OpenRAW

My name is Andy Batt & I am a professional photographer. I've been using a camera since 1986, attended the Rochester Institute of Technology's Photo Illustration program – class of '91, and have run my own studio since 1997. I am also a technology savvy computer user. I've been using computers since my first Tandy Color Computer, circa 1980. I am a board member of the Oregon chapter of the ASMP & an original EP subscriber. I am a contributor to WorkBookStock.com. I shoot about 95% digitally now, and have just made an investment in about $11,000 worth of digital gear and lenses.

Most importantly, I make my living as a commercial photographer. 100%. I am potentially your ideal customer. I am writing this letter to you in hopes of informing the direction your company is taking in regards to digital cameras and software. As an metaphor let me present this example: If ten years ago a camera company was to invent an amazing new film camera, with exciting & amazing new features not found on any other camera, I would be very interested. If however, that camera relied on a brand new proprietary film type, that could only be purchased from the camera manufacturer, only processed in the camera manufacturer's chemistry, and only enlarged with the manufacturer's enlarger, there is absolutely no chance I would have purchased that camera.

This is essentially the state of digital cameras, in regards to the RAW file format. The strength of your camera relies on it's chip technology, and it's analog-to-digital converter. It's greatest weakness is the proprietary file format. I have an archive of thousands of negatives and chromes. They are all in a universal accepted open source format. I have almost a terabyte of digital RAW files (growing all the time), in formats that range from Imacon's 3F, Canon's TIF, CRW & CR2, and Fuji's RAF. I want to know with certainty that these files will continue to be accessible to me as RAW files, not processed TIFFs, for the entire future of my career (and quite possibly beyond, as an inheritance). With proprietary formats I do not have that guarantee. My archive is at the mercy of the manufacturer and their ability to survive as a viable entity, and their decision to continue to add backwards compatibility for older formats. I am appreciative of the companies that have taken the first steps by making the decision to work directly with Adobe & Thomas Knoll to make their RAW formats officially compatible with ACR.

I also would like to point out, that as a working photographer, with real-world deadlines, I do not want to work with multiple programs to process my RAW files. My goal is to have a clean and fast workflow that allows me to spend more time being creative, in front of the camera, and in post-RAW digital darkroom work. I am lucky that companies like Adobe and the Capture-1 group have decided to support many RAW formats, with no help from the majority of the camera companies.

As a professional photographer I need your company (and all the others) to recognize the following:

• An open standard for RAW files, such as DNG, is the only viable forward looking solution. Everything else is a disservice to photographers and puts our archives at risk.

• A company such as Adobe is symbiotic with the manufacturers of digital cameras – they are not a competitor.

• In the real world of professional photography, photographers use multiple brands of cameras. I use the best camera for the job, whether that is a Imacon/Hasselblad, Canon, or Sinar.

• Alternate RAW processing software gives photographers choice and flexibility in customizing their workflow. By working with other software, you will sell more cameras.

• Digital Photography is an expensive proposition. Digital cameras/backs are incredibly expensive, and become out of date incredibly quickly. Photographers are making huge investments in digital hardware, as well as in software and training. The company that works with photographers instead of against them will reap the reward.

Sincerely,

Andy Batt
www.andybatt.com
All Points Bulletin Productions
901 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
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http://www.andybatt.com