Camera Raw 4.6 and DNG Converter Available

Question: Why is this the last release supported in CS3. Is it a technical issue, or a ploy to further sales of CS4?
[Dave, When we release a new version of Photoshop we update the technology and functionality in Camera Raw and cease updates for the older versions. This is the way Camera Raw has been updated since it was released during the Photoshop 7 cycle. No ploy, just business. -TH]

I was hoping for support for the Panasonic LX3. Do you have any info on whether the support is on its way?

I'm just hoping that I won't be forced to upgrade to CS4 before being able to open LX3 RAW files :-(

[The last camera raw support update for CS3 does not include LX3 support. No estimate on when this may be available for Photoshop CS4 through Camera Raw 5. -TH]

Hey Dave,

Any word on when Lightroom 2.1 is likely to be released?

Seems odd to me that ACR 4.67 is out, but there doesn't seem to be any movement at the LR station.

IIRC, these two were traditionally released together.

[Matt, as you mentioned, we typically release Lightroom and Camera Raw updates simultaneously or very close together. While we do have the Lightroom 2.1 release candidate available on Labs.adobe.com, you would imagine that the final release would happen quite soon. -TH]

Dave,

How does Adobe justify dropping support for CS3 with regards to ACR? CS3 has only been out 1.5 years and presuming you purchased on the day of release that isn't a great return on £480 worth of software.

Granted I can still use CS3 but what do I do when just one of my photographers purchases a camera not supported in CS3?

[Martyn, this has been the practice with every version of Photoshop since the first Camera Raw plug-in was introduced during Photoshop 7. Testing, supporting, and maintaining the Camera Raw technology for legacy versions of Photoshop is not our goal. -TH]

Are you ever likely to add the Panasonic LX3 to the current RAW or are you expecting customers to buy CS4?
[The last Camera Raw update for CS3 was Camera Raw 4.6 and it does not include support for the LX3. Camera Raw users will need to upgrade to CS4 in order to have access to future camera support. -TH]

Another LX3 owner who wants to see its .RW2 files supported in Lightroom/Camera Raw. I don't really care whether this is available in LR 1.x/CR 4.x or whether it's only for the 2.x/5.x versions since I'll upgrade anyway, but please bring this soon!

[Matt, we're well aware of the need to add support for this camera. -TH]

Regarding the lack of raw support for the LX3: I guess by "business" Tom H means "any opportunity we can force consumers to buy a whole new product instead of offering even minor support for a perfectly usable existing product, we will do so". CS3 is not that old, and completely, wonderfully still perfectly usable to most of its users. To cease offering even minor updates or support for a program that many thousands of people still rely on, without any need for a whole new program is a slap in the face. I have absolutely no need to pay hundreds of dollars for an upgrade that doesn't offer anything to me—however, I would like and expect Adobe to simply offer plug-in updates that keep my program compatible with digital cameras that have hit the market while CS3 is still in use.

Absolutely!
I can't emphasize more the last comment.

when can i expect raw support for my lx3 - i'm tempted to take the camera back since i hate using their software.

[Casper, no guarantees but we're working to add support for the LX3 by the end of the year. -TH]

I couldn't agree more with Allen Schlossman and Santos - it is really not acceptable to immediately discontinue support for previous Lightroom and CS3 versions. You are much worse than M$ - Win 98 support was only discontinued 5 years after XP was released. At work, I'm still using XP and Office 2003.

I have planned to get the new Nikon D700, but that is not supported in Lighroom 1.4. This in practice means a hefty $155 additional price for the camera (I live in Europe, hence the steep upgrade price to LR 2) :-(

BTW, the price discrimination of European customers is another thing I have no understanding for.

Another vote for supporting the LX3. I use Lightroom 2.1 and sorely need the raw support for this camera.
Next Lightroom upgrade?? Please Tom!

I just bought a G10 only to discover CS3 does not support the RAW format and never will??????

Why do I buy Photoshop at all?

I agree with the people who are pissed off with Adobe dumping RAW support for a version of PS that's only 18 months old. I am really disappointed and saddened by this policy and may contemplate taking my future business elsewhere as a result.

I am currently using CS3 at work so it looks like I will have to upgrade in order to receive support for my LX3. I wanted to be sure that Lightroom 2 will work with CS3 if/when Adobe adds support for my LX3.

[The Lightroom Photoshop integration features will require the latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in for full compatibility. This will be Camera Raw 5.2 for the LX3 which is only available with CS4. -TH]

I wonder if I am missing something?

I have the LX3 (it's mentioned on the Adobe site as being in the C.R. - 4.6 download), & having manually loaded the 2X ZIP files (DNG Camera RAW 4.6 and now the Camera RAW 5.1 (from this site's link which contains a new Camera RAW 8BI that comes with the 5.1 download) onto C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CS3\File Formats and having purged the Cashe, nothing!
BooHoo!
Please advise what I'm doing so wrong!
Thanks
Tim

[The LX3 proprietary raw format is not currently supported or referenced as supported on any Adobe web site. The camera's raw format will be supported in November. -TH]

When rw2 for adobe?

