ORF (Olympus raw file) in LR

[MCAsan]

The following may be applicable to raw files from other cameras as well.

If you think you will need to move your images from a Adoble processing world, such as in Lightroom, be careful about converting ORF to DNG. If you convert to DNG without embedding the original raw file in the DNG (that means a larger DNG) Adobe can not extract the original raw file if you want to move it to another processing environment such as Aperture or other.

So carefully consider the options in Lightroom (and maybe other Adobe programs):

• Copy and process the native raw files, do not convert them to DNG. You can later move/copy the raw files to another processing program if needed.
• Copy as DNG and do not embed the original raw file. This is the LR default and produces a linear DNG file. This makes for a smaller DNG file but means Adobe can not extract the raw file later.
• Copy as DNG and do embed the original raw file. This is an LR option and produces an embedded DNG file. This makes for a larger DNG file but means Adobe can extract/export the original raw file in the future.

This should be an exciting year for post processing options if Adobe releases LR 6 and Apple releases Aperture 4. With OS 10.9.3 Apple should finally have 4K at decent refresh rates for Retina Macbook Pro laptops. That may lead to a new 4K Apple Thunderbolt Display. And that sets the stage for an Aperture that can display and edit photos on 4K screens. Maybe, just maybe, all will be made clear at Apples's WWDC starting June 2.

In the meantime, I am importing my Olympus raw files into LR as native ORF files only. That gives me the max flexibility to later convert to DNG (embedded or linear) or even move to Aperture 4. Keep your options open.