PI, raw and panasonic FZ30
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Jean Philippe
PI, raw and panasonic FZ30
I have a camera panasonic FZ30, I want to open the files raw under pi that doesn't work. Somebody can help me. Thank you
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heinz-oz
Every camera model has its own type of RAW format, even from the same maker. I have 2 canon digicam's, S45 PowerShot and EOS 350D. Both have different formats of RAW.
Which version PI do you use? PI 11 has extensive compatibilities with the most widely used RAW formats. In PI 10 I could not import my RAW files from either camera, in PI 11 no problem.
Which version PI do you use? PI 11 has extensive compatibilities with the most widely used RAW formats. In PI 10 I could not import my RAW files from either camera, in PI 11 no problem.
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Jean Philippe
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heinz-oz
I'm not sure what it is you are trying to do. You cannot open a RAW image and save it again after modification as a RAW image. Try saving as UFO or TIFF file since these are uncompressed. Be aware though that you need plenty of storage space, my 8 MP RAW images, when converted to 48 bit TIFF, come out at around 40 MB each.
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heinz-oz
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Jean Philippe
thank you for your help, the file extension is .raw. What is PE 8.6? For displaying my raw image, I convert my panasonic FZ30 raw image to panasonic LC1 raw image, I have a software for this. After that, PI11 doesn't open the raw file. I open the panasonic LC1 raw image with the software rawshooter, I save the image with the extension .tiff. After that, PI11 open the tiff file. For me it's too complicate to make all this. If I have a solution less complicate it's better for me.
Sorry for my bad english, I am a french people.
Sorry for my bad english, I am a french people.
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heinz-oz
Sorry about the use of abbreviated names, PE stands for PhotoExplorer, it's bundled with PI (PhotoImpact).
You said you convert your RAW file to Panasonic raw LC1. That does not make sense to me. A RAW file is just that, the raw data from your imaging chip. After you convert it to whatever and save it to a different name, it's no longer RAW.
Instead of converting to LC1 save it to a 48 bit Tiff file after you have done your necessary processing, like white balance, sharpening, brightness and colour corrections (if needed).
When you shoot a jpeg image, your camera does all this for you but a lot of the original information is lost in the process (not that many would notice). If your only concern is to get a good image to display or print and you do not intend (or understand how) to use your images for pro or semi-pro purposes, I suggest to forget about the RAW features of your camera and shoot in jpeg.
The PC is a much better device to process your image data than the inbuilt little processor of your camera. But, if you do not understand what you are doing, the results may be less than satisfactory. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to suggest you are incapable of doing this, I just don't know how much you know about this and to what degree you intend to take advantage of RAW.
My CANON EOS 350D shoots RAW and jpeg simultaneously, around 14 to 15 MB per image, ~ 10Mb RAW and ~ 4.5MB JPG. That is a lot of memory card real estate if you don't use it. More often than not, I use the JPG image for whatever it is I need to do. The result is satisfactory but from the RAW data I get a clearer, finer definition image but it takes time to convert the RAW and post process it, time that often I don't have. After all, this is my hobby, not a paying job. I also need to refine my post processing skills before I would attempt to only shoot in RAW.
Does your camera shoot RAW and jpeg or do you have to decide prior to taking the shot?
You said you convert your RAW file to Panasonic raw LC1. That does not make sense to me. A RAW file is just that, the raw data from your imaging chip. After you convert it to whatever and save it to a different name, it's no longer RAW.
Instead of converting to LC1 save it to a 48 bit Tiff file after you have done your necessary processing, like white balance, sharpening, brightness and colour corrections (if needed).
When you shoot a jpeg image, your camera does all this for you but a lot of the original information is lost in the process (not that many would notice). If your only concern is to get a good image to display or print and you do not intend (or understand how) to use your images for pro or semi-pro purposes, I suggest to forget about the RAW features of your camera and shoot in jpeg.
The PC is a much better device to process your image data than the inbuilt little processor of your camera. But, if you do not understand what you are doing, the results may be less than satisfactory. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to suggest you are incapable of doing this, I just don't know how much you know about this and to what degree you intend to take advantage of RAW.
My CANON EOS 350D shoots RAW and jpeg simultaneously, around 14 to 15 MB per image, ~ 10Mb RAW and ~ 4.5MB JPG. That is a lot of memory card real estate if you don't use it. More often than not, I use the JPG image for whatever it is I need to do. The result is satisfactory but from the RAW data I get a clearer, finer definition image but it takes time to convert the RAW and post process it, time that often I don't have. After all, this is my hobby, not a paying job. I also need to refine my post processing skills before I would attempt to only shoot in RAW.
Does your camera shoot RAW and jpeg or do you have to decide prior to taking the shot?
