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How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

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Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#51

Post by FireBeyond »

Analemma_ wrote: post #31
guillego wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an XT-1 from 2015 (still working!) and recently started considering upgrading to an XT-5 but I'm a little hesitant to buy a "new" camera first released in 2023 that still retails for almost the same price as two years ago. I'm so torn between just going for it and waiting (who knows how long) for the X-T6 to come out. Perhaps I should just try to find a good deal on an X-T4.

If it helps, I pay reasonably close attention to Fuji rumors because I'm deep in the ecosystem, and at present there appears to be no indication that an XT-6 is coming any time soon. They just released the GFX100RF and XE-5, plus there are rumors of an X-T30 III soon, and with all that in the pipeline I doubt they are also finishing up an XT-6. The -4 and -5 are still great cameras, I would just go for whichever of t…

> an XT-6 is coming any time soon

Besides, it's still near impossible to get an X100 VI. B&H's backlog must be over a year at this point.

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#52

Post by FireBeyond »

jcynix wrote: post #38
vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #2

There are always these crazy discussions in photo forums where people are arguing that uncompressed RAW files are better than lossless compressed.

These forum discussions seem unconnected to reality IMO. Sometimes funny, more often strange, like audiophile discussions about oxygen free copper cables. Why? The Fuji X-T4 and X-S20 here produce images of 6240x4160 pixels, but I almost never look at images in 1:1. My 4K monitors, mostly set to 2K, display 2560 x 1440 pixels. And even when switch them to their full 4K resolution I don't view my images in 1:1 obvious…

> My 4K monitors, mostly set to 2K, display 2560 x 1440 pixels. And even when switch them to their full 4K resolution I don't view my images in 1:1 obviously.

macOS, but my understanding of Retina is that even if your effective resolution is lower (e.g., my 6K ProDisplay has a resolution of 3008x1692), applications can designate regions to be "original resolution," so I'm getting the image's original resolution in the editing window or region.

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#53

Post by jsheard »

beAbU wrote: post #48
jsheard wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glad to hear that audiophiles have some competition in who can invent the most pointless things to split hairs over. The photo guys need to start taping magic rocks to their cameras to really keep up though.

There's probably an untapped market for sd cards with "special" holographic stickers on them retailing for $100 each.

Maybe an audiophile SD card would also produce better photos in a camera? You never know until you try!

https://www.whathifi.com/news/sony-claims-high-end-sd-card-o...

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#54

Post by CharlesW »

agloe_dreams wrote: post #21
vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #2

There are always these crazy discussions in photo forums where people are arguing that uncompressed RAW files are better than lossless compressed.

Honestly the best argument for uncompressed is actually nothing to do with file quality or loss - it's that Apple only supports uncompressed Fuji RAWs. You cannot preview or process lossless compressed Fuji RAWs on iOS natively but the uncompressed files are equal to Apple's own RAWs in support. On the field, it is sadly worth every byte to be able to grab a file directly off the camera and tweak it or send it to an…

> Honestly the best argument for uncompressed is actually nothing to do with file quality or loss - it's that Apple only supports uncompressed Fuji RAWs.

Nitro¹ (macOS, xOS), the spiritual successor to Aperture², does support Fuji compressed RAW: https://www.gentlemencoders.com/extended-raw/

(I left Lightroom for Nitro + Apple Photos a couple years ago, and can strongly recommend Nitro to fellow photo takers.)

¹ https://www.gentlemencoders.com/nitro-for-macos/ ² https://www.gentlemencoders.com/about/

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#55

Post by CharlesW »

crab_galaxy wrote: post #42
_7acn wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I own 4 Fujifilm cameras and personally, I'd recommend being VERY careful and thinking hard about this purchase. This isn't the same Fujifilm as it used to be. The company was once known for its "Kaizen" approach, which has long since disappeared. Prices are now inflated because they're riding on popularity. Autofocus in Fuji is simply weak. The question is whether you actually need such a camera for anything. With a…

> The question is whether you actually need such a camera for anything. With a new smartphone that has multiple lenses, out-of-the-box photos will turn out MUCH NICER than from a camera, because initial processing is built into the software. Digital cameras don't have this. You need to take RAW and work pretty hard on it to make the photo look as good as what a smartphone delivers right away. You’re completely neglec…

For those who love the Fuji film simulation looks but can't or don't want to buy an overpriced-because-influencers camera, there are now apps that do great Fuji’s film simulation: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rni-films-photo-raw-editor/id1...

