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Import New Fujifilm Camera/Old (unsupported )LR version

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Jonathan Posner

Jonathan Posner

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Joined
Dec 16, 2016
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29
Lightroom Experience
Advanced
Lightroom Version
Lightroom Version Number
12.5.1
Operating System
  1. macOS 11 Big Sur
Hi everybody,

Workflow help appreciated:

Running LR 12.5 Classic, which is the last version that my iMac is able to run (Mac OS 11.7). Don't need the later updates for my work and my older Fujifilm bodies are obviously supported. Don't need/want to upgrade my Mac either.

However the new X-T50 has higher resolution which I would like (if it doesn't involve hassle, see below.) Adobe's latest update says it needs LR 13.4 and my chosen retailer says it definitely won't work in Lightroom.

Not sure I completely understand this but Adobe claims a 'workaround.':

What if I own an older version of Photoshop or Lightroom?​

You don't have to buy a new version of Photoshop or Lightroom just to get the latest camera support.
Adobe provides backward compatibility for the latest cameras for free in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Lightroom Classic through the Adobe DNG Converter. With this tool, you can easily convert camera-specific raw files from supported cameras to a more universal DNG raw file.

My query to you is a very specific workflow-related one.

Currently, when importing, I choose "Convert to DNG" so I never deal with Fuji's native RAW files after that. What I'm unsure of is whether the 'Adobe DNG Converter' is actually the same engine built in to my existing version (so will 'support' the new camera just as before, or whether I really do need to download the Converter and use that for an extra stage before I can get into Lightroom.

If so, what exactly would this workflow entail for me to end up with what I have presently, namely .dng photos sitting in my Lightroom workspace ready to edit? If the 'extra' process is cumbersome/time-consuming/complicated I would likely forgo the resolution bump of the new camera and stick with what I have (it's worked well so far apart from emergency cropping!)

Many thanks if anyone can advise.
 
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It's slightly more complex, but it isn't hard:
1. You download the current DNG converter, which will convert that camera's raw files to DNG.
2. Run the converter and specify a folder containing the raw files you want to import. All raw files in that folder will be converted to DNG.
3. You use your current LRC to import those DNG files.
4. Edit the files as normal.
 
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Hal P Anderson said:
It's slightly more complex, but it isn't hard:
1. You download the current DNG converter, which will convert that camera's raw files to DNG.
2. Run the converter and specify a folder containing the raw files you want to import. All raw files in that folder will be converted to DNG.
3. You use your current LRC to import those DNG files.
4. Edit the files as normal.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for so clearly setting this out for me. I was reassured . . . . until I read the next comment from Johan :)
 
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Johan Elzenga said:
Unfortunately it is even more complex. The current version of DNG Converter requires MacOS 12 or later.…
https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-converter.html
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I think Adobe has either "shot themselves in the foot". or they are not being helpful. On one hand they say, the latest DNG converter can create DNGs compatible with any prior version and ACR Product which should mean that you should be able to install the DNG converter on any Older OS.

But in the Link that Johan provided they also say
Note:
Adobe provides backwards compatibility for the latest cameras for use in older versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, After Effects, and Photoshop Elements through the DNG Converter.
Click to expand...
How can this note be valid IF you are unable to install MacOS v12 (Monterrey) or later.
 
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clee01l said:
I think Adobe has either "shot themselves in the foot". or they are not being helpful. On one hand they say, the latest DNG converter can create DNGs compatible with any prior version and ACR Product which should mean that you should be able to install the DNG converter on any Older OS.

But in the Link that Johan provided they also say

How can this note be valid IF you are unable to install MacOS v12 (Monterrey) or later.
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Thank you for pointing out this glaring anomaly, as you say. I think I've added and removed the camera from the shopping basket three times since yesterday morning :) It would be helpful now if someone at Adobe could just go into a quiet room to concentrate on this for a few minutes and give a precise and definitive answer – or else tinker with some codes or whatever.
 
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Jonathan Posner said:
Thank you for pointing out this glaring anomaly, as you say. I think I've added and removed the camera from the shopping basket three times since yesterday morning :) It would be helpful now if someone at Adobe could just go into a quiet room to concentrate on this for a few minutes and give a precise and definitive answer – or else tinker with some codes or whatever.
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At this Adobe community link Previous Adobe DNG Converter versions there is another link to an Adobe ftp site with lots of old versions of the DNG Converter for Mac and Windows.

