Question:
I just got a new camera, but Lightroom (or Photoshop) does not recognize or support the RAW files. How do I fix this?
Answer:
Many camera manufacturers use proprietary files for their RAW files, such as .CR2 (Canon), .NEF (Nikon), and so on. Lightroom and Photoshop are built to read these file types, but need to be updated for each camera model that is created. For example, if you are currently using Lightroom 5 and buy a brand-new Canon camera, in order to process the RAW files you will need to wait until Adobe has updated Adobe Camera Raw in order for it to be properly read. Oftentimes this update happens before the cameras are released, but there have been occasions when it takes a little longer than anticipated.
However, if you are using an older version of software, then your camera may never be compatible with that software. For example, if you were still using Lightroom 4 and buy the brand-new Canon 7D Mark II, because the camera was released after Lightroom 5 had been available, Lightroom 4 will probably not be updated to work with your new camera. But don’t worry! There are workarounds (keep reading through to the next section about the DNG Converter to find out how to make this setup work).
Solution:
There are a few different ways that you can solve this problem so that you will always be able to use your version of software with a new camera model:
Update Your Software
If you are using the most recent version of software, then all you will need to do is update your version with the new ACR release. It’s possible that ACR has an update waiting that has not yet been downloaded to your computer.
Upgrade Your Software
If you are using an older version of software, then you can purchase new software so that you are using the most current version. If you do not want to upgrade, or are unable to because of cost, then your best bet is to use the DNG Converter (keep on reading below for more info).
The DNG Converter
The DNG Converter is probably the most economical way to go about using new camera files with older versions of software. DNG files are open-source RAW files that can be used in any version of Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw. The convert application will take your existing RAW files and convert them to DNGs so that you can use them with your current version of software.
Converting to DNG with the DNG Converter:
Here’s how to use the DNG Converter with your photographs:
1. First, download and install the DNG Converter using one of the links below:
2. Next, locate and open the application on your computer.
3. Using the app, select a folder filled with the source files that need to be converted. Change your options as-needed in the settings; you can also set the DNG Preferences by clicking on the Change Preferences button on the bottom-right.
4. When you are finished, click Convert and your files are now converted to DNGs.
Converting to DNG with Lightroom:
You can also convert your files to DNG in Lightroom, here’s how:
1. In Lightroom’s Library module, select the file(s) that you want to convert.
2. Then, go to Library > Convert Photos to DNG.
3. Choose your options (the default settings are usually a safe bet) and click OK.
4. The file(s) you had selected will now show as DNG files in your Lightroom catalog.
Thanks Nicole, but I wonder if others have found DNG converted files to be noisy. It does not matter which type of RAW (Canon, Panasonic or Olympus), and whether I use Bridge or Lightroom, if I convert to tiff the images are way less noisy than if I convert to DNG. Allan
It is me again, regarding DNG files, not so much noisy but soft. I revisited the issue, and this is the problem. I use Faststone as my file manager for photos, and for basic/quick work. On Saturday I opened a poor DNG with Faststone, and saved it as a jpg. It now looked as good as when I used Bridge to save a photo as a jpg. Faststone is the problem. Also doing work in OnOne and saving it as a tiff, that photo views in Faststone as black and white and a little offset. If that tiff is processed… Read more »
It’s still a mystery to me why camera producers cannot come to their senses and stick to one RAW standard. The only exception is Pentax which give its users an option to shoot either in .PEF (Pentax RAW file) or . DNG.
How can you convert the selected when it will not import at all? You have nothing to select?
You will need to add the files to your computer a different way, such as drag-dropping them into a folder, for example.
I cant convert nikon raw files (NEF) using adobe DNG. it doesnt identify NEF format i guess since it doesnt show any files in the folder when i want to select it for converting.
I don’t like the conversion of RAW formats like NEF , ARW , ORF to DNG . They lose in quality… that’s why I started using this:
http://www.aftershotpro.com/en/pages/orf-file/ You just select the file you need to open and that’s it! In my opinion, all RAW files especially ORF files are best suited in AfterShot Pro for editing.
WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!! so happy i found this. i used the DNG converter
Hi. I realize that this is an old thread, but I hope you can help. I have .cr2 files from a Canon 5dmarkIII that Lightroom will not convert to DNG. Even after importing (when the window pops up and says it couldn’t convert the non-raw files), the DNG converter didn’t not work. I am using Lightroom Classic CC, 8.1 release. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth – Trying to hunt down an answer for you. When you’re importing, have you tried the Copy option instead of Copy as DNG?
Hi, Hoping someone can help, I have a Canon Powershot G5X and am trying to import the RAW CR2 photos into Lightroom 4 and it is proving impossible. I have checked and Lightroom is up to date, I have followed the above instructions to download the link to convert my RAW CR2 files to DNG and I get to the stage where I have to select the files I want converted and it shows that there is nothing in the folder when I know they are there? I have also tried converting with Lightroom but again this does not work,… Read more »
Kerry – Lightroom 4 is several versions out of date. The G5X requires at least Lightroom 6.3 or 2015.3. I suggest you look into Adobe’s Photography Plan, which comes with Lightroom Classic (the equivalent to what you use now), Lightroom (the cloud-based software) and Photoshop. https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html?promoid=2NVQCBZ1&mv=other
It’s still a mystery to me why camera producers cannot come to their senses and stick to one RAW standard. The only exception is Pentax which give its users an option to shoot either in .PEF (Pentax RAW file) or . DNG.
Thanks Nicole, but I wonder if others have found DNG converted files to be noisy. It does not matter which type of RAW (Canon, Panasonic or Olympus), and whether I use Bridge or Lightroom, if I convert to tiff the images are way less noisy than if I convert to DNG. Allan
I cant convert nikon raw files (NEF) using adobe DNG. it doesnt identify NEF format i guess since it doesnt show any files in the folder when i want to select it for converting.
It is me again, regarding DNG files, not so much noisy but soft. I revisited the issue, and this is the problem. I use Faststone as my file manager for photos, and for basic/quick work. On Saturday I opened a poor DNG with Faststone, and saved it as a jpg. It now looked as good as when I used Bridge to save a photo as a jpg. Faststone is the problem. Also doing work in OnOne and saving it as a tiff, that photo views in Faststone as black and white and a little offset. If that tiff is processed… Read more »
I don’t like the conversion of RAW formats like NEF , ARW , ORF to DNG . They lose in quality… that’s why I started using this:
http://www.aftershotpro.com/en/pages/orf-file/ You just select the file you need to open and that’s it! In my opinion, all RAW files especially ORF files are best suited in AfterShot Pro for editing.
WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!! so happy i found this. i used the DNG converter
Hi. I realize that this is an old thread, but I hope you can help. I have .cr2 files from a Canon 5dmarkIII that Lightroom will not convert to DNG. Even after importing (when the window pops up and says it couldn’t convert the non-raw files), the DNG converter didn’t not work. I am using Lightroom Classic CC, 8.1 release. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Hi, Hoping someone can help, I have a Canon Powershot G5X and am trying to import the RAW CR2 photos into Lightroom 4 and it is proving impossible. I have checked and Lightroom is up to date, I have followed the above instructions to download the link to convert my RAW CR2 files to DNG and I get to the stage where I have to select the files I want converted and it shows that there is nothing in the folder when I know they are there? I have also tried converting with Lightroom but again this does not work,… Read more »
How can you convert the selected when it will not import at all? You have nothing to select?
You will need to add the files to your computer a different way, such as drag-dropping them into a folder, for example.