You are here

22 posts / 0 new
Last post
Aperture & RAW formats going forward #1
John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 7, 2014 - 7:47pm

I plan to continue to use Aperture ( I’ve used it from its inception) until Photos is up and running for awhile and will then make a an informed decision at that time.  I have one BIG question, though.  I am contemplation getting a new DSLR (Nikon D810).   Up to this point Apple has been very good at updating Aperture’s RAW conversion module for new cameras as they become available.  Will this continue?  I’ve heard that this is part of the OS and not part of Aperture/iPhoto per se.   Any thoughts?  If new camera Raw formats won’t be supported by Aperture going forward, I’ll have to switch.  

Milt Anglin's picture
by Milt Anglin
August 7, 2014 - 10:51pm

Apple just updated some camera RAW  conversions, but the Nikon D810 does not appear to be one of them. However they did update  some of the Sony and Olympus models. 

Milt

John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 7, 2014 - 11:38pm

Thanks for the update.  I suspect it will happen for the Nikon 810 also.  

Jochen H. Schmidt's picture
by Jochen H. Schmidt
August 8, 2014 - 3:43pm

It was and is part of the OS. The current RAW update was 5.06. Dpreview said ([1]) that Aperture on Mac OS X Yosemite will support RAW V6 and will therefore get further updates in RAW support.

[1] http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5684134078/apple-to-cease-development-o…

Bob Rockefeller's picture
by Bob Rockefeller
August 8, 2014 - 6:05pm

These are all guesses. In truth, we just don’t know when, if, or how the D810 will be supported. RAW v6 could handle things together with the OS in new ways. Or not. Maybe v6 will work for Finder previews and Photos conversions only and Aperture could be left out as no-longer-developed software.

I’d suggest waiting until Apple shows it’s hand before buying into a new camera format. Or plan to go with Lightroom as a fall back as they have D810 support now. Capture One Pro says they’re working on support, but don’t have it yet.

Bob
----------
Bob Rockefeller
Midway, GA
www.bobrockefeller.com

Jochen H. Schmidt's picture
by Jochen H. Schmidt
August 9, 2014 - 3:48am

Hi Bob, It is certainly a good idea not to guess to much into things we do not know yet. On the other side I think it is equally bad to poison any discussion about Apple, Aperture, RAW and Photos by repeating that all things about them are guesses. There is no reason to enforce an universal skepticism and FUD. I said that DPreview wrote V6 will come with Yosemite and will be supported with Aperture. That’s no guess that’s a fact - they did say that. I do not know their source (will investigate) but this doesn't seem like a very unlikely thing. I also said that RAW support is and was OS level - this is also no guess, this is fact. – JS

Bob Rockefeller's picture
by Bob Rockefeller
August 9, 2014 - 1:49pm

Jochen, I don’t aim to poison. I, too, and very disappointed in Apple’s decision to discontinue Aperture and I too easily remember the community’s high expectations of an Aperture 4 (or X). At every tiny fragment of news or rumor, we all built a big story of its eminent release only to be left with nothing in the end.

There is too little that is truly known as fact. Apple has damaged my faith in them when it comes to supporting serious photographers with a serious tool.

DPReview reports that v6 will come with Yosemite. Apple has said that Yosemite will support Aperture (or, more properly, Aperture will be updated to support Yosemite) and that there will be a way to import an Aperture library into Photos.

How will RAW support be handled in Photos? How often will that support be updated for new cameras? What features will Photos even have? All this we do not know. :(

Bob

Bob
----------
Bob Rockefeller
Midway, GA
www.bobrockefeller.com

Jochen H. Schmidt's picture
by Jochen H. Schmidt
August 9, 2014 - 2:15pm

@Bob

Please don't understand this as attacking you. Its not even directed to any special person. There is alot of that “Aperture is dead” “Apple  doesn't take photographers seriously” “I lost my faith in Apple” stuff going on now. Repeating that any reasoning about this stuff are all “just” guesses and that one is better helped by assuming the wildest worst case scenarios is really disturbing and irrational to me.

