darktable support for R5 Mark II RAW support

[penultimateName]

darktable just upgraded to 5.0 with no support for the R5 Mark II RAW file.  I do understand darktable uses two other RAW providers to get the support.  Making the issue not directly a darktable issue.   

I don't understand why Canon only supports Adobe and maybe a couple of other photo processing editors over open source.  Does Adobe pay for this support?  It seems foolish for Canon known for excellent customer support to ignore the open source community.   

I don't use the Canon processing software because it does not work in Linux.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Canon does not only support Adobe or pay anyone to support their still image of video file formats.  

DPP is a canon software and is free

Other software apps that support .CR3:

DxO Photolab

Capture 1 

Topaz

Affinity

Gimp

Luminar

Probably others.  I use DPP and DxO myself.  The file formats, cameras and lenses supported are up to the software developer, not Canon. 😃  I believe DarkTable accepts submissions for future file support consideration.

[penultimateName]

I use Linux to process. I have used DPP to convert to tiff so I can move my photos to darktable on Linux. DxO and Capture 1 do not have Linux versions.  It appears Gimp does not support R5 Mark II RAW at this time.

Putting aside the possibility Canon is favoring Adobe.  Why doesn't Canon support the open source community by providing specs for the RAW file?   It benefits Canon when all the photo editors are able to read the RAW file.  They all eventually reverse engineer the file.  Why not help which might even bring more sales to Canon if they had RAW support available before the other camera manufactures. 

[Peter · Accepted solution]

In the latest release of EDSDK Canon included Linux. I am not a programmer so I have no idea how to use that .so file.

Anyway, for CR3 darktable uses Libraw. Libraw snapshots are released every 12th or 18th month. If you are able to compile darktable from source there is a nice tutorial to get R5 II support.

https://blog.pandainthecloud.de/2024/09/07/adding-new-camera-support-in-darktable-libraw-exiftool/

[shadowsports]

Thanks for jumping in Peter. I was just going to reach out to you. Happy holidays.

[Peter]

And as a workaround for Linux users we still have DNGLab to convert the CR3 files to DNG. But don't delete the original files.

[jrhoffman75]

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@penultimateName wrote:

darktable just upgraded to 5.0 with no support for the R5 Mark II RAW file.  I do understand darktable uses two other RAW providers to get the support.  Making the issue not directly a darktable issue.   

I don't understand why Canon only supports Adobe and maybe a couple of other photo processing editors over open source.  Does Adobe pay for this support?  It seems foolish for Canon known for excellent customer support to ignore the open source community.   

I don't use the Canon processing software because it does not work in Linux.

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Canon DPP lets you transfer an image to any external editor. You can edit as little or as much as you want in DPP before the transfer. 

[Hamerovv]

I just tested DT 5.2.1 on mac and still there is no support for CR3 (R5 II). Does anyone knows when LibRaw will support this? I rather not compile the DT app myself.
(Alternatively, if anyone knows if there is a non official installation file for DT which support R5 II)

[Peter]

https://github.com/LibRaw/LibRaw

"Major releases (for example, 0.20) are published once every year and a half to three years."

Meanwhile DNGLab och Adobe DNG Converter work, but don't delete your original raw files.

I don't know if MartinSt at pixels.us has compiled a Mac version with R5 II support. Ask him.

[penultimateName]

Personally I find the whole thing disgraceful.   Darktable must find a different way to get RAW converters.   Based on the response you just received the LibRaw updates are every 1 1/2 to 3 years.   That is unacceptable.   There are comments indicating they had a working RAW converter for our camera last October or November.  We have to wait a year or more to get it.  They say companies want stable releases.  It should not take this long to add the camera!!!   Some people are suggesting we should see it by Dec.   Unfortunately for Linux users there are no good options, including commercial software we can use that is currently supporting the camera.   

Canon offer a limited license for processing the RAW file.  That will prevent manufactures from using it in the camera.  Canons response to this issue is also ridiculous.