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#56

Post by harrall »

_7acn wrote: post #37
vadansky wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been thinking of buying that camera for a while, do you recommend it? Do you have anything to say that will finally push me over the edge to actually but it?

I own 4 Fujifilm cameras and personally, I'd recommend being VERY careful and thinking hard about this purchase. This isn't the same Fujifilm as it used to be. The company was once known for its "Kaizen" approach, which has long since disappeared. Prices are now inflated because they're riding on popularity. Autofocus in Fuji is simply weak. The question is whether you actually need such a camera for anything. With a…

Gonna be honest: if you have to frequently use RAW to make Fuji photos look good, it may be a skill issue.

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#57

Post by bcraven »

_7acn wrote: post #37
vadansky wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been thinking of buying that camera for a while, do you recommend it? Do you have anything to say that will finally push me over the edge to actually but it?

I own 4 Fujifilm cameras and personally, I'd recommend being VERY careful and thinking hard about this purchase. This isn't the same Fujifilm as it used to be. The company was once known for its "Kaizen" approach, which has long since disappeared. Prices are now inflated because they're riding on popularity. Autofocus in Fuji is simply weak. The question is whether you actually need such a camera for anything. With a…

This comment exhibits the normal sort of hideous gatekeeping attitude that is common in photography.

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#58

Post by bcraven »

guillego wrote: post #25
Analemma_ wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently upgraded from an XT-3 to an XT-5, but loved my XT-3 and would still recommend it as a good purchase if you can find a decent deal on one in good condition. Fuji’s AF is not the best in the business, so I wouldn’t recommend one if you’re planning on using it for e.g. sports photography, but apart from that the XT series has no real downsides. The physical dials for ISO+exposure+shutter speed are fantastic a…

I have an XT-1 from 2015 (still working!) and recently started considering upgrading to an XT-5 but I'm a little hesitant to buy a "new" camera first released in 2023 that still retails for almost the same price as two years ago. I'm so torn between just going for it and waiting (who knows how long) for the X-T6 to come out. Perhaps I should just try to find a good deal on an X-T4.

See the trick is not to buy it new!

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/fujifilm-x-t5

Or, as I have done myself and would recommend:

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/fujifilm-x-t50

(Smaller, lighter)

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#59

Post by bcraven »

dsego wrote: post #45
_7acn wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I own 4 Fujifilm cameras and personally, I'd recommend being VERY careful and thinking hard about this purchase. This isn't the same Fujifilm as it used to be. The company was once known for its "Kaizen" approach, which has long since disappeared. Prices are now inflated because they're riding on popularity. Autofocus in Fuji is simply weak. The question is whether you actually need such a camera for anything. With a…

This aligns with my experience as well. The bigger sensor does generate pictures that look more crisp in big prints or zoomed in. In theory it should gather more light, but in reality, phones stitch together multiple exposures, and frequently produce nicer low light images without much noise. For sharing on social media, it's hard to notice a difference. For me its event worse with the x100 since the wide lens doesn'…

I know of no phone camera that can produce the portraits of an X100s 23mm lens at f/2.

Re: How does lossless compression in Fuji RAF files work? (2020)

#60

Post by dsego »

bcraven wrote: post #59
dsego wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This aligns with my experience as well. The bigger sensor does generate pictures that look more crisp in big prints or zoomed in. In theory it should gather more light, but in reality, phones stitch together multiple exposures, and frequently produce nicer low light images without much noise. For sharing on social media, it's hard to notice a difference. For me its event worse with the x100 since the wide lens doesn'…

I know of no phone camera that can produce the portraits of an X100s 23mm lens at f/2.

Not sure what you mean by produce, it depends on lighting and photographer skill. Not like the 23mm is really a portrait lens either and f/2 isn't spectacular.
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