Hello Gary,

The Sony Apha isn't listed specifically as a supported camera model at http://www.cyberlink.com/products/photodirector/specs-format-support_en_AU.html

Could you post an image (RAW) as an attachment & other members could compare findings?

I'll forward your post to CyberLink's PhD Head for clarification about your particular issue.

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Hi

Thanks for the response.

I saved the files as both raw and jpg so here are both, unmodified. The jpg mainly for you to see how the picture 'should' look.

I assume this problem would also occur for the Alpha 65 which also uses the new 24.3 Meg APSC sensor.

Gary

Thank you Gary,

I see what you mean! Thank you for posting the images.

I've contacted CyberLink who may refer this incompatibility to their development team for future updates.

In the meantime, your .ARW files will need some conversion to be used effectively with PhD. I've sent you a PM with a suggestion.

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Hi PIX

Thanks for the quick response.

For the time being, I think I will keep them in the RAW format. I can still edit the RAW files with the software that came with the camera. I will catalogue the JPG's in PhotoDirector but keep all the files in their original location.

Not a perfect method but I would still not need to keep multiple copies of each photo this way other than one RAW and one JPG (which I do for my other cameras as well). I use an external backup drive for redundancy.

Gary

Reading this with interest!! I have a Sona A450 and want to start playing around with post processing in RAW but now Im a little unsure about purchasing this programme. I beleive (ARW) are the files produced by this camera and reading the description and spec on PhD is does list my camera in the supported list.

Do you think I will be disappointed should I go ahead and purchase PhD for the first time?

Thank you

Gary0322 - You probably have nothing to be concerned about. The 77 uses a new sensor and all ARW programs to handle this new sensor require changes. I see info that Adobe has updated the RAW handler for both Lightroom and PhotoShop.

Sony's ARW filetype is Sony's filetype used for all their sensors, a RAW file decoder needs to distinguish between the actual sensor used and know the parameters to use to properly decode it.


PhotoDirector - I am testing a beta version of PhotoDirector3 and it handles the new sensor properly. Perhaps Cyberlink might provide an update for current versions of PhotoDirector???

Gary1545

Hello Gary,

ARW is one of Sony's standard RAW formats (along with .srf & .sr2). Different camera companies have their own proprietary formats & they can be very different from others. That makes it difficult for the software makers, who have to keep up with format variants.

I can report that the ARW file posted by Gary 1545 displays correctly in the Beta version of PhD3, as stated above.

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Thank you for the information. Please excuse my ignorance with the different file type, but if I understand correctly the present issue of PhD will likely handle the older ARW files that my camera produce, but the Beta has been updated and improved to handle the newer versions.

Question: Am I better to purchase the present form of the programme and hope for an update, or wait for the beta testing to be completed and perhaps go for the newer version. Sorry to be a pest but I am a little confused and reading the reviews and the present price offer on the programme I think it should be far more advanced than I need

Gary 0322,

There are some new features in PhD3 that may interest you. Obviously, it is better equipped to handle a range of RAW formats (including those from your camera). PhD3 has a whole new editing module.

Whilst it's possible that a patch will be released that will correct the issue in PhD2011, it's certain that the newer version will. I can't advise you what to do, but I know what I'd do in your circumstance.

There's no need to excuse yourself for lack of familiarity with RAW file types. Camera land has a plethora of them & there's no standard format! PhD2011 isn't the only software with issues handling some RAW file types correctly (including Sony's ARW.

More advanced than you need? I wouldn't think so, if you want to edit photos in RAW format. Many photo editing programs won't handle RAW files at all! PhD has a friendly user interface & it's easy to find your way around.

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Quote: Reading this with interest!! I have a Sona A450 ...

Hi Gary0322,

I`ve using PhD2011 and the new PhD3beta with RAW-files of my Sony A550 without any problem, so don`t worry with your A450.
PhD is one of the easiest tools to handle RAW-files, try others and you`ll agree.
I`m hoping that the new PhD3 will be bug-free within short time, because its additional features are amazing ...
Best regards
Armin

I'm using photodirector 3 and am having this same issue except I have the a57

Hello Karl,

Welcome to the PhD forum.

You may have opened up a can of worms here! From the RAW images I've tested from the A-57 so far, it seems you're correct. They don't display properly in PhotoDirector 3 (build 3124), though they're fine in PhD4.

Here's the potential can of worms: RAW files from other Sony cameras in the same Alpha series (also .ARW format) display correctly in PhD3. Combined screenshot below



I'll continue testing & refer this thread to CL.

PIX

PIX YouTube channel

Unfortunately I can't afford to upgrade to PhD4 and honestly I was a bit peeved that very soon after I bought PhD3 PhD4 came out. I hope a patch will come soon and fix this.

Karl,

I understand your frustration.

This issue is a bit perplexing. I've tested a number of RAW files from other cameras in the Sony Alpha series & am getting mixed results in PhD3.

As shown above, ARW format files from the A-65 display properly in PhD3. So do ARWs from the SLT-A77V. RAW files from the A-37 & A-99V display as yours do (incorrectly). Yet, they're the same format! I'll pursue the problem.

In the meantime, to enable the use of your ARW files from the A-57, you may consider downloading some free software which will convert your cameras files to .DNG format. They will display correctly in PhD3. Batch conversion of whole folders of images is quick & painless.

I know it's not ideal. I'm only suggesting this as an interim measure.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/thankyou.jsp?ftpID=5486&fileID=5506

PIX PIX YouTube channel