Fast Raw Previewer for culling
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#1. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
jec6613 Registered since 12th Feb 2013Tue 19-Jan-16 02:31 PMAt least for me, on newer Haswell i7 chips and an older Westmere Xeon, ViewNX-i is faster than all of the above, and less buggy. However, move to one of my Core i5 systems and all of a sudden it's buggy and sluggish on the best of days. ViewNX-i and CaptureNX-D are both very dependent on your CPU generation.Traveling Connecticut Nikonian
D500 | 12-24 | 17-55 | 80-200 | 35, 50, 85 f/1.8 (and other gear, too!)
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#2. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 1
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 02:41 PM>At least for me, on newer Haswell i7 chips and an older
>Westmere Xeon, ViewNX-i is faster than all of the above, and
>less buggy. However, move to one of my Core i5 systems and
>all of a sudden it's buggy and sluggish on the best of days.
>ViewNX-i and CaptureNX-D are both very dependent on your CPU
>generation.
That's interesting. I'm on an I7 3770K which is a bit old but nicely fast for most I do, and I have 32 Gig of memory and lots of fast SSD drives.
But for me it's fast, but buggy. For example, right now, with two cameras' files in the same folder, it won't even sort right (there's another thread on that so if you have insight perhaps reply there?)
I'd be happy with ViewNX-I if I could get it to work right; I used ViewNX2 for many years.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
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#3. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
Rick Walker
My photos:
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#4. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 3
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 03:01 PM
>Updates aren't normally needed for a new camera model.
Good to know. Thanks.
I'm culling about 2400 I shot of kite surfing now, but experimenting first with applying metadata, etc. It's really a swiss army knife when I just need a steak knife, but I can eat Steak with one I guess.
Linwood
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#5. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 4
walkerr Registered since 05th May 2002Tue 19-Jan-16 04:25 PMOne of the good things about PM is that it's very easy to keep synchronized with LR (keywords, color labels, other metadata). You can export a keyword library out of either program and directly into the other without a hitch. I use Dropbox as an intermediary that allows me to synchronize my computers whenever I add new keywords.Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography
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#10. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 3
Looking at the PM update notes does not show updates related to new Nikon (or Canon) DSLR models. Sometimes there are fixes for Nikon specif bugs, but they don't seem to be model specific.
Gary in West Michigan, USA.
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#11. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 10
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 06:45 PM>I'm also a Photo Mechanic fan.
It seems to be almost as large of a disease as NAS around here.
>Looking at the PM update notes does not show updates related
>to new Nikon (or Canon) DSLR models. Sometimes there are
>fixes for Nikon specif bugs, but they don't seem to be model
>specific.
That's good news.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
#6. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
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#8. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 6
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 06:39 PM>Picasa is free
Slow. It insists on rendering. I was also very unhappy when it decided to scan my whole computer for all photos everywhere, but managed to get control over it. It has to import them (though it doesn't seem to move them), then I could browse, but it was clearly rendering them from the raw data not showing the preview.
Plus it looks very much like it wants to "own" the photos and manage them not just be a browser, in addition to being slow.
Linwood
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#12. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 8
mchazlittSr Registered since 10th May 2015Tue 19-Jan-16 07:31 PMI would assume we all have different machines for our editing.
I build computers for number crunching which is what images actually are to a computer.
Presently I use a water cooled machine for all of my graphics in editing and encoding HD video.Visit my Nikonians gallery.
Attachment#1 (jpg file)
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#13. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 12
mchazlittSr Registered since 10th May 2015Tue 19-Jan-16 07:32 PM-
#14. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 13
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 07:43 PM>It had it's cleaning since this image
>So, you will see the dust
The dust wasn't a surprise, as every time you crop a photo or delete them, the dead electrons fall to the bottom and make dust. At least that's my explanation to my wife as to why my office is so dirty.
But the funnel? Inside?
Linwood
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#15. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 14
mchazlittSr Registered since 10th May 2015Wed 20-Jan-16 02:02 AMThe funnel was used to top off the coolant for the water system
This is the most quiet machine that I have built, you may hear a gurgle like a nearby stream from time to time, but it's more pleasant to hear that the hum of many fans running to keep the system cool.
I could overclock the system to over 4.0 Ghz, but it runs just fine at 3.0 for now.Visit my Nikonians gallery.