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Jean Philippe
- First PE 8.6 doesn't open panasonic Fz30 raw file.
- For me convert Fz30 raw file to LC1 raw file, it is only for opening the file with the software rawshooter because rawshooter doesn't open fz30 raw file it only open LC1 raw file. I don't know exactly what it is convert but I must do this.
- Camera Fz30 shoot at the same time raw and jpeg. So I just want to compare the result because in forum about the panasonic FZ30, people say that they find a difference of quality between the two file (raw and jpeg). Under certain condition the camera doesn't compress correctly in jpeg. The difference must not be enormous, but it exists. And I find complicate to convert,open,save and open to see the result.
- In general I shoot jpeg file but from time to time I want easily see the result in raw. And when I shall know perfectly the limitation of the camera I will be able to choose the good format for the good picture.
- For me convert Fz30 raw file to LC1 raw file, it is only for opening the file with the software rawshooter because rawshooter doesn't open fz30 raw file it only open LC1 raw file. I don't know exactly what it is convert but I must do this.
- Camera Fz30 shoot at the same time raw and jpeg. So I just want to compare the result because in forum about the panasonic FZ30, people say that they find a difference of quality between the two file (raw and jpeg). Under certain condition the camera doesn't compress correctly in jpeg. The difference must not be enormous, but it exists. And I find complicate to convert,open,save and open to see the result.
- In general I shoot jpeg file but from time to time I want easily see the result in raw. And when I shall know perfectly the limitation of the camera I will be able to choose the good format for the good picture.
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heinz-oz
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Jean Philippe
- for rawshooter is here http://esd.element5.com/product.html?productid=545269.
- the software, that I have with the camera, doesn't give me whole satisfaction.
- if PI11 had in its list panasonic Fz30 camera that would be the best for me.
- I tried to contact Ulead for this but the only answer I have had it's to install again PI11. For me it's not a problem of installation. Each camera has its own file raw and panasonic FZ30 is not in the list of PI11. I don't know if it is complicate for Ulead to make a software patch for this.
- the software, that I have with the camera, doesn't give me whole satisfaction.
- if PI11 had in its list panasonic Fz30 camera that would be the best for me.
- I tried to contact Ulead for this but the only answer I have had it's to install again PI11. For me it's not a problem of installation. Each camera has its own file raw and panasonic FZ30 is not in the list of PI11. I don't know if it is complicate for Ulead to make a software patch for this.
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heinz-oz
Sorry, but the link you provided doesn't get me nowhere. All I find on the element5 web site is how to become an affiliate and sell software on the www via element5.
I think it's save to say that, if PE 8.6 does not display your raw files, PI can't work with them. Why don't you do your image manipulation in rawshooter and save to tiff format? You can then use PI do further process your images. AFAIK, no imaging software out there lets you work with raw images. All you can do is to post process the raw in regards to white balance, sharpness, brightness/contrast etc. and save(convert) your image to a common image file format. Saving to tiff allows you to retain your 48 bit colour depth and you lose nothing. Saving to jpeg will reduce the colour depth to 24 bit and should only be the last step when all image manipulation has taken place.
I was having the same problem as you have with PI 10. Whilst PI could import my images the result was useless. I was hanging out for better raw capabilities and PI 11 delivered. If you want to wait until PI is able to handle your raw files, I suggest you don't hold your breath. I daubt that it is a question of a simple patch to include your type of raw.
The problem is that each camera out there has its unique raw format. it is virtually impossible for any software maker to cover them all.
In my case, even though PI 11 now can handle both my flavours of raw, I have gotten used to the software that came with my EOS 350D and will continue to use it rather than PI.
I think it's save to say that, if PE 8.6 does not display your raw files, PI can't work with them. Why don't you do your image manipulation in rawshooter and save to tiff format? You can then use PI do further process your images. AFAIK, no imaging software out there lets you work with raw images. All you can do is to post process the raw in regards to white balance, sharpness, brightness/contrast etc. and save(convert) your image to a common image file format. Saving to tiff allows you to retain your 48 bit colour depth and you lose nothing. Saving to jpeg will reduce the colour depth to 24 bit and should only be the last step when all image manipulation has taken place.
I was having the same problem as you have with PI 10. Whilst PI could import my images the result was useless. I was hanging out for better raw capabilities and PI 11 delivered. If you want to wait until PI is able to handle your raw files, I suggest you don't hold your breath. I daubt that it is a question of a simple patch to include your type of raw.
The problem is that each camera out there has its unique raw format. it is virtually impossible for any software maker to cover them all.
In my case, even though PI 11 now can handle both my flavours of raw, I have gotten used to the software that came with my EOS 350D and will continue to use it rather than PI.