Photoshop,lightroom & 70D

So I just bought the 70D and took some pictures in RAW, went to open in lightroom 2 and photoshop cs4, No go....This Camera Vs Software stuff is really frustrating. One sure fine way to stop people from wanting to buy new things....grrrr.

Can someone please tell me if its possible to open the pictures without having to upgrade the software.

You have a couple approaches:

The most "popular" one appears to be to use the DNG "format". From Adobe you download the free dng converter that is current (that supports the 70D). In the converter, there is a setting to the version of Camera Raw that you are using. With CS4 and LR2, I believe that would be ACR5. You will also need to choose options for how you want your files to be handled. You then run your files through the converter. The resulting dng files can be opened by both Lightroom and Camera Raw (if you want to open them directly in Photoshop). I'd suggest that for this approach you make a backup of your CR2 files in your dedicated backup drive.

The second approach would be to use the Canon Raw processor Digital Photo Professional (DPP) to process your CR2 Raw files (not dng files). This approach has actually gained popularity over the years because Canon has improved DPP in numerous ways, in fact, you can potentially do your work in DPP and output final jpegs, similar to how folks like to use Lightroom, or for more work you can "transfer to Photoshop" where DPP creates a tiff file (similar to the default behavior of "Edit in Photoshop" from Lightroom).

The downside of using DPP is that you won't be able to use Lightroom with your Raw files. The downside of the dng conversion is that you won't be able to use DPP with the dng files. And, LR5 should be able to work with your CR2 files, assuming you want to go "back" from using dng!

If it were me, because I'm a "died in the wool" Lightroom user, I'd take the dng route. But I'd also say that you would benefit by saving your nickels and dimes for a newer version of Lightroom, either LR4 or LR5, because Lightroom has gotten some very nice developments through those two versions!

Wow that sure seems like a lot of work. I am totally happy with the PS & LR versions I have. Like the cameras and lenses aren't expensive enough, then the software company wants more money.....GRRRRR. Not to mention all the confusion. I just want to take picture. I don't have all day to sit at the computer researching how to make things work. Sorry for the gripping, but I can't even see my pictures now....

While I agree that Adobe's update policy is harsh and money grabbing I also understand (having worked in software development for years) that there are limits to how long you can continue supporting old software.

When you update a pieces of software there is a chance of introducing new errors, which means you need to put the software through a new round of testing - which costs money. The risk of introducing errors increases the older the software because often the original programmers may have left the company.

There have been three separate process engines http://help.adobe.com …c02a1341ed8e630​-8000.html for Lightroom; 2003, 2010 and 2012. That means that supporting those older versions would mean that every time they do an update they actually need to do three updates for the process engines plus additional work for each actual version of LR (LR1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). That is a huge amount of updating, debugging and testing for no financial return. It is simply more economical to update one pieces of software - the DNG converter and give that away for free.

Personally I think they should at least support the current process engine - meaning that any updates to the 2012 engine should be done for both LR4 and 5. Sadly Adobe don't agree.

Here's the link for the DNG converter for your 70D - DNG. Here is the Read Me file - Read Me Of course, DPP that came with your camera should be able to see the files.

britt777 wrote in post #16322867
Wow that sure seems like a lot of work. I am totally happy with the PS & LR versions I have. Like the cameras and lenses aren't expensive enough, then the software company wants more money.....GRRRRR. Not to mention all the confusion. I just want to take picture. I don't have all day to sit at the computer researching how to make things work. Sorry for the gripping, but I can't even see my pictures now....

I just bought a new camera that isn't supported by Lightroom 4.4. It is supported by Lightroom 5.2, which I will upgrade to once I get around to it (I'm reading Scott Kelby's new book in the meantime). For now though, the Adobe DNG converter (version 8.2) is working fine for me and adds hardly anything to the workload. I have set up two folders on my computer. The first receives the RAW files from the camera, and the second is the output target for the DNG converter. Once you have the DNG converter configured as to input and output folders (you do this only once), it is literally two clicks to convert -- once to start the program and once to start the conversion. The converter does the entire folder without further interaction. Once more click to exit and you're done. Then I start Lightroom, point it to the folder with the DNGs, and import (my import setting is "Copy"). Importing DNGs is incredibly fast, by the way. Since I have Lightroom make an automatic backup of all imports to a second hard drive, I eventually delete both the original RAW files and the first set of DNGs. (Once a month I also do an incremental backup of all images and the Lightroom catalog to an external drive.)

Yes, it's a bit more work, but not much.

Everyone blames Adobe for "planned obsolescence", but why on earth does every camera by every manufacturer -- even a slight upgrade to the same model that uses the same lens and sensor -- have to use a new RAW format? Even if all they do is change the LCD screen, they change the RAW format!

$79 later I am now back up and running with lightroom 5. LR2 & PS CS4 were not compatible with 70D. There was no DNG converter either. The programs were just to old...said Adobe Support. So long story short, I am now the proud owner of LR 5, I guess it was time to update any way...lol

Oh and Im also now the proud owner of Mountain Lion OS since LR 5 was not compatible with my Snow Lion OS....gotta love it, that was another $20

yep, it's like drug dealers

LR5 is much better than LR2 was though, I think you'll be happy. Maybe get a book, I prefer Martin Evening over Kelby and his bad jokes and step 1 step 2 step3 approach, but what ever works better for you. Of course, that's an other 30 or so bucks.

phantelope wrote in post #16325428
yep, it's like drug dealers

LR5 is much better than LR2 was though, I think you'll be happy. Maybe get a book, I prefer Martin Evening over Kelby and his bad jokes and step 1 step 2 step3 approach, but what ever works better for you. Of course, that's an other 30 or so bucks.

lol....its only money right. Thanks for the read info