Should I convert my NEFs to DNG?

I'd like to convert my NEFs to DNG, for two reasons: (a) future-proofing, (b) to save space.

The DNG files are slightly smaller than my NEFs and cumulatively that should save me a lot of

space. Obviously with (b) in mind I would not be embedding the original raws and I would be

deleting the original NEFs after conversion. Before I cross this digital Rubicon is there

something I should know? Is there information in the NEF that won't be carried over to the

RAW? Or is the smaller file size down to compression alone?

I don't see why you would consider DNG more future-proof than the original NEF. Can you convert the files back to NEF if necessary? If not, then you're reducing your options for post-processing.

<p>I agree with Ilkka and I strongly suggest you retain your NEF originals.

<p>NEF and DNG are proprietary formats with implementations from the same few

vendors (Adobe, Bibble Labs, Phase One, DxO,... -- Nikon supports NEF exclusively). The

vendors offer the exact same feature sets for files stored in both formats.

<p>Yes Adobe would like to turn DNG into some sort of standard (and, given their track

record --TIFF, PDF, OpenType--, they may succeed) but right now I don't see how DNG is

more future-proof than NEF.

<p>Consider what would happen if Nikon would fail: there are enough NEF files out there

that a conversion option/service would be available for some time (similar to chipping of

AI lenses, it's still available --albeit from fewer shops-- after... how many years). The

market for NEF is large enough to support a conversion industry. Conversely

image Adobe fails, do you see anybody picking DNG? How would you process your DNG

files?

<p>This may (and hopefully will) change. I'd like an open RAW format as much as the

next guy but DNG is not (yet?) the open RAW format. Don't be fooled by Adobe marketing.

<p>--ben

<p>PS: for the record, I don't see either Nikon or Adobe failing anytime soon but

future-proofness is about having a contingency plan.

Ilkka and Benoit are right. For future proofing I would store the most valuable in 16bit TIFF format because its more widely used and the data format is well documented. So even if Nikon or Adobe poduce no imaging software any more it will be possible to extract the data - at least as long computers still exist :-)For reason b) there is no other good alternative.

As far as "future proofing", dcraw is very standard C, and compiles on PC, mac, unix work stations.

 

I always expect existing cameras to be supported. The part that reads headers never drops old camera support, and the part that actually does the raw conversion grows in sophistication constantly.

<p>Peter

<p>I have read your other post and I understand why you like DNG. I don't deny that DNG

has many useful features and lots of potential. My comment was specifically on the future-

proofness of DNG versus NEF.

<p><i>Conversely, DNG is an open standard and the FULL data published in that format

is available for free. If adobe failed, why wouldn't people convert it?</i>

<p>When you look at the resilience of a solution, it helps to think in terms of "worst case

scenarios." Not just possibilities or convenience.

<p>Essentially I'm pointing out that Nikon Capture currently supports NEF only while the

other tools support both NEF and DNG. So by moving from NEF to DNG, you're loosing one

conversion option but you don't gain any.

<p>If you look at a worst case scenario where only one of the existing tool remains then it

should be obvious that it's safer to own NEF files than DNG files. It's that simple.<br>

If we look at a not so worst scenario where one of the tool improves so significantly that

you absolutely want to reprocess your images with it... NEF is still the winner for the same

reasons.

<p><i>There is an inherent convenience to DNG that makes it extremely attractive to

access that format.</i>

<p>I don't deny that DNG is convenient but the original question was about

future-proofness.

<p>Obviously as/if more manufacturers follow Leica and Leaf leads, then DNG will

become the preferred solution for archiving. Until that happens, NEF is more archival than

DNG so if you only have one of the two formats, I believe it should be NEF.<br>If you can

afford two, by all means do so.

<p>--ben

a Future proofing - i'd keep multiple format

 

b.use some offline storage like DVD. just keep multiple copies.

