Olympus E-3 and Photoshop CS2 .ORF Raw Files

LS
Posted By
Laura_Smetak
Sep 3, 2008
Views
835
Replies
18
Status
Closed
I’ve recently purchased an Olympus E-3 (previously owned E-330). I use CS2 and Windows XP Media. I am new to shooting RAW images and just got back from a trip where I shot RAW (.ORF) images.

I updated my DNG converter and Camera Raw to 3.7 (as that is the highest level supported by CS2). The list of supported cameras include the E-3. But I still get the error message that it can’t complete your request because it is not the right kind of document.

I try to use the DNG Converter and get a message there was an error parsing the image.

What am I not understanding? Since the E-3 should be supported in Camera Raw, why am I getting this error message? I really enjoy the flexibility of photoshop Camera Raw and wish to continue.

What is the best and easiest way to open these files in Photoshop? I am stuck with a ton of .ORF images that I cannot open. Please help!

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F
Freeagent
Sep 3, 2008
I try to use the DNG Converter and get a message there was an error parsing the image

The way you phrase this seems to indicate that you somehow try to open the files directly "using" the DNG converter. You have to convert them first, so that you have two sets of files, one .ORF and one .DNG.

The .DNG files should then open in ACR 3.7.

Correct me if I misread your post.
F
Freeagent
Sep 3, 2008
Just noticed this:

I updated my DNG converter and Camera Raw to 3.7

While ACR 3.7 is the latest for Photoshop CS2, there’s no such limitation for the DNG converter, and you may in fact need the very latest version (4.5) to convert your OCR’s.

The download is a combo (ACR and DNG converter), so what you have to do is download that and simply throw away ACR 4.5 as you can’t use it. Just keep the DNG converter.
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 3, 2008
I don’t want to sound like the biggest idiot out here, but I don’t see ACR in the downloads. I see the DNG / Camera Raw combo, but not ACR. Can you be kind enough to point me in the right direction.

I have never used ACR or DNG converter that I know of. I am not sure if those are what I was using when I used to double click on the photo, then adjusted it in Bridge/Camera Raw, saved then opened in Photoshop. This is all foreign to me that you have DNG, ACR, Bridge, Photoshop and Camera Raw all connected together.
KS
Kev_Shackell
Sep 3, 2008
can someone please help i cant open my orf files from my E3 I previously ould using my e1 . I am a complete IT Biff when it comes to downloading etc so a omplete dumies instruction would be appreciated.
kev
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 4, 2008
I am now assuming ACR is the the same as Camera Raw (and please correct me if I am wrong). But I have tried the latest DNG converter 4.5 and Camera Raw 3.7 in my Common Files/plug ins folder.

The way you phrase this seems to indicate that you somehow try to open the files directly "using" the DNG converter. You have to convert them first, so that you have two sets of files, one .ORF and one .DNG.

I tried going through bridge to open in camera raw and it is dimmed. I tried double clicking on the .orf file and get the original "not the right kind of document error". How to you "convert them first" as mentioned in the quote above.

Before all I had to do was double click on the .orf file and Camera Raw opened or I just used Adobe Bridge and double clicked. What steps should I follow now?

Again any assistance would be greatly appreciated
JJ
John Joslin
Sep 4, 2008
Short of typing full instructions out, here is a reference Guide.

ACR stands for Adobe Camera Raw which is the plug-in for Photoshop for reading and adjusting raw images from digital cameras.

The Adobe Camera Raw forum is here:
<http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?13@@.3bb6a85c>

This leads to the latest version with this link:
<http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html>

Read all the references!

That takes you to the version 4.5 download page here:
< http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3943>

(or to pages for earlier versions for those not on CS3.

Read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly!

The 4.5 DNG converter, for those with newer cameras but older versions of Photoshop, comes in the download.
F
Freeagent
Sep 4, 2008
You’re all set to go.

All you need to do is open the DNG converter, choose the .ORF’s you want to convert, select a destination folder – and click "Convert".

The converter will be buzzing for a while, and the result is a bunch of .DNG’s that should open fine in ACR (=Adobe Camera Raw) 3.7.

If they don’t open when you double-click in Bridge, right-click and "Open in Camera Raw".
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 4, 2008
All you need to do is open the DNG converter, choose the .ORF’s you want to convert, select a destination folder – and click "Convert

That is exactly what I did and that is when I get the parsing error message. I beginning to think I am not as big of an idiot as I thought I was.

Any ideas why DNG convert 4.5 and ACR 3.7 and the .orf E-3 files would be causing so many problems. I am still able to open the .orf files from my E-330 so I don’t think it is a problem of how I configured DNG/ACR. Seems to be a problem with Photoshop and the E-3 files.
F
Freeagent
Sep 4, 2008
Hmmm…strange. I see in your original post that you’ve checked that the camera is indeed supported.

The words "corrupted file" are popping up in my mind…just to eliminate possible causes, could you try another memory card? Also another file transfer method.

You could also ask in the ACR and/or DNG forums. That’s where the experts are.
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 4, 2008
I did have two memory card of photos, and they are both giving me the same error.

Just as a side note, I can open the .orf files in the Olympus Master 2.0, but just not in photoshop, DNG Converter or ACR. I’d think if the files were corrupt, I wouldn’t be able to do that.

I will try to move this thread to another forum if I can’t figure this out.
B
Buko
Sep 4, 2008
You did copy the files from the card to the computers HD before trying to open them?
F
Freeagent
Sep 4, 2008
I’d think if the files were corrupt, I wouldn’t be able to do that.

That makes sense. Other than re-downloading the DNG converter, I can’t think of anything else.
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 4, 2008
Yes, the files have been copied to the HD. And yes, I tried reinstalling the DNG converter. Tried two different versions too.

So does this mean we are stumping the forum and I am not so much of the idiot I thought I was?
F
Freeagent
Sep 4, 2008
So does this mean I am not so much of the idiot I thought I was?

So it would seem…but check over on the ACR forum to make absolutely sure 😉
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 4, 2008
Thanks, I did post the question over in the other forum and tried to combine all the info we have gathered here.

I do appreciate all the advice. I was beginning to think 25 years experience in Graphic Design and photography was all down the tubes and I really knew less than I thought I did. I was getting so confused with all the acronyms. But it looks like I was going down the right path, but there is something that is keeping me from opening those files!
LS
Laura_Smetak
Sep 5, 2008
Good news. I came home tonight and just decided, OK, ONE more time, I am going to recheck and then reboot.

I did this same procedure several times last night to no avail. Now I can convert the ORF files to DNG using DNG Converter 4.5, and then open those in ACR 3.7!

Who knows! Operator error-but I swear I repeatedly check and rebooted last night. Maybe I just held my mouth correctly on this reboot.

Again thank you for all your help. I just hope this helps someone else if they have the same issue.

By the way….I LOVE MY E-3!
JJ
John Joslin
Sep 5, 2008
Glad you finally got it working Laura. 🙂
M
McGrandpa
Sep 10, 2008

[newsreader autoquote deleted by forum host]

I love mine too, and ACR 4.5 does a fine job with the E-3’s .ORF files straight up, no DNG conversions. But your workaround is a good one, saves you from having to upgrade to CS3/ACR4.
McG.

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