Photos App: Canon RAW or DNG

[LERsince1991]

I am in the process of moving my old (personal photos only) photo library over to iCloud to access it from all my devices etc...

Having read about iOS 10 and it's announced capabilities in editing RAW files, it also states DNG...

Now before I move some libraries over I have the opportunity to convert them to DNG (and preserve adjustments using this method: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4037275

Should I do this? Pros / cons of converting to DNG ?

I don't want to be stuck with a format that iOS / photos apps can't work nicely with and would like to get it right now - while I can change it.

 

[Cybbe]

I am in the process of moving my old (personal photos only) photo library over to iCloud to access it from all my devices etc...

Having read about iOS 10 and it's announced capabilities in editing RAW files, it also states DNG...

Now before I move some libraries over I have the opportunity to convert them to DNG (and preserve adjustments using this method: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4037275

Should I do this? Pros / cons of converting to DNG ?

I don't want to be stuck with a format that iOS / photos apps can't work nicely with and would like to get it right now - while I can change it.

Regardless of the very minor pros and cons of using DNG (Google this particular question, as it has been answered a multitude of times with the most common answer being it doesnt matter too much), you should instead ask:

• Will Apple support both the DNG and Canon RAW-format? I find it likely that they will (see mention of several third party formats https://developer.apple.com/library...iOS10.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40017084-SW2)
• Will iCloud/Photos even sync existing RAW-files to your phone?
• Are you likely to edit 10 year old photos en masse on your phone?

Honestly, I don't think it matters what RAW formats your photos are in.

 

[MCAsan]

OP never stated the requirements for importing and editing on an IOS device. If you want to edit a raw image on an IOS 10 device, the raw format needs to be DNG. MacOs Photos can handle either DNG or the native raw formats of most cameras.

Requirements?

 

[LERsince1991]

Thanks for the replies, I would certainly want to edit the photos (raw) on my large iPad Pro and iPhone. This applies for both my existing cr2 raw files from my archive as well as photos I take in the future from my DSLR.

What evidence is there to support the statement that editing raw on iOS requires dng only and not "third party raw files".

I realise this is early days to be asking about what is supported but I know some people have access to these features to a certain degree.

I'd also like to know if anyone has a workflow for importing raw photos via both iPad and OS X. For example on OS X I would copy the files over, convert to dng then import to photos. How can this be done on the iPad.

That's if I need to convert to dng to enable editibility of the RAW files.

I am certain iCloud will sync raw files between devices: if raw shooting is enabled on iPhones then of course they will sync.

 

[MCAsan]

What evidence is there to support the statement that editing raw on iOS requires dng only and not "third party raw files".

What Apple said in the WWDC opening presentation plus what they have said to developers. There lots of coverage this topic. In a Mac there is room for all the raw converter to support N number of cameras. In IOS devices there is not a large file system for all those converters. Please the IOS devices themselves will be capable of outputting DNG format.

So if you want to edit your Canon CR2 file in IOS 10 Photos, you will first need to use an app to convert from CR2 to DNG. I have not heard any indication that Photos itself will do the raw format conversion.


http://petapixel.com/2016/06/14/apple-bringing-raw-photo-editing-ios/

 

[robgendreau]

iOS and RAW is rather meh. You can get RAW into an iOS device, and it will produce JPEG previews, but most all apps just work on the JPEG. There are some exceptions: Adobe's Express, Photogene, Pirawhna, and maybe some others.

At the current time there isn't a way to convert raw proprietary files to DNG in iOS.

As far as workflow, I think you have to think in terms of the direction of the flow. Like import into Photos and use iCloud Photo Library. Or Lightroom and Lr Mobile (we've noticed that of late it can synch RAW although the officially supported workflow is RAW in Lr TO mobile via a smart preview, which is basically a lossy DNG). Mylio can also synch raw, although I don't think it can do DNG conversion.

 

[LERsince1991]

iOS and RAW is rather meh. You can get RAW into an iOS device, and it will produce JPEG previews, but most all apps just work on the JPEG. There are some exceptions: Adobe's Express, Photogene, Pirawhna, and maybe some others.

At the current time there isn't a way to convert raw proprietary files to DNG in iOS.

As far as workflow, I think you have to think in terms of the direction of the flow. Like import into Photos and use iCloud Photo Library. Or Lightroom and Lr Mobile (we've noticed that of late it can synch RAW although the officially supported workflow is RAW in Lr TO mobile via a smart preview, which is basically a lossy DNG). Mylio can also synch raw, although I don't think it can do DNG conversion.

This is correct only for iOS 9 and I understand the current situation.
What I am after is how iOS 10 works and whether it is fully compatible with cr2 as well as DNG

The public beta is now out so I expect a lot more people will be testing from now.

 

[jennyp]

There's a year-old but still convincing argument against converting to .dng with a good discussion here

 

[LERsince1991]

There's a year-old but still convincing argument against converting to .dng with a good discussion here

Thanks I will have a read!

I've found some very clear evidence show that Apple will support editing on iOS in all file formats from all popular manufacturers and continuously asked support through software updates.

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/505/

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/501/

Really clear and interesting stuff there so well worth a watch of both.

Therefore I'm sticking with cr2 as its easier and faster to import in future using my iPad and adapter.

 

[MCAsan]

Looks like I was incorrect. The IOS cameras will do DNG as their raw format. But Photos in both MacOS Sierra and IOS 10 should be able to process raw files from many different camera brands and models. That is great!

That means that in the field if I want to import a few of my raw images into IOS Photos to process them to show folks (folks on the same trip, at the same event..etc.) I can do that. But I can also bring the large batch of raw images back home to import and process in Lightroom and plugins.