the raw converter that comes with the FZ30 leaves much to be desired.
At the other extreme is CS2 with the ACR 3.5 plugin.
Are there other converters to use with the FZ30 without spending the big bucks?

Here is a link to a review of a couple of options
http://www.sphoto.com/techinfo/rawco...converters.htm

I have heard Bibble is quite good.

You can also get in on the Adobe Lightroom beta program, where Lightroom is free whilst it remains on beta and has the same raw converter (ACR) as in CS2.

tinosa wrote: Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) is now up to version 3.6 and is compatible with:

Photoshop Elements 3.0, 4.0, & 5.0
Photoshop Premiere Elements 3.0

in addition to Photoshop CS2. These are much, much cheaper than full CS2 if you don't need all of its features.


Dick
http://rschofield.smugmug.com/

rafinmelb: thanks for the very informative link.
six programs compared in great detail with images of their default output. Excellent.
I like the lightroom idea too.

rschofield: thanks for the alternate paths to using RAW.
Santa said I wasn't good enough this year for CS2. :lol:

BTW: enjoyed your smugmug galleries. Great shots.
13 days left in the PanaChallenge

tinosa,

I forgot to mention that Photoshop Elements is on sale fairly regularly at your local Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc. for around $50 (after rebate), sometimes even less. Maybe Santa will think that you at least deserve that.

I still use version 2.0 and am quite happy with it. When/If I upgrade from my FZ20 to a model that supports raw, I'll upgrade to version 5.0 or whatever the latest is at that time. I've heard that 5.0 is CS2 without all the esoterica.

Thanks very much for your comment on my smugmug galleries. I hope to get something entered in the latest Panachallenge but this is not the best time of year to find the time. :sad:


Dick
http://rschofield.smugmug.com/

UPDATE: Staples has PSE 5.0 on sale this week (Dec 10th - 16th) for $40 after mail-in rebate.

Thanks for the tip Dick, that puts 5.0 on my list of options to enter the world of RAW.
Don't realy need all the esoterica in CS2 (yet), just want to get the best possible prints from my Panny.


I recently bought an FZ30 and still have my trusty friend the FZ15.(couldn't part with it, it's been good to me.)

I have a great idea for the challenge but as you said, busy time of year. The only way to get extra time is to cut back on sleep, which I have been known to do when inspired.

Thanks again for the up-to-the-minute info.