two questions about using Canon DPP for converting 7D RAW

[Bruce Sherman]

Last week I posted a thread about converting RAW files from a Canon 7D. I got two suggestions - use Adobe DNG or use the Canon Digital Photo Professional software that comes with the camera.

The last time I used Canon software for converting RAW files (probably 6 or 7 years ago when I bought a D60) I was not imressed, so I decided to take the DNG route this time. I was not thrilled with it - the images right after conversion from DNG to TIF in PS and the final images after processing in PS looked just a tad soft.

Tonight I installed and tried the Canon DPP software. The ease of use of the Canon software sure has improved in the last 6 or 7 years. The file sizes (when converted to TIF using the DPP) are huge (ca. 100 MB, compared to only ca. 50 MB for the TIF file derived from the DNG files). The sharpness of the DPP converted images after PS processing is much better than what I can get from a DNG file.

My two questions are:
1. When I use the DPP software I get an image with sRGB color profile. In the DPP preferences menu I have checked the Adobe RGB box in the Default Settings of Work Color Space under the Color Management tab, but still get an sRGB image on the converted file. My camera is set to Adobe RGB color space. Anybody have an idea on how I can get my converted TIF file to be Adobe RGB?
2. When I have done all PS processing and have a 72 DPI TIF image I then use Smart Sharpen to sharpen. I set Smart Sharpen to 100% and 0.2 pixel radius. With the 72 DPI images from a 7D raw file I have to use Smart Sharpen 7 or 8 times to get the results I like. With previous DSLR's I had to use SmartSharpen only 3 or 4 times. Anyone know the reason why I have to use SmartSharpen so much more?

Thanks in advance.

[E.J. Peiker]

The difference in file size has nothing to do with DPP vs DNG. You simply have configured your DNG converter to give you 8 bit files instead of 16. The file size will be the same between the different conversion tools if you select equivalent output.

1. Don't use DPP
2. This is because you are sharpening a full rez file with a setting designed for a small WEB based image. DPI is irrelevant. A couple of hits of 0.2 at 100% is fine for a 750x500 web sized image but will do nothing for a full size 16MP image. Try a 1 instead of a 0.2

[DonS]

Bruce,

I have been using CS4 for my 7D RAW file conversions. Inside both CS4 and LR2, there are beta versions of ACR for the 7D. So far, the converted RAW files have been fine.

I did not want to relearn DPP.

[ejmartin]

Don,

Do you see mazing artifacts in your 7D conversions with ACR, especially with uniform patches of bright yellow? A number of cameras show this issue, and I'm wondering how prevalent it is. It appears to be a hardware issue, but ACR shows it more than others.

[Tom Robbins]

1. Don't use DPP

EJ, are you suggesting that DPP should not be used for 7D raw file conversions, or that it should not be used at all? If so - for either question - why?

[DonS]

Don,

Do you see mazing artifacts in your 7D conversions with ACR, especially with uniform patches of bright yellow? A number of cameras show this issue, and I'm wondering how prevalent it is. It appears to be a hardware issue, but ACR shows it more than others.

My camera is great!

Emil,
Where did you get this story? Who made it up? Where are the facts? Any facts from Canon? Sounds like another propaganda story

[ejmartin]

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/ ... 25#7726126

This is an extreme example, but all 7D's I've looked at have an issue with gain imbalance from column to column, that lead to interpolation artifacts of the sort you can see at the link. On top of the gain fluctuations, which lead to vertical line pattern "noise", there seems to be a slightly different spectral response in the two green channels of the Bayer array, which exacerbates the issue in RAW converters that are not programmed to account for it. ACR is not accounting for it in the beta support for the 7D.

[E.J. Peiker]

1. Don't use DPP

EJ, are you suggesting that DPP should not be used for 7D raw file conversions, or that it should not be used at all? If so - for either question - why?

I should have writte "I don't use DPP" There is nothing wrong with DPP, it just doesn't fit well into my workflow. Same goes for Capture NX