Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

These have just plummeted in price in the UK.

I am tempted.

Can I quickly confirm that QU supports them. There is some chat around V 119 - but the chat wanders a bit...

Tony

Tony,
I see DP 2M

Here's the current list

http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/tech-raw.htm

Thanks Fred,

Indeed. What I felt was odd that DP3M was not mentioned.

I'd have thought they had the same sensor.

I know the 3 was the latest addition to the range. Maybe that is why it is not listed?

Tony

I've been looking around and I have found two sources of test RAWs.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sigma_dp2_merrill_review/sample_images/
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sigma_dp3_merrill_review/sample_images/

IMHO neither the DP2M, or the DP3M, can be converted using Qimage.

Any suggestions wizards of QU?

Bye for the mo'.

Tony

Sorry. I just checked with my own files, and you are correct, but these images from the Sigma 2 Merrill and 3 Merrill are just incompatible with what David Coffin released as the decoder for them.

There are obvious colored bars/margins on the images too.
Mike said he will pass it along to Mr. Coffin as he usually does when someone finds a problem, but asks that the user might also email Mr. Coffin too.

White Balance in the Raw decoder is inoperative.
I tried setting the White Balance in the Editor and had limited success, but the greens are gray.
So that's the story... Most certainly, if he reads Mike's reports and customer reports, he will fix it in the next release!

Fred

Thanks Fred,

I've found Mr Coffin's address so I'll email him.

Have a good day.

Tony

This is the best one from a 3 Merrill
Using the Editor in Qimage:
The rest I tried are far worse, but remember, we have no way of knowing what the real colors are.
Look at the trees.  Look at the bricks

Just thought some folks might be interested in what we were looking at.

Fred

Here's another interesting fact I found.

The JPG that is usually stored inside the RAW which I extracted, seems to be OK

Fred

Thanks for looking Fred,

I've looked at the SD1 RAW files as well. And a pre 'm' version of the DP2.

My feeling is that DCRaw can't handle any of those big Sigma files. It will be interesting to hear what Mr Coffin has to say.

With the present prices of these DPxM's which I seem to remember launched at 10,000 USD and then re-launched at 2,000 USD they will be selling well at the 500 we are being asked for in the UK. And then there is another range in the pipeline.

Michael Riechmann is calling it " Medium Format Image Quality In a Pocket Sized Camera?". Not that he is the master of understatement but it may have a grain of truth.

It is being suggested elsewhere that Adobe will never (!) support the file system so that locks out Lightroom and PS.

I can work at the moment using the Sigma converter, but it would be better to have QU working on the original RAW rather than a third party TIF.

Tony

Highly doubtful that file size is an issue.
DCRAW handles the Nikon D 800 files which are 75 megs each... 

So it must have something to do with internal structure being odd.

Fred

Indeed,

A local who has both the Ricoh GR and the Sigmas had just said:-

"I doubt Adobe are even going to support the XRF format, I assume it must be
quite complex if it is literally combining three layers (if not done in
camera). On the other hand the new DPq models are gaining a lot of interest
around the world so maybe, just maybe..."

Tony

Have been tweaking around here....
... and updated Lightroom to 5.3 just to see if it would open the Sigma Merrills....  Nope!
So unless David Coffin fixes it in his next release, looks gloomy.

Interesting conundrum!
My view is: Suppose you were a manufacturer of a newly designed electric auto that needed to be recharged every 200 kms.
Other electric car drivers, before you, would locate a service station or a restaurant/ truck stop which permitted you to recharge while you ate or slept.
 
We have some like this....
But your new design has a PLUG with 5 Prongs instead of 3, and no one has an outlet to mate with that.
Do you expect all these service places to provide a special outlet just for your model?

Just spinning some thoughts!!

Fred

Quite so Fred,

In which case I convert my Sigma RAWs with their software into TIFs and then let QU handle the sharpening and any other tweaks.

SPP handles white balance, highlight recovery and fill - plus other elements, but they are probably better done using QU that I am now more familiar with.

Tony