Exporting from LR4

[Robert Mitchell]

The more you work on it when shooting, the better you'll get. I do agree that with wide shots and landscape it can be challenging, but in the end it really makes a difference.

 

[BackdoorArts]

I agree with WhiteLight, DNG is the way to go. In an NEF file, the EXIF data rides along with the file as a "sidecar" and is not part of the file. As a result it can be lost and gone for good. However, this is not the case with DNG files. DNG files incorporate the EXIF data within the file itself and thus can never be lost. Moreover, DNG is not a proprietary system like NEF and is considered a public domain system and thus less likely to be at the whims of a single provider.

You can convert all your existing files to DNG or you can simply choose the option to convert upon import. I typically convert when I'm importing my images, it's a loss-less system and I don't have to worry about losing my EXIF info.

I have a catalog that is a mix of RAW image types. Some are DNG, most are NEF. I'd heard somewhere that the DNG files would also save space over compared to my 16MP D7000 files, but didn't see the evidence so stopped converting, forgetting about the catalog vs. file storage of manipulation information. If I wanted to convert it (about 5000 images) into a cohesive set of images can I do that in place, or would it require importing the old images and converting on import into, say, a new catalog? I'm OK with any answer as my catalog needs some reorganization anyway, and I have the room on my current HD to house them side-by-side.

 

[Dave_W]

I have a catalog that is a mix of RAW image types. Some are DNG, most are NEF. I'd heard somewhere that the DNG files would also save space over compared to my 16MP D7000 files, but didn't see the evidence so stopped converting, forgetting about the catalog vs. file storage of manipulation information. If I wanted to convert it (about 5000 images) into a cohesive set of images can I do that in place, or would it require importing the old images and converting on import into, say, a new catalog? I'm OK with any answer as my catalog needs some reorganization anyway, and I have the room on my current HD to house them side-by-side.

You can convert your entire library from NEF to DNG very easily. Go into LR and while in "Library" mode go to the pull-down Library menu and 3/4 of the way down will be the option "Convert photo to DNG". To do them all at once you'll need to be a the highest folder level so as to have as many photos in the lower bar and highlight them by Cmdn-A (or Cntrl-A on Mac) and let'er rip. It might take a while, depending on the clock speed of your system but easy from a user standpoint.

 

[BackdoorArts]

You can convert your entire library from NEF to DNG very easily. Go into LR and while in "Library" mode go to the pull-down Library menu and 3/4 of the way down will be the option "Convert photo to DNG". To do them all at once you'll need to be a the highest folder level so as to have as many photos in the lower bar and highlight them by Cmdn-A (or Cntrl-A on Mac) and let'er rip. It might take a while, depending on the clock speed of your system but easy from a user standpoint.

Will this actually convert them (i.e. physically delete the NEF file and leave the DNG file in its place), or will it create a DNG file along side and simply remove the NEF file from the catalog?

 

[Dave_W]

Will this actually convert them (i.e. physically delete the NEF file and leave the DNG file in its place), or will it create a DNG file along side and simply remove the NEF file from the catalog?

I believe it will give you that choice of replacing or duplicating them,... I think.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot on a small directory in my catalog and see.