Best RAW converter for Sony?
Discussion
I have an NEX-6 and I use LR 4. I am noticing some disparity between whats on the camera LCD and what appears on the screen. I am not sure whether it is just the difference in screens (The computer screen is a iMac, so is an IPS based monitor though its not been calibrated) or that the camera still applies some processing to RAWs which is then altered again in the RAW converter (i.e. even in RAW mode you can adjust presets like saturation and vividness and even how strong the dynamic range optimiser is).
Photos look quite rich and punchy on the back of the camera and then look totally flat and washed out once imported to LR. Almost makes me want to shoot in JPG to avoid this. I am sure it is LR as well because they look more dynamic on the import screen than when you import them (and you can see the tone of the image change as its imported).
Is there a better RAW converter? or is there anywhere where I can learn how to configure the Adobe one?
Photos look quite rich and punchy on the back of the camera and then look totally flat and washed out once imported to LR. Almost makes me want to shoot in JPG to avoid this. I am sure it is LR as well because they look more dynamic on the import screen than when you import them (and you can see the tone of the image change as its imported).
Is there a better RAW converter? or is there anywhere where I can learn how to configure the Adobe one?
RAW files nearly always have an embedded JPG in them which has gone through some basic processing (normally including boosting contrast and saturation levels to make them "look nicer")
This embedded JPG is what you see on the back of camera and also the image Lightroom first displays while it is reading the RAW.
If you're shooting in RAW you are nearly always going to need to do some sort of post processing. My advice would be stop comparing it to the tiny, over saturated, LCD on the back of the camera spend time learning lightroom.
This embedded JPG is what you see on the back of camera and also the image Lightroom first displays while it is reading the RAW.
If you're shooting in RAW you are nearly always going to need to do some sort of post processing. My advice would be stop comparing it to the tiny, over saturated, LCD on the back of the camera spend time learning lightroom.
I would be surprised if the preview you are seeing on the camera back is the RAW file - it will be a jpg derived from the RAW as you surmise.
RAW files do look flat. You need to process them - adjust all the things you mentioned and more - until they look as you want. The advantage of RAW is that no data has been lost, so you have more leeway to do this.
If you can adjust how your camera makes JPG files so that you get what you want straight out of camera then you might be happier with that, but ultimately the results will be better if you process RAW. I sometimes process mine in a few different ways, which you can't do with a JPG. The RAW is more akin to a film negative that you can make many prints from.
I use darktable (free - http://www.darktable.org/) which is excellent. I've used a few processors (Adobe RAW, Raw Therapee and a few others I've forgotten) and this is the best, which given the price makes it a bargain
Can you set your camera to create a RAW and JPG at the same time so you can choose to either use the JPG or make your own if you don't like it?
RAW files do look flat. You need to process them - adjust all the things you mentioned and more - until they look as you want. The advantage of RAW is that no data has been lost, so you have more leeway to do this.
If you can adjust how your camera makes JPG files so that you get what you want straight out of camera then you might be happier with that, but ultimately the results will be better if you process RAW. I sometimes process mine in a few different ways, which you can't do with a JPG. The RAW is more akin to a film negative that you can make many prints from.
I use darktable (free - http://www.darktable.org/) which is excellent. I've used a few processors (Adobe RAW, Raw Therapee and a few others I've forgotten) and this is the best, which given the price makes it a bargain
Can you set your camera to create a RAW and JPG at the same time so you can choose to either use the JPG or make your own if you don't like it?
Interestingly I just thought I'd fire up LR again and take a look at the myriad of sliders located at the bottom of the RH pane. It appears that I can get more towards the look I want if I just change the Camera Calibration profile from Adobe standard to something else like Camera Landscape. Seems to work much better than trying to play with Tone and using the "Punch" pre-set (which I often find way too harsh). They even have profiles in for lens corrections! never knew that. They don't have a profile for the 35 mm F1.8 yet but the 55-210 is served (and I am increasingly sure that this lens isn't that good! but as I effectively got it for about £100 then I am not too bothered).
I guess I need to play with LR more... I just tend to stay up the top on the settings pane (right hand side).
I just remember my Canon's producing more pleasing photos I guess.... I owned a 400D and a 7D and I have to say, looking back over my photos today the 400D really did produce some good results. I found it a bit harder to get the same from the 7D despite it being a much better camera to use. I do miss the big D-SLR but the bulk of the kit just meant I rarely took it out and I didn't have the coin for the lenses to really make use of the 7D. The NEX is something you can just take on a whim and get shooting. The results just aren't there yet! More learning required.
I guess I need to play with LR more... I just tend to stay up the top on the settings pane (right hand side).
I just remember my Canon's producing more pleasing photos I guess.... I owned a 400D and a 7D and I have to say, looking back over my photos today the 400D really did produce some good results. I found it a bit harder to get the same from the 7D despite it being a much better camera to use. I do miss the big D-SLR but the bulk of the kit just meant I rarely took it out and I didn't have the coin for the lenses to really make use of the 7D. The NEX is something you can just take on a whim and get shooting. The results just aren't there yet! More learning required.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 2nd April 12:22
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