Cannot open CR3 files from Canon R6 Mark II using Lightroom 6.14 and macOS Monterey 12.7.6

[jenniferk36200711]

Hi everyone.  I'm trying to open CR3 files from my new Canon R6 Mark II.  I'm running Lightroom 6.14 with macOS Monterey 12.7.6.  Those are the latest versions of the Mac OS and Lightroom that I'm able to run on my computer, which will not allow me to open the CR3 raw photos.  It looks like I can't download the latest version of the Adobe DNG Converter either.  Canon Digital Photo Professional 4 seems to open the files, but I am hoping to still be able to run Lightroom to open these CR3 files since that is my main software I use for my photos.

I hope there is a work around where I can still run a version of Lightroom, even if not the latest, on my Mac.  Thanks in advance for your help, everyone!

[Ian Lyons]

Lightroom 6.14 doesn't support the Canon EOS R6 Mk2. Support requires version Lightroom Classic 12.0, which is subscription only. The alternative, if you want to stay in the Adobe ecosystem, is to convert your Canon CR3 files to the Adobe DNG format using the free Adobe DNG Converter. 

Note that the DNG Converter requires macOS 13 (Ventura). Therefore, you will also need to upgrade your OS

I've provided a link to the DNG Converter below. 

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-converter.html

[dj_paige]

Side note to the comments by @Ian Lyons is that to run the current (version 14.4) Lightroom Classic, you need MacOs 13.1 or later, so the OP cannot run the current Lightroom Classic on her computer. Most likely a new computer with the latest MacOS is needed here.

[AxelMatt]

...

I hope there is a work around where I can still run a version of Lightroom, even if not the latest, on my Mac. 

By @jenniferk36200711

Yes there's a workaround as @Ian Lyons wrote. But the only way is, if you're not able to update your MacOS the only was is to convert the RAW files with the Canon Digital Photo Professional 4 utility in DNG files.

[Ian Lyons]

@AxelMatt  Does Canon DPP support conversion to DNG?  It's news to me if it does.

[AxelMatt]

@Ian Lyons 

Sorry, it looks like that I'm wrong.  

I assumed all along that DPP could do this. But apparently, it isn't. I've take a deeper look in the documentation

I don't work with DPP myself.

Thanks for clarification.

[Jao vdL]

As already mentioned, you are going to need a new computer to be able to run the current versions of Lightroom and Mac OS that will allow you to open those files unfortunately. It is possible to trick Mac computers to install newer Mac OS versions by using openCore Legacy Patcher which is probably much further than most people are willing to go as it is definitely an advanced hack.

[jenniferk36200711]

Thanks for your help, everyone! Is there a version of the Adobe DNG Converter that I can download for macOS Ventura? I have seen links online for an Adobe FTP site or MacUpdate site, but I don't know if they're legitimate.

[jenniferk36200711]

Sorry, I mean for macOS Monterey (not Ventura). 

[dj_paige]

What are the URLs you are seeing?

[johnrellis]

Details of how to download old versions of the Adobe DNG Converter for future readers:

Adobe makes this needlessly annoying to figure out. The Canon R6 MII requires Camera Raw 15.0 or later:

https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html 

Camera Raw 16 was release around October 2023. The download page for the Adobe DNG Converter is sloppy and doesn't indicate its versions, but the Internet Archive page from 11/20/23 shows that DNG Converter version 16 should run on Mac OS 12:

https://web.archive.org/web/20231122194948/https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-conver... 

You can download older versions using this URL (the syntax of which you can discover from your browser's Downloads window):

https://download.adobe.com/pub/adobe/dng/mac/DNGConverter_16_0.dmg 

[ExUSA]

You are getting into a corner where you have an older, unsupported computer that has to run older, unsupported system software. This isn't confined to the Mac, millions of Windows users will be in the same situation this fall.

Your best bet is to look into buying a newer computer. You can get a base model M4 Mac mini for under US$600 and that will not only be current and supported but will run circles around your older Mac.

Apple's refurb store is a good place to start. Avoid Macs with only 8GB of RAM, 16GB should be the bare minimum.

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac

[jenniferk36200711 · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone.  Thanks again for taking the time to read through and provide support.  I ended up reaching out to Adobe Support to put me on the Photography Plan so I can get Lightroom Classic into my macOS Monterey.  I'm not running the absolute latest version, but a slightly older version that is compatible.  My computer is slow running the CS3 files, but I'm just happy to be able to use Lightroom in my computer to support them at this point.  It's slow in places, but still doable.