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#17. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 15
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Wed 20-Jan-16 08:41 AM>The funnel was used to top off the coolant for the water
>system
I figured, but it was still what made the photo more interesting. Gave it context, like having the basket in a shot of someone doing a layup. This is a photo site.
Linwood
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#31. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 8
Also you can view right from your memory card before importing in Windows.
>>Picasa is free
>
>Slow. It insists on rendering. I was also very unhappy when
>it decided to scan my whole computer for all photos
>everywhere, but managed to get control over it. It has to
>import them (though it doesn't seem to move them), then I
>could browse, but it was clearly rendering them from the raw
>data not showing the preview.
>
>Plus it looks very much like it wants to "own" the
>photos and manage them not just be a browser, in addition to
>being slow.
>
>
>Linwood
>
>Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
#44. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 6
And there goes Picasa:
http://googlephotos.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/moving-on-from-picasa.html
Google is removing support for it.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
#7. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
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Joseph K
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#9. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 7
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 19-Jan-16 06:43 PM>I am a long-time user of AcdSee Pro. While it can do
>cataloging and editing similarly to Lightroom, I use it mostly
>for viewing and culling and organizing. The final import into
>Lightroom is a ways down on the workflow steps. AcdSee is
>noticeably faster than LR, which is why I use it; but I don't
>know how it rates compared to the speed of other viewers.
I tried to trial it, but AFTER I downloaded and installed it, it insisted on collecting personal data like email and phone number before I could even try it. I may or may not have been able to lie to it, but just decided not to even look. Every other tool so far has let me do a simple trial to see if it works for me.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com -
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#48. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 47
Bob Chadwick Nikonian since 12th Jan 2006Thu 18-Feb-16 04:18 PMLinwood,
I, like you were, am resisting the $150 for PM and just started using FRV. I haven't had a chance to read all of the instructions yet but plan to shortly. I learned something reading this and that is to use the space bar to move between the images.
My workflow is to ingest into FRV, go through the images marking the ones I want with a single X using the mouse, screen for those marked with the X and then copy them one at a time to a folder on my desktop using the shift C command. I then import into LR.
I've got about 3 weeks to play. We'll see.
Bob-
#49. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 48
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Thu 18-Feb-16 04:21 PM>My workflow is to ingest into FRV, go through the images
>marking the ones I want with a single X using the mouse,
>screen for those marked with the X and then copy them one at a
>time to a folder on my desktop using the shift C command. I
>then import into LR.
How do you ingest? When I looked I didn't see an ingest function beyond file copies (which means if multiple folders on the card remember to do each I think, or did it have an "all subfolders"?)?
Though I already spent the money. But FRV did have neat stuff, like focus peaking.
Linwood
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#51. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 49
Bob Chadwick Nikonian since 12th Jan 2006Fri 19-Feb-16 08:58 AM>How do you ingest? When I looked I didn't see an ingest
>function beyond file copies (which means if multiple folders
>on the card remember to do each I think, or did it have an
>"all subfolders"?)?
You got it. You have to look at each folder, which is no big deal for me.
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#16. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
On1 Browse is one you didn't mention. It claims to be very fast. I've seen demos but I have not tried it yet. I might give it a try.
https://youtu.be/IodKU1JAMaU
https://www.on1.com/apps/browse10/
Chris
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#20. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 16
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Wed 20-Jan-16 02:24 PM
>https://www.on1.com/apps/browse10/
It also won't let me trial without giving them an email address where they subscribe me to their mailings (at least they tell you). I just hate those kind of companies on general principles.
Linwood
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#18. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
The fastest way to open a folder in FPV is to use Windows Explorer, select a folder of photos and click on a photo to open it. FPV, if set as the image viewer will open the folder for culling. Use left or right arrow key to scroll through the photos. If you find a non-keeper, just tapping the X key marks it for deletion. The program beeps after all images in the folder have been viewed. Ctrl-X deletes all tagged.
You can also add various LR tagging to images too. The 1-5 number keys add stars. Other tagging keys I don't remember at the moment but you can add flagging and color codes. FPV writes these to XMP so when the images are imported to LR all your tagging is there.
The filmstrip/thumbnails are at top of screen. Move the pointer to the top the filmstrip should drop down showing the images. Hovering over an image opens a larger slide like preview. Click to select.
Hope this helps some.
