When will DSLR manufacturers...?

Start using .DNG as there native raw format?

I sort of understand the marketing behind having a proprietary format but not really.
I mean what is the deal!
It takes so much time to convert .CR2 to .DNG and is is getting to the point where I can barley even do it when I am portable on my laptop.

Anyone have a time table for the abandonment of these stupid CR2's ot NEF's???

I like the .DNG format much better as well.

Do, you loose anything converting a .CR2 to a .DNG? How do you do it? The reason why I'm asking is I have photoshop CS3 which cannot read the .CR2's from my camera.

surely installing the latest cameraraw will fix it?

I never use DNG. Nor do a lot of people. I dont imagine they will ever do it.

Doubtful if we'll see Canon do it. Would be smart for some of the less common brands like Panasonic, Sony, Pentax etc. to do to save them money in software development (wouldn't need to develop a RAW viewer/converter like DPP). I like DNG mainly for the fact that I can keep the LR edits within the file and therefore not worry about losing the database containing the edit info; also likely more future-proof though not as worried with Canon.

Maybe some entrepreneur could develop a hardware chip to convert in hardware on a card reader - usually hardware processing of such things is way faster than software. Might be a market for it.

I hope on an open standard for the raw.
DNG is an adobe initiative and there is a free converter for windows and mac os x but i don't see a converter for linux.

They'll do it when everyone uses the exact same sensor, processor, and bus architecture in their cameras. The whole point of DNG is put a layer of compatibility above the RAW/Hardware layer and allow you to encapsulate the RAW insided the DNG along with the metadata. IF they do DNG, it will be a file output option like JPG and won't ever replace RAW. RAW is a function of the hardware producing the image.

I use Downloader Pro to automatically rename, archive the CR2 file and make a DNG version for editing.

AdamLewis wrote in post #8582067
I never use DNG. Nor do a lot of people. I dont imagine they will ever do it.

That is exactly why I am bringing this up. You do not use DNG for a variety of reasons I am sure, and not having any problem with compatibility is your main one right?

You are satisfied with waiting for Adobe or Apple to clean up after Canon mess and come up with constant updates. I am sure it has some great job security incentives for a few programmers but it is so stupid when you have to wait a few weeks or months or buy new programs to use the RAW capability of constantly released cams.

Until it is accepted and ratified by ISO, I wouldn't expect any company to jump on board.

Sony's the last company that will jump on board with anything close to an industry standard. And with Canon domination, unless Canon jumps on board which is unlikely also, DNG will still be a slow adoption.

mikeassk wrote in post #8584066
You are satisfied with waiting for Adobe or Apple to clean up after Canon mess and come up with constant updates.

Doesn't bother me since I never jump the gun on new gear. In fact I don't buy new camera bodies (or cars) at all anymore because they're never worth that premium to me.

There was a problem introduced by Canon and a 40D firmware release that broke conversion and reading software. Fixed on both ends fairly quickly as I recall but a pain for a few weeks.

I still work with DNG files to avoid the sidecar file issue keeping the origianl CR2 files as the last resort backup.

mikeassk wrote in post #8580895
Start using .DNG as there native raw format?

I sort of understand the marketing behind having a proprietary format but not really.
I mean what is the deal!
It takes so much time to convert .CR2 to .DNG and is is getting to the point where I can barley even do it when I am portable on my laptop.

Anyone have a time table for the abandonment of these stupid CR2's ot NEF's???

.DNG is a bloated file format. The same shot in .CR2 may be 15MB, in .DNG its close to 30MB... there isn't a point to that kind of bloat.

I for one am happy that Canon doesn't do in-camera .DNG