DNG Preview Size

[MikeNaylor]

Hert, you say "DNGs should be created with full size previews. Your dng file’s probably we’re not created with full size previews. You can fix that in Lightroom or when using the DNG converter then make sure to use the option to create full size previews."

But my DNG files are saved within my cameras, so I'm not converting them in Lightroom or anywhere else. DNG is supposed to be a open source standard that many people hope camera manufacturers will eventually adopt. I expect many developers of RAW convertors will hope the same.

Hert, if you would like me to send you a camera DNG file, I'll be happy to do so.

[Hert]

DNG is supposed to be a open source standard that many people hope camera manufacturers will eventually adopt. I expect many developers of RAW convertors will hope the same

DNG has been around for many years now. And the time to "hope camera manufacturers will adopt" is way behind us. DNG was not adopted by the large camera vendors (Canon/Nikon/Sony/...). These vendors all have their own ecosystem and will not abandon that. Canon introduced their new RAW format CR3 just months ago. And Nikon is constantly introducing new NEF versions, and also uses their own newer NRW format.
That leaves only smaller vendors, who don't have a legacy nor the resources to invent their own format, as potential DNG adopters. And hence, DNG will IMHO never be widely adopted by manufacturers.

On top of that, the success of DNG was also its downfall. DNG in indeed an open format. But that also led to there being many DNG flavors out there which are not always fully compatible with the Adobe DNG files. And Adobe, as the inventor of DNG, is the reference. I've also noticed that by now the early DNG adopters, who believed that DNG had the future have abandoned the format already.

I understand your expectation that developers of RAW converters hope for wide DNG adoption. But that too will not be the case. These products use file formats as a major marketing area. How cool for them to state that they support over 300 cameras If all cameras would adopt DNG they could only say: we support DNG. In addition: these RAW software products can now "specialize" and market as "we have the better Canon support", making their product much more appealing to a focused market.

Don't think that "better" automatically means that it will be adopted. History has thought us differently. Look at VHS vs Betamax, look at JPG2000 vs JPG. DNG is in the same boat.
What the masses adopt is what dominates the market. And the mass RAW files are produced by Canon and Nikon. They rule the RAW file format world and as long as they don't adopt DNG, that format has no future for the masses.

Another great comparison: HEIC files. While that format is heavily patented, and is not being open sources, it still became a massively used file format. Simply because Apple and Google adopted that format. HEIC even has the potential to end the JPG dominancy, and even become the future de-factor standard RAW file format. If I had to make a bet on the future of file formats then I'd put my money on HEIC/HEIF, not on DNG.

But that's the future. Until then I recommend to stay grounded and use the file formats that are used by the masses. Today that is JPG for a lossy file format, TIF for a lossless file formats, and camera vendor proprietary RAW files.

Either way, that's just my 2ct about DNG.

Back to your question; sure you can always send me sample files. Send to support@idimager.com or link to a file on some cloud storage here.

[MikeNaylor]

So what Hert is really saying is that everyone should stick with the majority and use Canon or Nikon. Unfortunately for him, the majority are also choosing to stick with Lightroom - and with good reason.

[snowman1]

Mike, Hert has offered to look at your files and give you support - on something that I suspect is unlikely to be a PSU issue - and has spent time composing a reply that gives his view of the state of the market (quite an insightful one) and yet you still lash out at him?

[Hert]

That’s not what I’m saying Mike.
You made some assumptions and expressed expectations about the DNG future, and I gave my opinion on that.

If you wanted to summarize what I’m saying then it’s; use JPG, TIF, or the native RAW format that your camera records.

[Mke]

FWIW, I also see few advantages in saving to DNG unless your camera - like my Android phone - provides no other option apart from JPG; it seems unlikely to ever become the common format that was once envisaged.

In fact fixity checking is really DNG's only significant advantage IMHO (compression used to be another, but not now that storage is cheap); if that's not the reason you're using DNG, double check that your own reasons remain valid.

[MikeNaylor]

if that's not the reason you're using DNG, double check that your own reasons remain valid.

In fact, both my high end cameras save to DNG - there is no other option.