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badbluesman
Inspiring
May 24, 2025
Answered

Can LRC automatically convert Camera files to DNG?

  • May 24, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 1391 views

I ask because a friend who is learning to use LRC sent me a screenshot of a message saying "425 photos were converted to DNG." He had just imported Sony camera raw files into LRC.

 

For years, I have been using the DNG converter to convert my camera files BEFORE importing them into LRC. From the screenshot my friend sent, it appears that LRC is doing the conversion automatically. Is this possible?

 

I am attaching my friend's screenshot:

Correct answer JohanElzenga

Would that be the destination folder set for the last export? Or is there a separate destination folder setting for import?


Destination for import, of course. You import the raw file and it gets converted to DNG in the same action. When you import an image using 'Copy' (or 'Copy as DNG' in this case), you will have to specify a destination folder for that copy in the import dialog.

 

4 replies

B
badbluesmanAuthor
Inspiring
May 25, 2025

With my present workflow, I will continue to convert manually before importing to LRC. Here's why:

 

I use Photo Mechanic by Camera Bits to sort and edit my files before importing to LRC. Typically, I delete 75% of every shoot. I have to convert my Sony files to DNG first so that I can embed a full size preview. Without that large preview, I cannot zoom in to check sharpness in Photo Mechanic. When sorting, say, a portrait shoot done with an 85mm f/1.4 lens, I need to zoom in PM to see critical focus in order to make decisions about what to delete and what to keep.

 

I use Photo Mechanic for sorting rather than LRC or Bridge because it is so much faster, simpler and more responsive for that purpose. Re-naming files ia also much more streamlined in PM. Plus you can drag and drop files to change the sequence of images and then rename them in a new sequence. So, by the time I import into LRC, the work is much better organized and I only see the finalists in my LRC library. I also save 75% on storage space, plus another 25% gained when converting to DNG.

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.Michael.
Inspiring
May 25, 2025

@badbluesman 

If the used Sony RAW file format is not supported by LrC then it may be supported with a pre-conversion to DNG (as you know). 

To be checked:

Is the LrC "Copy" task actively used / triggered by your friend or is it by mistake "Copy as DNG", see sceenshot of D Fosse above.

Bye!

.Michael.

Per Berntsen
Community Expert
Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 25, 2025

For the record, the DNG converter cannot convert raw files from cameras that aren't supported by Lightroom/Camera Raw.

The current version of the converter is 17.3.1, which is also the current version of Camera Raw. The current (corresponding) version of LrC is 14.3.1.

 

All three applications receive updates at the same time, and any new camera released after the latest update (but before the next update) will be unsupported. New cameras will normally be supported in the next update, but not always.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 24, 2025

    Look closer at the Import screen:

    L
    LAMY2017
    Legend
    May 24, 2025

    Thanks for confirming my post, D.

     

    Larry
    L
    LAMY2017
    Legend
    May 24, 2025

    No need to be blue any longer, maaan. Sounds like the Student taught the Master a new thing.

    P.S. Manual conversion prior to Import was necessary if your camera's files weren't supported by LrC.

     

    Larry
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 24, 2025
    quote

    P.S. Manual conversion prior to Import was necessary if your camera's files weren't supported by LrC.

     

    By @LAMY2017


    And it still is. This is not a way that you can use Lightroom to import unsupported raw files! Lightroom can only import and convert raw files that it does support. If you want to import unsupported raw files, then you still have to convert these to DNG prior to importing.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 25, 2025

    So where do the new DNG copies end up when automatically converted by LRC? In the source folder?


    quote

    So where do the new DNG copies end up when automatically converted by LRC? In the source folder?


    By @badbluesman


    In the destination folder.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
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