Does iPhoto alter NEF/RAW files?

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

11/14/2011 10:19:40 AM · #1

Hey Mac gurus,

I use iPhoto to download the images off my camera, and shoot RAW (actually NEF) only 99%. So I was a little worried when I went to download my required original image for validation, and it was listed as a jpg, though under the EXIF data it was still listed as NEF. To be on the safe side I downloaded the same file off the memory card.

Not only did the memory card have what I consider to be the true heading of NEF, it's a 9.5 kb file whereas the iPhoto version reads jpg and is only 2.5 kb. To make matters even more confusing, if I shoot images as jpgs, it'll title them JPG.

So hopefully, all iPhoto does is compress the RAW/NEF files and retitle them jpg.

Is there any cause for concern here? Or is the actual EXIF data still all that matters?

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/14/2011 11:20:06 AM · #2

Send one to site council, repeating your question above, and ask them to look at the EXIF and tell you if it passes muster. What we know, or think we know, doesn't mean squat.

R.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/14/2011 11:56:37 AM · #3

There is great cause for concern. First, I'll make an assumption, said assumption being that you meant MB and not kB for the file sizes. The 9.5MB size is about what I'd expect for a RAW file. The 2.5MB size is appropriate to a JPEG file. A RAW file will not be very compressible at all, and certainly not to 26% of the original file size.
So I have to conclude that the files you are getting with your iPhoto transfer actually *are* JPEGs, most likely the JPEG that is embedded in the RAW file.

11/14/2011 12:23:10 PM · #4

I'm 99% certain that iPhoto does preserve the original file. It does create/display jpegs from those files.

If you right click on the photo in iPhoto and option "Show Original" should come up. Select that.

It will take you to the file's location in a folder in the iPhoto Library containing the Original RAW/NEF file as downloaded from the camera.

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

11/14/2011 12:39:54 PM · #5

Originally posted by kirbic:

Yeah, I mean MB and not KB. And I didn't know before that jpegs are embedded in the RAWs.

@ Bear...Actually I was hoping

scalvert might be around as he is both an SC member and a self-professed Mac guru. But again to play safe, I sent the actual big-ass file off of the memory card.

In the future I'm going to download all original RAW files independently and not trust iPhoto as much as I have, and stick them in another folder.

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

11/14/2011 12:45:56 PM · #6

Spork99 said already, iPhoto does preserve the original

Here's some instructions from

Scalvert from a thread earlier this year.

Originally posted by scalvert:

There's nothing wrong with shooting RAW on a Mac. I do it all the time. If you're using iPhoto, just select the image and choose File > Export > Original to your desktop and submit that. If the resulting file on your desktop is not RAW (NEF for Nikon, CR2 for Canon), then you have to get your hands a little dirty...

Make a note of the date and file name of the photo in question. Locate your iPhoto Library (usually in your Pictures folder) and right-click or control-click on it. Choose "Show Package Contents" from the pop-up menu and it will open like any other folder. Look inside the "Originals" folder and navigate to the date you shot the photo. Your original RAW file will be in there. Once you're found the correct file, drag it to your desktop while holding down the option key to make a copy and then close your iPhoto Library window. NEVER change or move anything in the iPhoto Library itself or you will damage the file structure (that's why the contents are hidden). Submit the copy on your desktop and you're all set.

From this thread : Help with Raw submission

11/14/2011 12:50:04 PM · #7

Oh goody! thanks much

salmiakki! :-)

11/14/2011 02:02:37 PM · #8

You can get to the original from within iPhoto much easier and faster than

scalvert's way.

-select the photo in iPhoto

-in the menu bar, go to: File ---> Reveal in Finder ---> Original File

This will open a finder window with the original file in it...no need to dig through the entire library or remember file names/dates/what-have-you.

Message edited by author 2011-11-14 14:22:54.

11/14/2011 05:07:46 PM · #9

Great, thanks Sporky! :-)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/14/2011 05:40:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by snaffles:

Great, thanks Sporky! :-)

Anytime...just remember to NOT move/remove/delete any files in the library. It's bad juju.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/14/2011 09:49:57 PM · #11

iPhoto does not alter RAW files. If you make any edits in iPhoto, it'll automatically make a copy and file away the original for safekeeping. The image you're working on (the copy) will be a JPEG, but you can always go back to the RAW version. Unless you dig through the iPhoto Library and manually change those hidden-for-a-reason files, "export original" will retrieve the RAW version exactly as recorded by the camera.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/14/2011 11:55:09 PM · #12

Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.

Cuttooth

Canon EOS R

11/15/2011 03:10:46 AM · #13

Originally posted by snaffles:

Hey Shannon, I don't do any editing at all in iPhoto, it's just where I stash images. Haven't tried Export Original but not sure I have that option in the Export menu. I do all editing in PS CS5 and nowhere else.

Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.

i'm on iphoto 8.1 and it's not in the file menu for me either.

for me, i right click on the thumbnail and choose show file. that takes you to the original file

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/15/2011 08:43:28 AM · #14

Originally posted by snaffles:

9.2.1

Covert_Oddity

Nikon D700

11/15/2011 08:46:11 AM · #15

Just as an aside, I use Aperture on the Mac to both download and manage my RAW files diect from camera, and have had a number pass validation.

The tricky part is in finding them when you want them!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/15/2011 09:43:14 AM · #16

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Originally posted by snaffles:
Hey Shannon, I don't do any editing at all in iPhoto, it's just where I stash images. Haven't tried Export Original but not sure I have that option in the Export menu. I do all editing in PS CS5 and nowhere else.

Spork99, what version of iPhoto do you have? Mine doesn't have Reveal in Finder under any menu, File or otherwise. The version I have is a little old in terms of software, it's iPhoto 08 version 7.1.5.

i'm on iphoto 8.1 and it's not in the file menu for me either.

for me, i right click on the thumbnail and choose show file. that takes you to the original file

That's the way I remembered it earlier, but it's changed. "Export Original" works too

My problem with iPhoto is that I have a large library ~ 30,000 images and at some point I had problems with the library and when I got it resolved, that number had swelled to ~58,000. Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.

Message edited by author 2011-11-15 09:47:55.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/15/2011 10:35:50 AM · #17

Originally posted by Spork99:

Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.

iPhoto Diet will take care of that.

11/15/2011 11:16:57 AM · #18

I tried out

Spork99's and

scalvert's methods, got the same result, the original 9.5 MB NEF file. So thanks much to you both! :-)

Message edited by author 2011-11-15 11:19:12.

11/15/2011 01:13:58 PM · #19

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by Spork99:
Somehow the thumbnails of many originals had gotten imported into iPhoto as photos. I have no clue how to strip them out without manually going through them. UGH.

iPhoto Diet will take care of that.

I will try that when I get home. Thanks.