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/dng

I was able able to access it with a Mac file utility called Forklift, but there are many other similar apps that would do the trick. What I can't say is which version you should download for your old version of macOS. I recommend contacting Adobe support for that answer.
 
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clee01l said:
Old versions of the DNG converter won’t recognize newer cameras any more than older versions of Lightroom or ACR.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. I was thinking the OP just needed a version of the DNG Converter that would run on his old Mac. But it makes sense that the DNG Converter might need to know something about the raw file itself from a new camera before it could create an accurate DNG file. The X-T4 after all does contain Fuji's new-ish 40 megapixel fifth generation X-Trans sensor.

Although ... the X-Trans 5 sensor had already been released in Fuji's X-H2 in September of 2022. It was followed not long after by the X-T5. Perhaps Adobe was still struggling with the demosaic of the new sensor in the X-H2 and had not yet released a version of their DNG Converter to handle it. I can see that the timing might have been pretty tight.

It is plenty hard enough to run Adobe software on new computer gear, let alone mixing an old computer with a new camera and Adobe software that has to play catch-up for every new sensor and camera release.
 
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Yes, this is the catch 22 situation. Just like Lightroom needs to be updated to support raw files of new cameras, so does DNG Converter. So you need the latest version of DNG Converter if you have a new camera, but just like the latest version of Lightroom, DNG Converter has a minimum system requirement that the computer of the OP cannot run.
 
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karl.nyhus said:
The X-T4 after all does contain Fuji's new-ish 40 megapixel fifth generation X-Trans sensor.
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Sorry, the statement I made, and quote above, was a mistake on my part. The reference here to a Fuji X-T4 is NOT correct. I meant to type the Fuji X-T5 has the new Fuji 40 megapixel sensor.

And now I see that the OP either wants or already has the very recently released Fuji X-T50 and not either of the ones I mentioned! Although the X-T50 does have the new 40 megapixels sensor also.

So I really made a mess of the point I was trying to make. :rolleyes:
 
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karl.nyhus said:
At this Adobe community link Previous Adobe DNG Converter versions there is another link to an Adobe ftp site with lots of old versions of the DNG Converter for Mac and Windows.

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/dng

I was able able to access it with a Mac file utility called Forklift, but there are many other similar apps that would do the trick. What I can't say is which version you should download for your old version of macOS. I recommend contacting Adobe support for that answer.
Click to expand...
Thank you, this is so helpful. It feels, though, like I'm going down a rabbit hole but this is going to be useful for the future as things will clearly get more complicated if I continue with my old Mac OS (performing perfectly well in all other aspects.)
 
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karl.nyhus said:
Sorry, the statement I made, and quote above, was a mistake on my part. The reference here to a Fuji X-T4 is NOT correct. I meant to type the Fuji X-T5 has the new Fuji 40 megapixel sensor.

And now I see that the OP either wants or already has the very recently released Fuji X-T50 and not either of the ones I mentioned! Although the X-T50 does have the new 40 megapixels sensor also.

So I really made a mess of the point I was trying to make. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Appreciate your input and kindness in trying to help, nonetheless :)
 
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karl.nyhus said:
At this Adobe community link Previous Adobe DNG Converter versions there is another link to an Adobe ftp site with lots of old versions of the DNG Converter for Mac and Windows.

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/dng

I was able able to access it with a Mac file utility called Forklift, but there are many other similar apps that would do the trick. What I can't say is which version you should download for your old version of macOS. I recommend contacting Adobe support for that answer.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, although my enthusiasm for acquiring this new camera is draining away by the minute :)
 
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Jonathan Posner said:
my enthusiasm for acquiring this new camera is draining away by the minute :)
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Well, it is a bit on the expensive side, although B&H has announced a sale under the banner "New Item. Coming Soon."

And while I like the idea of a smaller and lighter camera, I would rather have an ISO dial than the film simulation dial with which Fuji replaced it.
 
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karl.nyhus said:
Well, it is a bit on the expensive side, although B&H has announced a sale under the banner "New Item. Coming Soon."

And while I like the idea of a smaller and lighter camera, I would rather have an ISO dial than the film simulation dial with which Fuji replaced it.
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I do all my professional work on an X-S10, so higher resolution, plus smaller and lighter completely does it for me. Or, rather, would have done it were it not for the Adobe/Mac incompatibility. Never had this kind of problem with my Olympus OM-1 :)
 
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