Pentax RAW converter stinks?

Hi there.

As a Samsung user looking to buy my first Pentax DSLR (k5) soon I wonder what's up with the RAW converter that Pentax provides. I understand that most of you Pentax users find it useless?

In my digital workflow I usually use the Samsung RAW which is 99% identical to Silkypix. Samsung have been kind enough to update the program regularly and I'm really quite happy with its performance, pretty much knowing the ins and outs of how it works and all. However, a quick test indicate it won't work with files from K5 (no surprise) and I don't plan on buying the Silkypix original - plenty of expenses these months already! Also, I got an PS Elements 9 coming in the mail and I guess I can adjust to using Adobes alternative (btw is that the same as in Lightroom?)

I know, maybe I should just get the finger out and buy that camera and then try out for myself. But until then, I'm curious why you consider the Pentax program to be so bad. I understand it is based on the same Silkypix engine? Is it the end quality, the interface or limited functionality that bugs you? I haven't been able to find any information.


Btw. surfing around I noticed a 30% off on Lightroom on Adobes online store.

I haven't used the Pentax RAW converter but it too is based on Silkypix.

You won't be able to convert PEFs in PSE yet as Adobe haven't issued an update for ACR yet. Those of us with a K-5 already are shooting DNGs.
ACR in Elements is not the same as in Lightroom, but it does the trick most of the time.

Lightroom and PSE complement one another very well I'm told.

I never got the impression from this forum that the Pentax supplied programme is especially bad. I used it a few times but found it a bit crashy on my old laptop, so reverted to using PSE which I had already.

I can definitely endorse Lightroom. It seems to streamline all aspects of organising, viewing, sorting, and editing (non-destructively) your images.

I would love a Lightroom --> PSE setup, but it all ads up! If the Pentax RAW converter is anything like the Samsung/Silkypix I'm using now I would be more than happy. The fact that nobody seem to be using it is not a good sign.

I never used it when I had the IST Ds - because it was not good.

It has improved considerably since then as I understand it, but I am now so used to PSE that I haven't tried it again.

Maybe you should give it a go when you get your camera. If you don't like it then use PSE until you can afford Lightroom.

Yeah, I will give it a go when time comes! I was just so pleased with the latest update to my Samsung RAW and then only to realise that with a new camera I couldn't use it any more I wouldn't mind if Samsung made another DSLR. Also, I have to admit I don't want to support Adobe more than necessary

I'll see if I can get my hands on one of those K5 soon. I certainly don't agree with all of Pentax' initiatives but that camera seem to been made with my needs especially in mind. I know one shop here that have it at a reasonable prize, I also know they won't let customers play with it before buying ... so maybe some shopping in or around London is coming up.

Will your Samsung program not work with DNG files then?

I'm sure the Pentax software will be similar as it's Silkypix based and bears little resemblance to the early software package I got with my first *istD-era camera. And there are many other free options out there which will work with DNG. I do wonder why we keep paying through the nose for Adobe products when there's so much quality freeware available!

There was a free version of Lightroom available at one time: I wonder if anyone still has the setup file (and whether it still works?) Otherwise, there are other ways of getting the software for free which I could not possibly condone.

I tried one DNG file from the K5 and it spit it out again! K5 output is now 14 bit so I guess that's a new file structure? And I would be very surprised if Samsung keeps updating the engine as they are not in the game anymore. Otherwise, the program could be coded to only accept Samsung files. I haven't got any K7 DNG files to try.

I used the free Lightroom for several months, but when the trial period ended the program expired. I liked it, though, as it was very intuitive to work with.

I need a camera body + a wide angle lens, and plan to go travelling for half of next year (yeah, quit my job already!) so have to stop spending!