Am I going to regret not keeping RAW files??

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MMarz

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I few months ago I changed my workflow such that I converted to DNG's at import. I did so because 1) I despise side car files 2) in my feeble evaluation, DNG's seemed to speed up my work flow 3) slightly smaller file size 4) I felt the more open DNG file format would have better longevity than the NEF files.

I haven't changed my mind about any of the above...I simply question whether it is wise to discard my original NEF's. I don't shoot professionally. I don't use or plan to use Nikon's CapNX. The only instance of regret is when my wife wants to view images of amily stuff. She is less proficient with computers than makes me comfortable and granting a pass to view via Lightroom makes me uneasy. She can view thumbnails in Vista, but doesn't have full size images to review otherwise.

Other than this, I can't see saving all the NEF's in addition to the DNG's. I lready keep three copies of the DNG's for safe keeping.

Is there reason to reconsider my recent decision? If it ain't broken should I be trying to fix it?
 
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WRT quality, there is no real difference between DNG / NEF or Canons CR2 files. Therefore, no reason to keep the NEF if you keep the DNG's. I can't speak for Nikon, but I know the CR2 files from different camera models are not the same, so there is sense in converting to DNG. I however have little doubt that CR2 (or NEF) would just die off anytime soon, and prefer to do as little conversion as possible with my raw files, so I keep the CR2's, and if processing was done, I keep the TIFF stacked onto the CR2.

With LR you do not need xmp sidecars, and if you do require it for something else, you can create them afterwards. I share you feeling about those little loose buggers - hate them.
 
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It sounds like you've thought through your decision clearly and logically, so the likelihood of you ever wanting them is pretty slim, as you've got excellent DNG backups.

(That said, I'm a real packrat when it comes to digital files, so I'm the last person to ask! ;))
 
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Victoria Bampton;25''9 said:
(That said, I'm a real packrat when it comes to digital files, so I'm the last person to ask! ;))
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I was just exclaiming the same thing (pack rat) over backing up too much, to Richard Earney. If you have the drives or BluRay disks to save it all, do so. Or be disciplined about removing 'trash'.

Don
 
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I keep my NEF files in addition to a backup of my DNG files because you never know what future software might be able to take further advange of the NEF file. For me, its mostly a storage issue, and storage is pretty cheap.

--Ken
 
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I regard keeping the original raw as having yet another backup, and one which also happens to be in another file format. Space is cheap, and you always keep the option to take a raw file through NX or any other DNG-hostile application. You might not plan to do so, but things do change. OTOH I know Peter Krogh ditches his NEFs, but he describes it as "eating his own dog food".
 
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Thank you all. Each of you have valid points to share. The likelihood of me wanting to go back and redo an old image, because new software is available isn't to great, and since DNG is an open file architecture, I would hope the new app would accommodate the file type.

As far as being a pack rat? Not me. I try to be ruthless with culling images I have no need for. Plus it confuses my wife!

What I could do is substitute one of my two back-ups of DNG's in favor of one back up of DNG & one of NEF? But that would wreck havoc on my workflow... I don't back-up Rejects so I would have to import as NEF's, cull the shoot, back up the remaining NEF's, convert to DNG, go back and delete the working NEF's...forget it.

Thank you all...I am keeping my DNG's and ditching the NEF's. Decision made.
 
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MMarz;25''6 said:
I haven't changed my mind about any of the above...I simply question whether it is wise to discard my original NEF's. I don't shoot professionally. I don't use or plan to use Nikon's CapNX. The only instance of regret is when my wife wants to view images of amily stuff. She is less proficient with computers than makes me comfortable and granting a pass to view via Lightroom makes me uneasy. She can view thumbnails in Vista, but doesn't have full size images to review otherwise.
Click to expand...

I have a similar situation with my college age kids. My daughter in particular likes to play with software and she'd be sure to change things if I turned her loose in Lightroom. Have you considered exporting the family stuff to one of the web engines? You can export to a local folder and then set up a shortcut for her to go to the index.html or whatever floats the web gallery you set up.
 
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Brandon.. when it's time for her to make her picks, I either cross my fingers and let her into LR with instructions to color code the ones she wants in Yellow.. Or I export the entire folder(s) to small jpgs and have her delete the ones she doesn't like. then double back to LR an PP them and re-export. It's a bit more work, but I worry less.
 
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MMarz;25''6 said:
[...]
The only instance of regret is when my wife wants to view images of [f]amily stuff. She is less proficient with computers than makes me comfortable and granting a pass to view via Lightroom makes me uneasy. She can view thumbnails in Vista, but doesn't have full size images to review otherwise.
Click to expand...

You should have access to previews and full size images on Vista if you have either Adobe's or our DNG codec installed and use Windows Photo Gallery or Windows Live Photo Gallery. Have you tried these out?

David Blake
 
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Ardfry;251'9 said:
You should have access to previews and full size images on Vista if you have either Adobe's or our DNG codec installed and use Windows Photo Gallery or Windows Live Photo Gallery. Have you tried these out?

David Blake
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David, I haven't tried either. I would give them a test drive for sure.
 
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Viewing RAW on Vista

Windows Photo Gallery is included in Vista.

Windows Live Photo Gallery is available here -- http://get.live.com/photogallery/overview

Our DNG codec is available at http://www.ardfry.com/dng-codec/ and it supports XP with service pack 3, XP Pro 64 with service pack 3, and all versions of Vista (32 bit and 64).

Adobe's DNG codec is available from Adobe labs. It has a number of issues that have yet to be addressed. In the DNG User to User forums some people report excessive CPU usage and lack of support for larger embedded previews. A 64 bit version has been promised but it has not come out yet. You may have better luck with Adobe's than the other people have.

Our codec does not have these issues.

David Blake
 
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Ardfry, you talk like you are with Microsoft as an employee. If so it will be handy to have you around Windows/Vista technical issues!

Welcome.

Don
 
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Don, David & his team at Ardfry wrote a DNG Codec for Vista. Check the ardfry.com link in his post.
 
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