I see enough upside for me to use it.

[SrMi]

A similar saving can be accomplished by running LrC's Metadata > Update DNG Preview and Metadata.

[Guest]

21 hours ago, SrMi said:

A similar saving can be accomplished by running LrC's Metadata > Update DNG Preview and Metadata.

Great suggestion, I didn't know about this!

I tried one image to compare:

1. Original: 63.5MB
2. Lightroom "Update DNG Preview and Metadata": 59.7MB
3. DNG Cleaner (used on original DNG): 58.9MB

[Adam Bonn]

I’m not an M11 owner so can’t try, but those of you disliking the inbuilt NR settings of the DNGs might harvest fruit giving this a try (it might also help with the LR lens corrections if something Leica is embedding in the DNG messes up with LR’s implementation of their lens profiles)