Ed
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#19. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 18
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Wed 20-Jan-16 02:22 PM
>You can also add various LR tagging to images too. The 1-5
>number keys add stars. Other tagging keys I don't remember at
>the moment but you can add flagging and color codes. FPV
>writes these to XMP so when the images are imported to LR all
>your tagging is there.
I found that, but I couldn't find a way to select all the tagged photos and drag and drop into lightroom. I just spent another while, even downloaded the production version to make sure the alpha new version wasn't the problem. I can tag them (e.g. hit the "1" key) and see the tag, but not how to drag and drop all 1's?
It must be in there somewhere, I just can't see it. I did see the technique of deleting all the images you don't want. I didn't like that for two reasons -- I like retaining the unselected photos in case I need them, plus the "X" is not persistent, if I exit and come back, all my selections via X are lost (at least per the manual -- the manual has comments like "we plan to add this in 2010" in it also, so I think it might not be current).
But it is nice and fast.
Linwood
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#21. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 19
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Wed 20-Jan-16 03:17 PM
>It must be in there somewhere, I just can't see it. I did see
>the technique of deleting all the images you don't want.
Well, I see the "Keep" option, and I can make that work, just set up two staging directories, one to download, and one to "keep" into, then I can just MOVE from lightroom's import from the keep folder. That works well, and I think I can flag them (ratings, color) before I Keep as well as after.
I don't see an ingest option though, right now am using Nikon Transfer, but if I'm giving up on Nikon.... A note on their blog mentions they "may" do one in the future.
It is fast. It is a third the price of Photo Mechanic.
Linwood
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#23. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 21
esandy Registered since 18th Nov 2011Thu 21-Jan-16 11:58 AM>>Well, I see the "Keep" option, and I can make that work, just set up two staging directories, one to download, and one to "keep" into, then I can just MOVE from lightroom's import from the keep folder<<
Are you using the Files Utilities batch function to do this? (Ctrl+F). Though images must be loaded into FPV first to invoke it. You can set up rules in the file utilities panel as to how you want FPV to handle images.
I've never used an import function though I'm sure there is one. I do it the old fashioned way by direct copy to where I want using Windows utilities. When I get a chance this evening I'll have to take a look for it.Ed
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#24. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 23
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Thu 21-Jan-16 12:12 PM>Are you using the Files Utilities batch function to do this?
> Ctrl+F). Though images must be loaded into FPV first to
>invoke it. You can set up rules in the file utilities panel as
>to how you want FPV to handle images.
No, the Keep function takes care of the movement. One thing I found odd and irritating is I couldn't find any menu to invoke things like the utilities, you had to remember and know the shortcuts.
>I've never used an import function though I'm sure there is
>one. I do it the old fashioned way by direct copy to where I
>want using Windows utilities. When I get a chance this evening
>I'll have to take a look for it.
I wouldn't be so sure.
Linwood
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#25. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 24
esandy Registered since 18th Nov 2011Thu 21-Jan-16 05:26 PMI wouldn't be so sure.
Hmmmm, you might be right on the import function. Here's a link to the cheat sheet for shortcuts: http://cdn.fastpictureviewer.com/bin/FastPictureViewerCheatSheet.pdf?v=201512222 It says it can import in the Tips section. Looks like parameters need set in the Files Utilities plugin. It wouldn't have been my first choice on how to do it though. Seems you would have to set a camera serial number in the first parameter then copy to folder for second.Ed
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#22. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 19
I use the import function in LR to ingest all my keepers. If you want to bring only tagged into LR but not the rest I'm not sure how to accomplish that.
I too have the same issue with the X function when exiting, it just drops all those tags. Not sure if theres a setting that would prevent that, so I've always just deleted them. I usually have plenty of similar images so it never bothered me much.
Ed
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#27. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
Happy shooting,
Howard
Will shoot for fame...fun...food... a heck I'll shoot anytime anywhere.
#28. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
I have an update on FastRawViewer. They have an unusual philosophy on some of the keys. If you move to the next photo with the right arrow, they introduce an artificial delay. My guess is that it's about a third of a second, but the result is that it seems quite slow. They do this "in case you change your mind", I think meaning if you hit multiple arrow keys or forward/back it will just figure out where you land and only display that, not intermediaries.
If instead you use the space bar, there's less delay introduced, and it goes quite fast - right up there with ViewNX and PhotoMechanic, even though it is rendering raw, which is quite impressive. At least with D4 sized images; it gets slower relative to the embedded-only browsers if you switch to D800 images, as you might expect.
