I use iPhoto to download the images off my camera, and shoot RAW (actually NEF) only 99%. So I was a little worried when I went to download my required original image for validation, and it was listed as a jpg, though under the EXIF data it was still listed as NEF. To be on the safe side I downloaded the same file off the memory card.
Not only did the memory card have what I consider to be the true heading of NEF, it's a 9.5 kb file whereas the iPhoto version reads jpg and is only 2.5 kb. To make matters even more confusing, if I shoot images as jpgs, it'll title them JPG.
So hopefully, all iPhoto does is compress the RAW/NEF files and retitle them jpg.
Is there any cause for concern here? Or is the actual EXIF data still all that matters?
Send one to site council, repeating your question above, and ask them to look at the EXIF and tell you if it passes muster. What we know, or think we know, doesn't mean squat.
There is great cause for concern. First, I'll make an assumption, said assumption being that you meant MB and not kB for the file sizes. The 9.5MB size is about what I'd expect for a RAW file. The 2.5MB size is appropriate to a JPEG file. A RAW file will not be very compressible at all, and certainly not to 26% of the original file size.
So I have to conclude that the files you are getting with your iPhoto transfer actually *are* JPEGs, most likely the JPEG that is embedded in the RAW file.
There is great cause for concern. First, I'll make an assumption, said assumption being that you meant MB and not kB for the file sizes. The 9.5MB size is about what I'd expect for a RAW file. The 2.5MB size is appropriate to a JPEG file. A RAW file will not be very compressible at all, and certainly not to 26% of the original file size.
So I have to conclude that the files you are getting with your iPhoto transfer actually *are* JPEGs, most likely the JPEG that is embedded in the RAW file.
Yeah, I mean MB and not KB. And I didn't know before that jpegs are embedded in the RAWs.
@ Bear...Actually I was hoping scalvert might be around as he is both an SC member and a self-professed Mac guru. But again to play safe, I sent the actual big-ass file off of the memory card.
In the future I'm going to download all original RAW files independently and not trust iPhoto as much as I have, and stick them in another folder.
As Spork99 said already, iPhoto does preserve the original
Here's some instructions from Scalvert from a thread earlier this year.
Originally posted by scalvert:
There's nothing wrong with shooting RAW on a Mac. I do it all the time. If you're using iPhoto, just select the image and choose File > Export > Original to your desktop and submit that. If the resulting file on your desktop is not RAW (NEF for Nikon, CR2 for Canon), then you have to get your hands a little dirty...
Make a note of the date and file name of the photo in question. Locate your iPhoto Library (usually in your Pictures folder) and right-click or control-click on it. Choose "Show Package Contents" from the pop-up menu and it will open like any other folder. Look inside the "Originals" folder and navigate to the date you shot the photo. Your original RAW file will be in there. Once you're found the correct file, drag it to your desktop while holding down the option key to make a copy and then close your iPhoto Library window. NEVER change or move anything in the iPhoto Library itself or you will damage the file structure (that's why the contents are hidden). Submit the copy on your desktop and you're all set.
iPhoto does not alter RAW files. If you make any edits in iPhoto, it'll automatically make a copy and file away the original for safekeeping. The image you're working on (the copy) will be a JPEG, but you can always go back to the RAW version. Unless you dig through the iPhoto Library and manually change those hidden-for-a-reason files, "export original" will retrieve the RAW version exactly as recorded by the camera.
Hey Shannon, I don't do any editing at all in iPhoto, it's just where I stash images. Haven't tried Export Original but not sure I have that option in the Export menu. I do all editing in PS CS5 and nowhere else.
Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.
Hey Shannon, I don't do any editing at all in iPhoto, it's just where I stash images. Haven't tried Export Original but not sure I have that option in the Export menu. I do all editing in PS CS5 and nowhere else.
Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.
i'm on iphoto 8.1 and it's not in the file menu for me either.
for me, i right click on the thumbnail and choose show file. that takes you to the original file
Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.
Hey Shannon, I don't do any editing at all in iPhoto, it's just where I stash images. Haven't tried Export Original but not sure I have that option in the Export menu. I do all editing in PS CS5 and nowhere else.
Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.
i'm on iphoto 8.1 and it's not in the file menu for me either.
for me, i right click on the thumbnail and choose show file. that takes you to the original file
That's the way I remembered it earlier, but it's changed. "Export Original" works too
My problem with iPhoto is that I have a large library ~ 30,000 images and at some point I had problems with the library and when I got it resolved, that number had swelled to ~58,000. Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.
Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.
Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.
