DNG Format

Given the recent developments to the DNG format I'm curious to know what objections still remain to converting RAW files to DNG.

Recent changes include:
Development of DNG version 1.2
Submission of DNG 1.2 to ISO for certification as an open standard
The newly released DNG Profile Editor

Now, with the release of Lightroom 2, ACR 4.5 and the ability to use camera-specific profiles that more closely replicate the colors produced by DPP it seems to me that DNG is a more preferable method if you have a workflow centered around Adobe software.

Personally I've used an entirely DNG workflow since the initial publication of the DNG specs in 2004 because it simplified post-processing for multiple camera systems (I've shot Olympus, Canon and occasionally Nikon in the past few years). With the new profiles available now I'll be taking a fresh look at some of my older images to see if they are worth reworking.

For, me its too early to decide. If after some time, I start realizing I have no desire to process the images elsewhere (like DPP), I may give it a go.

That makes sense; but since I never really was a fan of DPP and only used it out of absolute necessity I'm happy to see these new developments in DNG. At least I don't think I'll get that occasional twinge of regret over not saving my CR2 files.

davidcrebelxt wrote in post #6005775
For, me its too early to decide. If after some time, I start realizing I have no desire to process the images elsewhere (like DPP), I may give it a go.

I back up my CR2 files seperate from my DNGs now. Might as well keep doing that untill I'm sure DNG is the way to go.

Otherwise I'd have to backup a duplicate of the DNG
iView gets rid of the xmp file for IPTC, so the only thing I'd miss when I loose the DNG (biggie though) is the actual changes made to the file.

BTW:

If you convert to DNG inside of LR... what happens? Does it get rid of your .cr2 for you in the process? (I don't want to embed .cr2 either.)

I may end up playing around a bit with .dng... I wrote it off awhile back for my workflow... but these new profiles appear good enough that I may try .DNG with newly shot images before going back and mucking around with older images in my library... plus, since I've basically been pleased with Rawtherapee as a secondary (or third) editor, its development is progressing, and it handles .dng... it may eventually push me over the edge!

I have been using DNG since LR 1 was released. I hate XMP files after a huge debacle of moved files outside of Bridge when I was using CS2. I don't want to go through that again.

davidcrebelxt wrote in post #6007295
BTW:

If you convert to DNG inside of LR... what happens? Does it get rid of your .cr2 for you in the process? (I don't want to embed .cr2 either.)

I may end up playing around a bit with .dng... I wrote it off awhile back for my workflow... but these new profiles appear good enough that I may try .DNG with newly shot images before going back and mucking around with older images in my library.

You choose the preferences in LR IIRC. You can choose to embed or discard the CR2 and what size preview you would like as well.

One more question:

What settings do you guys find best during conversion, and any gotchas?

Jpeg preview size...
File extension... (compatibility problems?)
Image conversion method...
Compressed (lossless)... (slower access times?)

Thanks.

All at the default over here:

preview medium, lossless compression, Preserve RAW, don't embed CR2.

I'm a DNG user mainly because I don't want to use the sidecar files. One less thing to worry about.

My approach is slightly different. I use Downloader Pro to import my images from the card reader to my hard drive. DL Pro has options to call the standalone Adobe DNG Converter either during the importation process or after importation is completed. I have it set up to automatically create DNG files after import and to move them to a dated folder on my dedicated Photos drive. From there I just import the DNG files into Lightroom and discard the CR2 files.