I want to play with it a bit more, but I do not think I like it personally for my task because they adopt a different philosophy, similar to Fast Picture Viewer. They want you to move each photo to a new folder as you browse, in fact they believe you should browse and cull right from the card, moving the photos to a staging directory as you identify keepers. I do not like that as I shoot with two bodies, and I want them merged and in chronological order before I cull.
I'm also starting to like cropping in Photo Mechanic - I did a basketball shoot last evening, and it was a LOT faster to crop there than Lightroom. And I thin kthe only one you can crop in is Photo Mechanic (well, that's the only one I noticed so far).
Though Fast Raw Viewer is REALLY inexpensive, and has a lot of features for viewing real histograms and other raw-related data, not just the JPG's version. They also sell Raw Digger and sell the pair for something like $34, which is pretty attractive if you do this stuff a lot and like their viewer.
Linwood
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#29. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 28
shipsupt Registered since 27th Dec 2006Fri 29-Jan-16 03:24 PMCropping in photo mechanic was part of the work flow I was taught. I'd miss having that option...
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#30. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 29
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Sat 30-Jan-16 09:17 PM>Cropping in photo mechanic was part of the work flow I was
>taught. I'd miss having that option...
Gosh, I wish I was taught. I just have to make it up as I go along, or ask here.
I think I'm pretty much decided. Shot baseball last night and today, and used PM to cull and crop and straighten. Last night I had a lot of color touchup, but today was terrific, I didn't have to touch most of the photos in LR, and it was all just done when imported. Very fast, VERY fast.
If I could tweak exposure a bit quite a few from last night would be done too.
I'm really sorry I don't find FastRawViewer adequate. It has some very, very nice features, like focus peaking to see quickly where the sharp areas are. I can also see the real raw image, change exposure and white balance (and have it carry into LR I think though didn't try). But I can't ingest, can't crop, and can't tag - I can only move files one by one to another area (they use that instead of tagging).
FRV also has a really generalized shortcut key editor, which I wish PM had, so you could change keys you don't like more generally, but I can learn. Eventually.
There's just nothing else that really comes close to having all the same features.
Linwood
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#32. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
I found it reasonably fast, slower than photo mechanic, a bit slower than FastRawViewer.
I was also a bit disappointed in the single window interface rather than a second-monitor preview, have gotten quite used to that in Photo Mechanic. It also lacked a crop feature.
It's a nice tool, but I've gotten really spoiled so far in Photo Mechanic. I shot (mostly) daytime baseball yesterday, and was able to cull, crop and straighten very quickly, and about 80% of the shots I didn't need to touch in Lightroom, they were just all done.
Linwood
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#33. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 32
shipsupt Registered since 27th Dec 2006Thu 04-Feb-16 01:42 PMSounds like you've saved me the experiment! I'll stick with photo mechanic.
What's that old saying, if it 'aint broke...
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#34. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 33
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Thu 04-Feb-16 01:43 PM>Sounds like you've saved me the experiment! I'll stick with
>photo mechanic.
>
>What's that old saying, if it 'aint broke...
Yeah, but I haven't paid the $150 yet, and there's something about that three digit barrier for software that fits a niche.
But I think it's going to happen.
Linwood
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#35. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 34
ahubba Nikonian since 06th Apr 2009Sat 06-Feb-16 03:49 PMIf you're a Kelbyone member, there's a 15% discount available. Just bought PhotoMechanic and LOVE it !!Visit my Nikonians gallery.
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#38. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 35
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Sat 06-Feb-16 09:56 PM>If you're a Kelbyone member, there's a 15% discount
>available. Just bought PhotoMechanic and LOVE it !!
Hmmm... wonder if I could do the 10 day free for it.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
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#37. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 36
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Sat 06-Feb-16 09:55 PM>If you are wanting something for just initial culling, why
>not install Nikon's NEF codec use Windows Picture Viewer.
I didn't think it allowed marking and selection?
Linwood
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#39. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 37
glo Nikonian since 02nd Dec 2005Sun 07-Feb-16 03:50 PM"I typically delete 90-95% of my shots, keeping only a few."
Perhaps I misunderstood your original post. I thought that in your initial pass you were just viewing the photos and deleting the culls.Grady
MY GALLERY
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#40. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 39
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Sun 07-Feb-16 03:57 PM> "I typically delete 90-95% of my shots, keeping only a
>few."
