Finding the raw DNG converter for Pentax K-5 - Help!

Yes it's a customer version, i.e. a cut down version specifically for Pentax.

I got the DCU installed OK - thanks to the previous comments and the link to the other thread. I also downloaded the trial version of Silkypix Developer Studio 8 (not the pro version). They both work, but I must admit the full version is way, way better. Not only is it much more intuitive to use, but it is much faster as well - the DCU version was pretty sluggish, especially dragging around sliders and watching the image update in front of you - and this on a pretty fast PC. I then tried it on my partner's laptop (the camera is for her) which naturally is quite a lot slower than my desktop, and it was really sluggish.

I am starting to think therefore that DS8 is worth the special offer (till June) purchase price of ~£50. Odd really, because the Samsung Silkypix version for the SX20 (K20D in reality), which I've had for years, is excellent, no download / install issues, much closer to the full version, and goes like a rocket.

I thought the SX20 (K20D) was a brilliant camera, I still use it. A really class piece of kit. So no doubt the K-5 will be excellent too. Nice camera, shame about the bundled software.

With thanks to all those who provided helpful comments.

Raw Therapee (Free) is the best for pixel shift. One of the programmers is very keen on it. See examples here.....

https://www.clubsnap.com/threads/the-pixel-shift-diaries.1656234/page-6

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you need PDCU 4 if you rea;lly must have the Pentax software. from what i gather Silypix produce software for various manufacturers. personally i find it awful to use (PDCU 5 for K3) the only thing i found was it did a good job with pixel shift images apart from that i would thnk Gimp would be a better option if you want some thing free. looking at Ricoh Imaging Europe site though PDCU 4 is available as a download under the K5 II

My first digital (Nikon 600) in 1999 came with Adobe Photoshop on a CD Obviously it wasn't downloadable and like most software was licensed only to the original owner of the camera.

I think I paid about £600 for the camera which was quite basic (fixed lens) and reported to be a re-badged Panasonic. Most people moan about paying that much for a better camera nowadays.

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Free 'legacy version' of Photoshop CS2 here - https://www.techspot.com/downloads/3689-adobe-photoshop-cs2.html

Opens RAW dng files via a simple but easy to use interface. Only problem is you have to work on each one individually and save a copy.

That's a good one Will l, I think you may have pointed me to it a good few years ago and I'm still using it ....(so thanks again!). All the key PhotoShop tools needed, 16bit layers etc, and totally free! I actually use Sagelight for my RAW working, then Save As a Tiff for finishing work in CS2.

No, it's not a batch or bulk processing workflow, but for hobbiests it's plenty. It may be that those needing batch tools and professional grade image management will have to look to paid for software, but for the rest of us it's amazing how much can he achieved for free ...I don't think someone using the latest version of CC will necessarily be able to produce better looking processed images than me, at least with the basic types of adjustment tools.

FWIW I just called Pentax UK support (though I don't think it was actually in the UK). Helpful bloke, but he couldn't do much. I asked how to get a replacement CD - quite happy to pay for it.

"Oh no, they are only provided with the camera new".
"Well, what if a CD fails or gets lost, if a part of the camera broke I could get it repaired / replaced at a cost, why not the CD?"
"No, we don't do that, but you can download the software."
"Yes, but the downloaded software is update only, it needs the CD to update from."
"Oh yes, that's true ....".

And that was as far as I got. There may be other solutions out there - the means of installing the update previously mentioned, Silkypix full versions, Photoshop plugins etc, but to me it is not the point. It seems to me to be a pretty strange way to treat your customers if you want them to be happy. I can understand there are licensing problems, but there are ways to deal with those less detrimentally to the customer.

I've used Pentax cameras for over 40 years, right back to screw mount days. Disappointed.

Once considered a heavy weight amongst photograph editors Picture Window Pro v7 is now available FREE. The interface is a bit dated and processing is slow, but I think it works in 48bit. It handles DNG's OK using DCRaw. 32 or 64bit available.

There is also a Beta of v8, but it hasn't got a RAW converter. You need to use TIFF's. Sounds fairly incomplete at present.

The Forum is worth looking at.

http://www.dl-c.com/

The author also wrote the famous spreadsheet Lotus 1-2-3 which in turn revolutionized computers.

A Tutorial....
http://www.normankoren.com/PWP_intro.html

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Erm...not really.

https://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2013/01/update-on-cs2-and-acrobat-7-activa...

Pentax support at it's finest. If it were a new company starting today it would not last five minutes.

Anyway why do you want the outdated software ? I have never installed any Pentax software since I bought my DS in 2003

Thanks. i'll bear that in mind if I have feel the need to do pixel shift.