This irrational rage ruined much of the impact FCPX could have had within its first months. Now people are realizing what a groundbreaking development that was - a incredibly powerful, modern and open solution. There are still comment-trolls who repeat the vitriol of the first days about FCPX. If I would be a fan of conspiracy theories, I would perhaps guess how much of that public comments were actually paid marketing acts. It would not be the first time.

Aperture is NOT dead. The software will not be suddenly stop working. There will be at least one update which makes it run on Yosemite. Apple plans to put development resources into Photos instead of Aperture then. This is not the same to me to reasoning about unpublished “Aperture X” book titles or associating Mac-Releases with possible Aperture update cycles. This is - for Apples usual secrecy -  a clear outsight.

Expecting that there will be no RAW updates in future just basing on the known facts is ridiculous to me. Particularily after watching the WWDC sessions about extended RAW support coming. There is absolutely no base that supports such a negative conjecture.

Apple was late this time with its 5.06 RAW update - at least 2 Months. People make it sound as if apple didn't update anything for years. The updates always came quite regularily with some small longer delays between and sometimes even updates following after 1 month. There is not to guess about that with “Photos” and “PhotosKit” cooking, there is alot of work on their table. PhotosKit is still unfinished.

Is there really enough reason to tell people “Don't buy new cameras because it is not yet 100% clear that your camera will be supported in future Apple Camera RAW updates”? I think it is fair to assume that there will be new RAW updates like the years before and that there is no reason to cripple RAW support to a level that doesn't make any sense.

Bob Rockefeller's picture
by Bob Rockefeller
August 9, 2014 - 2:29pm

No problems here and I understand your points.

I tell anyone who asks me not to buy a new camera that is unsupported by their preferred RAW converter until it is. That usually means waiting a few weeks. Unfortunately the Nikon D810 didn’t make Apple’s 5.06 update; it may well be in 5.07.

My “fear” for serious photographers depending on Apple software is that Apple may move toward “consumers” with Photos rather than “pros.” Most of Apple’s market is in the consumer area (iPhone, iMac rather than Mac Pro). Photography is moving, for many folks, from DSLRs and compact cameras to cellphones.

Some serious photographers are already leaving Aperture for the relative certainty of tools such as Lightroom and Capture One Pro. The just can’t stand the doubt and don’t want to invest more time in adjustments (and some metadata) that may not transfer to Photos and will not transfer to Lightroom or C1.

Anyway, my personal hope is that Apple takes Photos the way of Final Cut Pro. But none of us will know much more about that transition (unless Apple really changes its communication approach) until sometime into next year.

Bob
----------
Bob Rockefeller
Midway, GA
www.bobrockefeller.com

Jonathan Slack's picture
by Jonathan Slack
August 18, 2014 - 3:05pm

 

Hi there Bob

I’ve been using 5.06 in Yosemite, and just recently it has begun to support newer DNG standards (so that now it supports DNG files from the Leica T and the Leica XVario without these cameras needing to be explicitly named). 5.06 in Mavericks still only supports DNG version 1.0 (ie no lens corrections and no support for DNG files containing lens corrections). These changes apply to Aperture (even though there is not a new version of Aperture yet for Yosemite)

To me this suggests there will definitely be further support for cameras - I fear that they will still be slower than Adobe, but I’m quite certain that new camera support will continue, not least because it’s nothing to do with Aperture!

 

 

All the best
Jonathan Slack (www.slack.co.uk)

John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 8, 2014 - 7:50pm

Thank you both for the information.  The Nikon D810 just came out about 2.5 wks ago.  My “guess” is that its RAW profile will be included in Mavericks with the next camera RAW update (5.07).  The fact that the RAW conversion profiles for different  cameras are handled by the OS and not by individual Apps (i.e. Aperture or iPhoto) makes me rest easier.  I purchased The Fuji X-T1 mirrorless camera shortly after it came out and I had to wait a little bit of time for its RAW profile to be updated.  So for the time being its fine jpegs with the D810!

echodoc's picture
by echodoc
August 9, 2014 - 4:28am

I have had the Sony a6000 for a while and the latest update included my camera.  In the interim I tried Lr 5.  I have to say I am so glad that Apple updated to include my camera.  I think Aperture is still an overall better program than Lr 5.  I think we will all be surprised with what photos brings.  Even if what it brings is not necissarily from Apple but from third party developers.  I am holding fast!

