RAW processing

Your link is wrong Neil, but please don't post the info in every thread, we can find your post without that!

Er, Nigel even, sorry about that.....

I see what you're saying, but as I have pointed out in my guide, PDCU has the advantage of being able to sit back on the computer and give very fine control while seeing it all on a big monitor. Plus we have additional fine tuning (like the Colour Fine Tune wheel) and additional options for highlight correction, noise reduction, and a few other little niceties.

And you can avoid having to fiddle around while shooting with the camera controls and menus trying to see it on the LCD.

I am positive that when you do turn to RAW only you will see the quality benefits. I am sure you will be happy with the quality of image you can output from PDCU.

[quote:3496ace15f="3Peaks"]Any advice out there for using the PDCU supplied software for processing RAW files for someone like me, who does not use or owns any Adobe software ? Thanks in advance.


Hi there,

I posted a thread with a similar request just over a month ago (Digital Camera Utility 4 Tutorial) and Nigel (McGregNi) was kind enough to take up the challenge which has resulted in the 'Guide' which he has now posted elsewhere on this Forum.

Nigel has posted comments here (on this thread) as well so I will NOT go further on THIS thread but refer you to HIS posting where I shall add some further points about my experiences and some additional features which he has not yet covered.

All I DO want to say here is that once you get through the unfriendly user interface and unhelpful 'help' file you will discover a very powerful program !

Good luck

Peter

Lightroom 4 is even better, and a lot cheaper

But NOT as cheap as PDCU4 !!!

Peter

Lightroom 4 is so cheap nowadays, if you are serious about your photography you'll be shooting RAW, and a decent RAW processing package is as important as your choice of camera and lenses.

Yes it's a complicated piece of software and to get the best from it you need to spend some time to learn how to use it properly. But you'll get more help when you get stuck in Lightroom than you will when (not if) you get stuck with the Pentax supplied software.

Just buy it, you'll not regret it.

Another vote for LR4 from me too. I am lost without it.

I'm not at all up to speed in this area, and so would really be interested to know in what ways people find LR better than Elements. They seem to cover similar subjects, yet Elements can usually be got at some point in the year for c £50, while LR tends to be at least £30 more. They both seem to deal with raw conversion and also editing of Jpegs/Tiffs. I've never tried LR, as I don't like these 30 day trials, having found on occasion that they are hard to dislodge completely from the HDD. What advantage could I gain from moving from Elements to LR, in broad terms?

LR is more than just an editing program. It's cataloguing features are superb and the only way to efficiently track a large collection of pics IMO

Sure, but LR does a whole lot more than PDCU4

I love it how these things always head off in the same direction !- we might as well just say it at at the start - 'USE LIGHTROOM'!

The OP asked about info on PDCU - well, you've got some now - check out my mini guide (its a sticky in the General Photography section), and I'm sure you will find an easier way around its interface and I hope it helps you achieve more of what you need with your shots.

You're not wrong! You've given me an idea though. If I gave a hint that I was planning an all new 'Giant Guide to Lightroom' I bet you'd be itching to see it first!

Andy

Peeps are always going to evangelise about the app they most enjoy using