Importing Sony raw (AWR) files

[Robert York]

Currently, pixinsight gets an non-continuable system error when trying to open a raw file from a Sony A55. I posted it to the bug forum, but in the meantime, are there any suggestions on getting the equivalent information into a format pixinsight can read? I understand the raw files have the raw bayer color information, which pixinsight can theoretically do a better job decoding, but maybe I'm off a bit. In any case, using the jpg or opening the raw in photoshop express and saving as a tiff, I don't think captures the same level of information.

Any suggestions here?

[georg.viehoever]

I dont know if Sony RAW is supported. Maybe you can find out by investigating if dcraw (the module underlying the PI reader) can do it.
Otherwise: look for some way to convert Sony RAW to TIFF or FITS. Google for it. According to http://www.sonyuserforum.de/forum/showthread.php?t=83069, the Sony Image Data Converter should be able to do it.

[Robert York]

According to http://www.cybercom.net/~dcoffin/dcraw/, the dcraw author's site, the software does support that camera. Is it possible that  PixInsight and other programs aren't using the latest version of dcraw?

Also, when converting to TIFF, am I going to get the same level of data? I was under the impression that even a TIFF doesn't have the same level of detail as a straight raw format. I've also heard that there's some digital film format supported by some of the newer adobe software that supports a generic raw data format. How can I find if PixInsight supports that?

Edit: Looks like dcraw supports the adobe digital negative as well. Though I'm still not sure if it (or a TIFF) has the same level of detail as the RAW.

[georg.viehoever]

TIFF is sufficient to represent camera data. If you can find a converter that converts your AWR file to 16bit unsigned TIFF images without debayering and intensity transform, you have a solution. Otherwise you'll have to wait until Juan supports the format. There may be hope: Until recently PI did not support the Panasonic format, and apparently it was a minor fix to PI that was necessary.
Georg