Alex Skoz's picture
by Alex Skoz
August 12, 2014 - 8:59am

I’m PISSED OFF @ Apple…  Yes I just stated shooting with my D810 and can’t develop a picture YET…  Apple GET OFF YOUR ASS!  UPDATE the Nikon D810…  What a wast of time taking all those Aperture classes!

Alex Skoz

Jochen H. Schmidt's picture
by Jochen H. Schmidt
August 12, 2014 - 10:56am
@Alex Skoz I can feel with you, that it is depressing not to have RAW support in Aperture out of the (camera) box. Though: Aperture Support is the better place for such requests - in case you didn’t file a ticket yet. I actually think that the D810 will be common enough to get supported soon.
John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 12, 2014 - 3:22pm

Alex,

I feel your pain.  That was the reason I posed the initial question (see 1st entry).  The problem may be just as much on Nikon’s side as Apples.  According to Thom Hogan, neither Nikon or Cannon for that matter give very little “heads up” to third party RAW convertors prior to releasing their cameras - a little paranoia on their part me thinks.  They could sell more cameras initially if they did.  Nikon of course has it own software that they want you to use (NX) :-).  Since posting my initial question, with feed back from everyone here and elsewhere, I’ve changed from being nervous to confident that Mavericks and Yosemite will continue to support RAW conversions for new cameras.  In the meantime, shoot both RAW+jpeg.   I’m fairly certain that the RAW’s will be usable once the RAW update is made available.  I just order my D810 yesterday.

Alex Skoz's picture
by Alex Skoz
August 24, 2014 - 4:24am

H E L L O APPLE….   Where is the update for Nikon D810  -  ??????????????

Alex Skoz

John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 24, 2014 - 5:29pm

Don’t expect another RAW update for the Apple OS for another ~3-6 wks.  They just had one August 7th for 10 cameras..

John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
August 24, 2014 - 5:41pm

I just received my Nikon D810; and an shooting in RAW+ jpeg (camera setting).  I import both and am able to look at/process the jpegs.  The RAW downloads appear black with with a grey triangle with an exclamation point in it.   When the RAW update becomes available and installed you will be able to read the RAWs.  Patience!

Les's picture
by Les
September 13, 2014 - 8:03pm

I was about to bail on Aperture, although I had been very pleased with it, up to the point of Apple’s announcement, but I tried LR for my new D810 and compared it’s RAW processing for the D810 to Dx0 and Nikon’s SW (name escapes me at the moment) and decided it was not as good. Given that I thought, how can I still use Aperture, given that I really like the way it manages my photos. So I decided to shot Raw+JPG, import both. I cull the pics using the jpgs in Aperture. Then if I want to tweak one of the photos I export the original RAW, import to DxO or Nikon (depending) create a TIFF, with DxO adjustments applied and finish up in Aperture. A bit cumbersome, but less so than bailing on Aperture and settling for subpar LR RAW conversion.

Alex Skoz's picture
by Alex Skoz
September 13, 2014 - 8:25pm

Les,

I have to dis-agree with you 100%…  Sorry pal, but now that I am picking up Lightroom little by little I find it to be far superior the my first love APERTURE…  Using Aperture I was critiqued quite a bit by photographesr and friends that I always  use too much Saturation…

But, With LIGHTROOM it’s a completely different story…  My RAW photo’s are developing with very little adjusting…  I may agree thou that it has been confusing for me to set up their Library & catalog system…  Give LR a real try!

 

Good Luck,

Alex

Alex Skoz

Sarah Mawdsley's picture
by Sarah Mawdsley
September 17, 2014 - 6:57pm

D810 RAW update available today :)

John Kalchbrenner's picture
by John Kalchbrenner
September 17, 2014 - 7:42pm

ALRIGHT!!!

You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address.
Passwords are case-sensitive - Forgot your password?
randomness