I cannot believe what I am reading. Following the purchase of CS3 less than a year ago, I obtained the latest Camera RAW for supporting my Nikon D60. So what happens when I change cameras that are not listed in my current Camera RAW? Shell out for the next version of CS? I do not think so. What an appauling company. Perhaps trading standards would like to hear of this.

I forked out the cash to buy the Production Suite CS3 as a student and recently bought the Canon G10 only to find out that I wont be able to use it in Photoshop.

Very Very dissapointed!! Why do I have to upgrade a complete PS version just to get CR Plugin support for G10 RAW.
I dont need PS CS4 as the main upgrades are for 3D layers, etc and am very happy with CS3 for now.

I am a loyal user of Adobe products especially AE and PS but very disapointed in the way they do business!!!!!

I bought CS3 at the end of August, installed in January. A month later, I heard that CS4 will be launched. OK, I will keep CS3 as I only need photoshop and considering that Adobe refuses to give me CS4 update.

Today, I bought a Canon G10 and what is my surprize: Camera Raw does not support G10 and will not be updated.
It is outrageous!

Hello, please release CS3 raw update soon. I just got LX-3 with superb features and then...! The premiere photo editing software (ok, just CS3 not CS4) will not open my camera files.

Oh, my, god! I could not even imagine a situation like this. Adobe: get our act together soon, please.

/another disappointed Photoshop CS3 & Lightroom user

[Timo, Photoshop CS4 already supports the LX-3 through Camera Raw 5.2. Camera Raw 4 as part of CS3 will not be updated with any additional support although you can use the free DNG Converter 5.2 to convert the files to a format that Camera Raw 4 will read. Lightroom 2.2 will be updated shortly with support for the LX-3. -TH]

Panasonic!! Adobe doenst give support for camera raw cs3 ussers. Adobe adobe adobe, very bad.

Although I am disappointed to see that I can't use CS3 for my new Canon Mark II, I'm more frustrated with Canon that Adobe- fellow posters- this is exactly why we should all be demanding a universal RAW format, such as DNG. I've written Canon- please do the same for your manufacturer. There is not a great reason to have a thousand constantly changing RAW formats.

I have just purchased a Canon 5D Mk2 and discover that my Adobe CS3 extended is not going to be updated to include support for this camera; is this really true?
Luckily I also have Aperture and therefore have there latest update for my Canon and can pass files from Aperture to CS3 but this really is not very satisfactory for a piece of software that cost nearly a £1000.

I was shocked to learn that my hefty investment in Photoshop CS3 was wasted because it does not and will never support the Lumix LX3!!! Adobe really should offer some mechanism to add this capability - I would understand paying a small fee, but it is ridiculous to require purchase of an entire new product to obtain support for a new camera.
[Zach, you can use the DNG Converter (www.adobe.com/dng) to convert the Lumix LX3 files the the DNG Format which is readable by Camera Raw 4 available in Photoshop CS3. Unfortunately, we do have an exception in our DNG file handling for that particular model that will increase the file size in the interim. Please read the note on the following page: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html -TH]

And Adobe wonders why piracy is so rampant. Hmmm...I paid for CS3, and a year later, purchase a new camera, and can't edit the camera's RAW files without upgrading to CS4. You should at least offer ACR support for CS3 users as well. This is too soon of an update to justify dropping any support for it. That's ridiculous.
[This has been the policy since Camera Raw was introduced for Photoshop 7. You can use the freely available DNG converter to convert new raw file formats to a standardized format readable by Camera Raw 4 in Photoshop CS3. -TH]

I wonder why Adobe is pissing on their own ankles? By not supporting the raw files of newer cameras on CS3 will affect on their sales.. CS4 is NOT THAT much better..

Who cares if it's been a policy since Photoshop 7, your clients are telling you it's not a good policy. People are not stupid - you company is greedy. Let client upgrade because they want new features - not because you are holding them hostage.

What a load of crap... New Camera, and I expected it to work with CS3... I can see Adobe's greed.. The camera was out before CS4 was released and no support for it.

Pissed beyond belief.

[FYI, Photoshop CS3's last Camera Raw update included raw support for the vast majority of raw formats *shipping* at that time. -TH]

I agree with all of the posts here that it is shameful that we can't get simple plug-ins for our new cameras.
I purchased CS3 in August 2008 only to find out that CS4 came out 2 months later! I have been desperately trying to figure out how to view my Mark II photos and see now from this forum that I can't. Won't be able to until I pay for the upgrade to CS4- which will also entail re-learning the new system!
I agree with Yallu that we really don't care that you have had this policy in place since whenever- it sucks as a policy!

[You can convert your files to DNG to open them in the Camera Raw 4 plug-in. www.adobe.com/dng/ -TH]

I agree that this really sucks. In fact until CS4 was released I was able to open CR2 files from my Canon 5D Mark II then mysteriously that ability went away. Now I have to buy upgrade to CS4.