>
>Perhaps I misunderstood your original post. I thought that in
>your initial pass you were just viewing the photos and
>deleting the culls.
Well, no and yes. I don't delete anything at that point, as until I have a final image I might discover I picked a bad choice from a burst, say one that was soft.
What I want to do is mark them, then import the marked items into Lightroom. That can be done in the programs that support "move" by moving what I would mark into another folder, but I find that kind of awkward though usable.
But ...
I shot two basketball games and tennis yesterday, a bit over 2400 shots. I culled in Photo Mechanic, then went back and cropped and straightened there also. I'm finding that is a huge benefit. I've got a short cut for different aspect rations so I can switch in a drop down easily (like Lightroom) and there's zero delay. Lightroom does almost an identical job, but it's wait... wait... wait... click/drag... wait some more to shift to the next tool.
I really do love lightroom, and would have zero use for Photo Mechanic if it was fast. But it's pathetically, awfully slow.
So now for me it's not just culling but crop/straighten. I still have to touch things up on indoor and night shots usually in Lightroom for color, but daylight shots are generally just done once imported.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
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#41. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
Geoff
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See my portfolio.
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#42. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 41
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Sun 07-Feb-16 05:06 PM>Linwood, I'd recommend XYplorer - it's a sophisticated file
>management tool (it does everything you ever wanted Windows
>Explorer to do and lots more), but coupled with the
>FastPictureViewer codec is really fast at rendering RAW
>thumbnails.
I gather it won't look at the embedded preview, it renders it from raw? I downloaded and experimented a bit, but never got beyond "No preview available" probably because I didn't get (buy) the codecs mentioned.
But it doesn't look very photo-oriented, no injestion, no exif popups, I didn't see a way to mark files that persists into Lightroom (I could remove/move them I guess).
To me culling (and now cropping) is a fairly broad subject, it needs to injest, be fast, zoom easily from fit to 1:1, able to isolate (in a persistent fashion in case I take a break) which shots I want and import to lightroom, hopefully crop. And be fast.
Is there more under the covers that is photographer-centric or is this just an explorer on steroids?
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com-
#43. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 42
GBaylis Nikonian since 12th Sep 2012Mon 08-Feb-16 03:26 PMI suspect that you got 'no preview' because you needed to add "*.NEF" into the list of previewed files in the config. The FPV CODEC just makes it a lot quicker.
Full screen previews are possible as is a configurable list of metadata (select from over 300 possible data items) - but not at the same time.
You can tag and colour in XYplorer (and add comments) but this doesn't persist into Lightroom on import; but then LR ignores everything done by CNX2 as well. It can't do cropping either.
I'd still recommend it to those who just want to preview and delete the definite non-keepers before dragging the rest from the card to a local disk before importing to LR (or other package) but I agree, Linwood, that it doesn't fit the spec of the tool that you seek.
Geoff
Visit my Nikonians gallery and my personal website: www.geoffbaylisphotography.co.uk
See my portfolio.
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#45. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 0
The surprising aspect of this is that I found that cropping become more and more important to me during culling. I recently cropped another series (kind of by accident by forgetting) in Lightroom and not Photo Mechanic, and it was incredibly time consuming due to the lag there. You just don't realize how much those couple second pauses in LR add up in a hundred shots or so, especially if cropping is the only reason you are going into Develop in which case it's a lot more than a few seconds.
I ended up buying Photo Mechanic, and now the workflow is to ingest, cull, and crop there. Add a few captions if something comes to me. Then import to lightroom, do most of the metadata changes there (I like their map better for example, and keywords are easy there) while it builds standard previews.
Then on a lucky shoot I just double check and I'm done. On one where the color balance was screwed up I'm doomed to go shot by shot and fix, but at least all the cropping is done (though I might have second thoughts when I see it in Lightroom). Om FastRawViewer I could do some white balance adjustments, but it had too many other limitations (no cropping).
It's an incredibly huge time saver, and no other single product did it. I hated to pay $150 for it, but I'm guessing I will get at least an hour additional sleep for every evening game.
The only thing I now need ViewNX-I for is syncing time in multiple cameras. Sadly I haven't seen a better way for that (an attached GPS will, but by the time you attach, wait, maybe go outside, sync, unscrew to detach...).
