On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 02:09:13 -0400 (EDT), John Francis wrote: >Shel Belinkoff mused: >> >> http://tinyurl.com/52kr9 >> >> http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/[EMAIL PROTECTED]@.3bb6a85c.3bb91 >> 9d8/0 >> >> Just read this thread on the Adobe Camera Raw forum. It looks like there's >> a method of getting usable RAW files from the Optio (and other brands of >> similar cameras). Might be interesting reading for some of the folks here, >> and maybe the more technically minded can comment. > >It's kind of hard to understand what the original poster is saying. > >In any case, I assume there must be at least one other Pentax camera >besides the D and DS that can produce RAW files - the list of Pentax >tags in ExifTool includes some tags and/or values new to me.
It is not a HOAX. I have tested the procedure whith my OPTIO S4 long ago ... The procedure (see details listed below) uses an undocumented (or hidden :-) menu on the Optio that is for service purposes. You activate it by power-up and holding down the 'menu' and 'delete' buttons while doing that. That will get you to the special menu with at least 10 items. A few items are DESTRUCTIVE in the sense that they will reset lots of things, requiring a reload of the firmware! Anyway, there is a 'BAYER MODE' option in there that will switch the camera to a mode where the output files are not processed (RAW). All pictures taken after that will be in this 'RAW' mode until you power off the camera if I recall correctly. (there is no easy way to toggle between JPG and RAW) I don't think there was (and is ?) any RAW converter that supports the OPTIO though ... Regards, JvW +++++++++++ OPTIO hidden menu details ++++++++++ Using RAW mode from the Optio-S4 Note JvW: Works on my S4 too, files are 6114240 bytes, name like 0297IMGP.RAW Number is same as 'next' JPG would be. The next JPG will use this same number, but with a different format like: IMGP0297.JPG RAW converter will be possible, but not very usefull since all camera-info (like white-balance) seems to be missing +++++++++++++++++ Using the secret menu ok on my s4 when i start it up i hold down the "menu" button and the "flash/trashcan" button and then press the on button after i do that then a screen will pop up saying ++ KB359 ++ PR:03. 08. 29. 17. 57 LD1. 45 MI: 17 then on the 4-way rocker button i press "--->, ---->, menu" and then i list menu will pop up go down to "6: bayer mode" press enter (down on middle of rocker) and then it will say bayer mode-----on---off press "right" on the rocker button to turn it on then i press "menu" twice to back out and the camera will start up normal when you take a picture it will save the bayer image until you shut it off then it will restart +++++++++++++++++ RAW format specification for Optio-S4: I've figured out the order of the red, green and blue sensors on the Optio S4 CCD. It is none other than the classic Bayer pattern. Odd rows: red, green, red, green, etc. Even Rows: green, blue, green, blue, etc. Guess I should have known that in the first place, especialy since it says "Bayer mode" in big fat letters in the secret menu... So to sum things up: The S4 RAW file is a simple 3520 by 1737 matrix, with the last 34 bytes of each line unused and set to zero. The remaining 3486 bytes are actually 2324 12 bit values corresponding to each sensor, the colors of which are distributed following the normal bayer pattern. There are no headers or footers in the file. +++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Jan van Wijk; http://www.dfsee.com/gallery