I wonder what the outcry would be if all JPG files could no longer be viewed, edited by CS3 or CS2 users. Huh? This is not a policy matter, it is a good business common sense matter. My 2 cents and I'm disgusted with Adobe for this kind of piggy behavior. May the CEO suits and decision makers suffer the fate of all who screw the little people.

[John, You cannot open 5D Mk II raw files in any version of Photoshop earlier than Photoshop CS4.(Not sure what application you were opening those files in before the capability "disappeared.") The 5D Mk II only started shipping after Photoshop CS4 was available. Your analogy to JPEG files is incorrect because that format is publicly documented and did not originate or change after the appearance of the latest version of Photoshop. Please feel free to use the DNG converter to convert, then open those files in previous version of Photoshop, free of charge. -TH]

I just purchased a Canon G10 with all the intention to use Photoshop CS3 for my work. To my very big surprise Photoshop does not recognize CR2 files.
What is the solution to be able to work my CR2 files (raw files) from my Canon G10 in Photoshop CS3?
I hope you have the answer to my question.

[Dominique, the G10 started shipping after we released CS4 so if you'd like to view the proprietary raw file in Photoshop you'll need to upgrade to Photoshop CS4. You can also use the Adobe DNG Converter 5.3 (www.adobe.com/dng) to convert the proprietary raw files to DNG to read them in Camera Raw 4 in Photoshop CS3. -TH]

Ok, I am among the dinasours...I need to convert Canon 50D images and I am still in CS2. Is there a DNG converter to download?
[www.adobe.com/dng -TH]

That Adobe doesn't offer Camera raw support to older versions of their software as a 'practice' is Not entirely true as evidenced by their support of upgrading the Raw for both Elements 7 and the legacy version 6. Try as they may it's tough to unring this bell.

I have to believe CS3 has a bit more power than Elements 6 when it comes to RAW. I wish Adobe would release just one more version for CS3 - this would certainly solve a lot of problems and win them some brownie points.

[Photoshop Elements 7 was not generally available when the Camera Raw 5 plug-in started shipping with Photoshop CS4. It is Adobe's practice to support the most current version of each product that utilizes the Camera Raw plug-in. This means that Camera Raw 5 needed to work with Photoshop Elements 6. Do you think it would be good practice to stop supporting new raw file formats for Photoshop Elements customers and require that they upgrade to a new version that isn't available yet? -TH]

i'm another very frustrated G10/CS3 owner.

to be honest, when i was a student, i always used the latest version of photoshop. illegaly. cracked.

now that i'm earning money, i bought CS3, but i didn't make the upgrade to CS4, because i thought it offered not enough for me to justify the upgrade price. i planned to take the next major upgrade.

couple of weeks ago i got a new camera and i can't use it with photoshop? this is soooo sad, adobe. unfortunately this is not the only bad experience i've had with your company since i'm a paying customer.

it was all better and more comfortable when i was using cracked software. you should think about that.

(and yes, i know about the DNG converter... )

Like a lot of large business's these days. They merely pay lip service to the concerns of loyal customers and followers. And Adobe is no different in this policy. The constant drive to offer newer products, and then alienate the many loyal users, is a decision made in the interest of the shareholders and business leaders. Why continue to support a product that no longer brings in an income? This is straight forward business sense. Employing resources to write updates for obsolete software? No matter how many of us are users of CS3. And then patronise us by declaring that we always do this with new version. I haven't once heard a word in favour of the millions of CS3 fans. Down right disgusting, Adobe should be ashamed of themselves. (but they won't be!!)
There is never any justification for piracy, but this is hardly the attitude that would serve to reduce it. So look for other titles that can produce the results. How many of us comprehensively make use of the overwhelming array of CS tools anyway. The answer, if Adobe don't listen, is to vote with your feet......

No G10 support for CS3?

Well, I'm buying a new computer soon for which I was going to buy the latest version of CS. Based on this policy you have just lost a customer for life.

I'd like to add my complaint to all those above. Having paid the high price for genuine adobe software I expect it to be supported with minor compatibility updates for several years. It's a disgraceful attitude from Adobe. I suppose they think they can treat their customers poorly simply because there is limited competition. Well, goodbye Adobe, from here on in I will be using pirated versions and encouraging everyone I know to do likewise. If you want to rip us off then we will do the same to you.

This is ridiculous. Why would Adobe drop support for a product that is just two years old? Why would anyone purchase a legitimate copy of Photoshop when they won't support their customer base (especially when you can download a cracked version so easily). Adobe, I support you by actually buying Photoshop but with the upgrade from my D40 to a D5000, I see you don't support me. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn't mean that you should always do it that way in the future. That is a very lame justification - especially when it so obviously ticks off your customers. Cameras are getting cheap and upgrades are going to happen yearly. If Adobe can't support their customers, then I would be first to encourage their customers not to support Adobe.

Come on Adobe, quit being so petty. I paid a bundle for your software. tell me why I should continue to do so by way of upgrades when I will upgrade my camera only to find that your software is broken (hey, if it doesn't work when we know darn well that it can, it's broken)