Best raw conversion software?

I agree that the colour profile is not part of the DNG specification. However, many people "believe" that by using DNG they will get the correct result in a Raw converter that doesn't yet support their new camera, this is not the case as the colour profile is camera specific, not Raw format specific, which is what we are both saying in different ways.

To get the correct result you need both the Raw format codec and the camera colour profile, using another generic profile will result in incorrect colour and white balance.

Very strangely, Capture One still produces a different colour result with a DNG file with the appropriate Pentax profile applied compared to a PEF file with the same Pentax profile, which is very strange, that's why I tend to stick with PEF rather than use DNG.

I don't use Lightroom, as I find it's IQ and image correction tools inferior and limited in comparison to Silkypix Pro. Also Silkypix usually has the latest native camera Raw support before anyone else does, quite often within days of the cameras release and shows the latest lens information as well, even the latest Lightroom 3 beta doesn't report the DA*60-250, but Silkypix Pro does!

If you want to use a DNG file for personal reasons, I believe it's better to convert the PEF file to DNG via the Adobe free Raw converter as, for example, the K-7 in camera produced DNG files cannot be read by ACDSee v3, but if you run them through the Adobe converter, they can be read. So, even with DNG, some problems can arise.

Richard, I know what you're saying and it makes sense but some thing tells me it's not 100% the case.

The sensor has a Bayer array pattern in-front off it and the shade of the red - green - blue effect the colour processes.
I don't know what if that's directly linked with the colour profile, since that information is important I belive that is in the raw file, or else it hast to guess which shade the sensor use.

If someone can explain it, that would be wonderful

I've just done some conversions from both PEF and DNG in Capture One v4 and Silkypix Pro to show how C1v4 produces very different results from a K20D PEF or DNG file as opposed to Silkypix which produces virtually identical results.

I did ensure that all the other settings were set the same in all instances.

Firstly the C1v4 conversions:




Now the Silkypix conversions, it uses the same profile for either format:




Raises some questions about Capture One's handling of DNG and colour profiles, doesn't it?

Peter, do you use this for PEF or DNG files please? When I try to open a PEF file the software crashes!

Richard CaptureOne doesn't support colour profiles for RAW DNG output from any camera. Colour profile support is only optimised for each camera manufacturer's particular RAW format.

From the CaptureOne FAQ: "Adobe: DNG (raw DNG support only). The DNG support is not optimized for specific cameras"

That explains your results pictured above
And the reason I only shoot PEF

Btw you can always export as DNG if you want to backup in that format.

That's exactly the point that I made in my previous posts, i.e. using DNG with a Raw converter that doesn't have the correct camera profile is pointless and just like you, that's why I use PEF, as that will ensure that the result is pretty close to the correct colour.

With C1v4 you can select a Pentax profile with a DNG file instead of DNG neutral. I would've thought that would give the correct result, as DNG is purely a codec for extracting the signals from each of the 3 different colour channels just as PEF does, but it seems that this is not the case with C1, but it seems it works okay with Silkypix and Adobe Raw/Lightroom with both PEF and DNG files.

Although I have a fully licenced version of C1v4, I don't use it as I find that Silkypix Pro is a much more powerful RC with superior IQ, especially as it now supports proper printer/paper profiles, it's a complete solution from Raw file to printed result, where C1v4 isn't. Add the far greater range of controls including superb CA correction, distortion and perspective correction, an excellent shadow/highlight recovery tool (dodging) and a host of many other tools, it leaves all the others in the dust (including Lightroom 3 beta)!

The latest version of RawTherapee (v.2.4.1) supports K-7 PEF and DNG files. It also gives the same colour result with both file formats, just like Silkypix and Lightroom/ACR.

K-x PEF files show, but they have a really wierd colour!

Unfortunately it's really slooow in comparison to SP and Lightroom.

Curious, it crashes when trying to open .PEF files from my K20D too.

I don't actually use it, I just gave it a trial. It is able to open .PEF's that have been converted to .DNG's in Lightroom though. I haven't tried .DNG's straight from the camera.

. . . but not from the K20D it seems. Mine is V2.4.1 and it crashes. DNG's are fine.

No problem on my computer, both K20D PEF's and DNG's are okay.

I get "rt.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close" when I select a folder that contains .PEF files. JPG's and DNG's do not cause this error.

It's of no matter to me anyway, I use Lightroom.

I agree Richard, DNG is a bit of a boat without a rudder in CaptureOne but I guess you can attune the DNG output to your hearts desire if you really want to.
Easier to stick with PEF I think and as I say output to DNG if you want to back up in that format.

Well my preference having tried both quite extensively was to opt for the Pro version of CaptureOne, unfortunately it costs a fair bit more than the vanilla version but it is worth it IMHO. It also includes CA correction, lens distortion correction, sharpness fall off, shadow/highlight recovery and many other tools. And most importantly (for me) I found that it consistently recovers more detail from PEF RAW files. I would say however that I certainly like Silkypix and it would be next in line as a RAW converter if CaptureOne wasn't around
Everyone has their personal preferences

I get "rt.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close" when I select a folder that contains .PEF files. JPG's and DNG's do not cause this error.

It's of no matter to me anyway, I use Lightroom.[/quote]Interesting. I use Debian (Linux) / amd64 and it works fine for me with K20D PEF files. I use 2.4.1 version.

I use Lightroom. Lightroom recognises K200d as "Camera" when importing DNG files (this word appears in the box when you need to choose the source). I also use a camera of an other brand. Then Lightroom recognises the exact brand and type of that camera. Does it mean, in Lightroom K200d has no correct camera profile (at least when using DNG), while the other camera has??
KZ