 

 

NEF is one of the major RAW formats and unlike Canon RAW converters, Nikon do support all older RAW files(so far). so i'd keep my options for different RAW converters unless they change that policy and drop supporting old files. In fact, i convert most of my files using NC and some with CS2. NEF files ain't that big actually. Fuji RAW files are much worse (their 6MP P&S F810 produces ~12MB files and S3 pro files are around 25MB) and i do plan to convert them to DNG since i dont like Fuji converters and also don't want to 've too many different converters. But NEF is so widely supported that I 'd 've fewer choice if i converted them all to DNG and delete the NEF.

Thanks everyone for this extremely useful discussion. I see the arguments though I can't

help feeling that an open source solution is going to be preferable in the longer term, simply

because with or without Adobe there's always going to be someone making a conversion tool

for DNGs. With NEF and possible encryption, I'm a bit nervous that those files wouldn't be

recoverable in a Nikon-less world. But I take the point that, at present, perhaps the jury's

still out and maybe I should still wait a while.

 

Space-wise, *sigh* yes it always boils down to more storage doesn't it? 1.5tb under my desk

and I still don't seem to have enough.

Converting NEFs to DNG will not save you that much space. Also, since Nikon is not going anywhere anytime soon, why convert their files. You will be able to open them for years to come so why screw around with a format that may not be around in five years.

 

Also, when converting NEFs to DNG, you will lose some of Nikon's proprietary data (at least until Nikon opens the formut up). Do not do it unles you can revert to the original files.

Ben writes

 

> if more manufacturers follow Leica and Leaf leads, then DNG will become the preferred solution.

 

Hasselblad would appear to be another...

 

http://www.nikoninfo.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=2

 

However I don't see any rush to convert - if space was not such an issue I'd suggest to Chris that he convert to at least JPEG or TIFF and store alongside your NEF files, so that at least at some point in the future you can view the image and decide whether it's worthwhile to drag that old 2006 vintage PC with Capture on it. But I wouldn't delete those NEF's.

 

In the meanwhile it might be worthwhile to keep an eye on what happens with the OpenRAW working group. This document by Michael Reichmann and Juergen Specht, explains the problem better than I could...

 

http://www.openraw.org/actnow/

 

The document reminded me that I've still got some of those 5 1/4" floppy disks at home and no working computer with a 5 1/4" floppy drive to copy the data. I "think" there isn't anything worth keeping on them... but I'm not 100% sure.

 

Regards, Lex

There are already software tools that support DNG but do not support early-format NEFs. For example RAW Shooter Essentials does not support the original D1. Now I'm a Canon user I still want access to my NEF files and don't really want to keep Nikon software on my PC for ever. So for me converting the old NEFs to DNG makes sense.

Nikon users have some major drawbacks by converting their NEF's to DNG. You can no longer open the DNG files with Nikon Capture NX and as a result you will never again be able to make adjustments to any Active D-Lighting OR Picture Control settings embedded in your NEF file. Adobe Camera RAW and DNG does not understand these custom Nikon Features.

 

Embedding the original NEF inside the DNG makes a DNG file bigger than the original NEF so I do not actually see the point, I have enough problems with hard drive space as it is. You will forever and always be able to open an NEF with Adobe Camera Raw or several other Raw processing software packages and Capture will always be able to open older formats.

 

I can still open old D70 NEF files with capture NX and even turn Picture Control (never supported on a D70) ON if I so desire. If those had been converted to DNG I would have completely lost that functionality forever and I have used it a number of times already.

 

For me NEF is here to stay until Nikon say otherwise.

I have been hearing for some time that I should convert my NEF's to DNG, but I have found that when I do, yes I get a slightly smaller file, but I also get more noise than the original NEF. For that reason alone I have stayed away from DNG. NEF can already be compressed with lossless compression, making it about the same size as the jpg version. I tried to ask adobe about this but I think lossless compression compressed a second time with "lossless" compression is no longer lossless.

What do you all think?

I am finding that converting NEF to DNG degrades the quality of the image. It increases noise. Is anyone else noticing this issue? I am going to stick with NEF and HDR and TIFF.

Thanks for all the responses so far.