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com
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#46. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 45
shipsupt Registered since 27th Dec 2006Thu 18-Feb-16 02:21 PM>
>Then on a lucky shoot I just double check and I'm done. On
>one where the color balance was screwed up I'm doomed to go
>shot by shot and fix, but at least all the cropping is done
> though I might have second thoughts when I see it in
>Lightroom). Om FastRawViewer I could do some white balance
>adjustments, but it had too many other limitations (no
>cropping).
>
Are you applying a set of development settings to the import? Sharpening etc...?
Chris
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#50. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 46
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Thu 18-Feb-16 04:27 PM
>Are you applying a set of development settings to the import?
>Sharpening etc...?
Yes, I have a preset that I use generally, indoor, out, etc. On some shots (say very heavy shadows and bright sun) first thing I'll do is tweak it (e.g. more shadow and more highlight suppression) and apply across. If it's extremely high ISO I'll select all those 6400 and above or some such and adjust those en mass with a bit more noise reduction.
But mostly I just apply that preset, a metadata preset, mass change all the titles to the event, apply en mass a set of keywords and tag with the map location. Then if I need to I'll work on color and exposure further.
I'm finding most day games I don't need to, arena and night -- yeah, kind of do. Fixing that to be fast is another project.
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com-
#52. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 50
Montereyman Registered since 18th Feb 2013Sat 27-Feb-16 02:17 PMI have used PM and other image browsers in the past but switched to ViewNX which has added functionality and if free and cross platform as I use Windows laptops and Mac OS X workstations.
One feature I like about ViewNX is its auto linking to Google Maps so I can select images based on the geographic location where the shot was taken.Visit my Nikonians gallery
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#53. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 45
Thanks.
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#54. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 53
Ferguson Nikonian since 19th Aug 2004Tue 10-May-16 11:29 AM>Does Photo Mechanic do a nondestructive crop?
Yes. On raw files it builds an XMP that contains the crop information plus any metadata you entered, which will be loaded in Lightroom when you import.
I like it better for cropping as it is very fast. You can save crop aspect ratios much like lightroom so you have predefined aspects like 8x10, 8x12, etc. (though it does not come preloaded with them - use the lightning bolt).
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com-
#55. "RE: Fast Raw Previewer for culling" | In response to Reply # 54
Firelake Registered since 09th Mar 2015Tue 10-May-16 11:36 AMThank you!
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G
I love Lightroom, but it is horribly slow for initial ingestion and previews if you are culling. I typically delete 90-95% of my shots, keeping only a few. I find it much faster to do that culling outside of lightroom and only import what I will keep.
I have been using Nikon ViewNX2, but it was replaced with ViewNX-I, which at least for me is a buggy mess. Want to pull the plug on Nikon software.
My primary goal is speed of review -- moving from one full screen preview to the next very quickly, moving back and forth through short bursts to pick the best position/focus/etc.
Here's what I have looked at so far and what I've found:
Photo Mechanic - nearly perfect, previews switch instantly, as fast or faster than Nikon ViewNX*. Tons of features and tools. Expensive ($150). Some reports of license issues (versions that quick working and can't get help timely) but by and large most users seem to love it.
Fast Picture Viewer (I tried their Alpha 2.0). As fast as photo mechanic, though I hate their interface, if it has options I couldn't even find them in the menu, no filmstrip or thumbnails I could find. But very, very fast. Cheaper ($50).
FastStone Image Viewer - very, very nice interface. Free. Lots of features. Free. But it's slow. About half a second between D4 images on my system (showing preview only). That's just too slow. It sounds fast, but when you are paging back and forth or flipping through long series of boring shots it is just too slow. (Postscript edit: I noticed this is 32 bits only, no 64 bit version).
Bridge - way too slow. Nicely multi-threaded, but it insists on showing a rendered photo not the embedded preview only, making it always showing a changing, morphing screen as you page through.
Fast Raw Viewer - slow. Quite slow. Only looks fast compared to Lightroom or Bridge.
IrFanFiew - I've used it for many years, very fast, very easy; free. Can't tag images as best I can tell, so not eligible.
Am I missing any? Am I missing anything on the comments?
At present I think it comes down to Photo Mechanic. But I keep hoping for a nice fast, free/cheap replacement.
Oh... on a related note -- what happens to these (for example Photo Mechanic) when a new camera comes out. Do they keep working because they use the preview? Or do they need an update?
Linwood
Comments welcomed on pictures: Http://www.captivephotons.com