raw vs dng

[dhilberg]

There's no real reason not to convert to DNG, except maybe the time taken to convert and the extra storage space required (if you keep the RAWs too). But the Adobe DNG converter makes it pretty simple and almost automates the process. I'm actually in the process of converting all my RAWs to DNG, but I'll still be keeping the RAWs. I don't embed the RAWs in the DNG though, in case DNG isn't supported in the future.

If 30 years from now I want to view some of my old photos and Bridge or ACR--or whatever RAW processor exists--no longer supports my D80 or D90, then the DNGs will come in handy (assuming DNG is still supported). But if RAW software still supports those cameras in the future, then I'm okay either way.

 

[icassell]

If I were going to keep my RAW files, I don't think I'd convert to DNG. With file sizes as large as they are getting (~23 MB for a RAW file for my 7D), I don't really want to keep buying drives. I dump my CR2 files after converting.

 

[dhilberg]

True. I think I'm just nervous about parting with my RAWs.

It does nearly double the storage required.

 

[Gaerek]

Honestly though it does make some sense. Granted DNG could be dropped in a few years time (very little appears to last the test of time in computing) However as an emerging industry standard even if support for it is dropped chances are that converters will be able to move things from DNG to whatever the next format is.

However those canon RAW codecs for the 300D, 350D and so on for other old cameras might not be able to be converted into the next stage - thus leaving you with a load of old files that need old software in order to be used - and old software can be surprisingly hard to find in a working setup and might even not run on the newer computers (so then you would need an old computer too!)

This is the only reason I convert to DNG. Keep in mind, that even though cr2 and nef are fairly common, when a new camera comes out, you need a new codec to read it's RAW file. Even if, say, 10 years down the road the latest, greatest photo editing software supports cr2 or nef, who's to say they have the codec for my XTi, which at that point will be almost a 15 year old camera?

You could say the same for dng, however, the difference is, it's universal, and it's very likely that 10 years down the road, even if there's no support for it, there will be some kind of converter available that can move it to the newest format. Your images, I believe, are safer (and smaller!) with DNG.