Would Serif/ Affinity Photo consider subscribing to LibRaw's Extended Support plans?

[Tawny]

I have a relatively new camera (Lumix S5M2), and I am still waiting for Affinity Photo to support its raw file.

Based on LibRaw's update policy https://www.libraw.org/about, there is a 1.5-2 years (!) wait between updates. I had no idea it would take that long before Affinity could support my camera's RAW file. I am stuck.

Now LibrRaw has offered an extended support plan https://www.libraw.org/extended-support, would Serif/Affinity Photo consider subscribing to that and delivering RAW support sooner? Or alternatively, switch to someone else who does?

[stokerg]

Hi @Tawnyand Welcome to the Forums,

At this stage, we only include the public release build from LibRAW and then update this as and when we can.  

I'll get this moved over to Feedback and Suggestions, as this might be something the Dev team consider adding support for at a later date.

[fde101]

This camera (as well as the S6) will probably take some time to support as the company introduced a new compression scheme for these cameras which will need to be reverse-engineered unless Panasonic provides documentation for the format (which camera companies rarely seem to do without some kind of NDA being signed or similar) and that can be a hit-or-miss operation which can slow down any attempts to provide support for it:

https://discuss.pixls.us/t/lumix-s5ii-raw-support/35976

 

It is, however, supported by Apple's RAW engine so if you are on a current version of macOS you can switch to that within Affinity Photo and it should work:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213267

 

If S5M2 is the same as S5 II then it looks like Capture One supports it though (but curiously not the S6?):

https://support.captureone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002718118#h_ceed14ae-dd9b-4837-8ad0-d322dabf8739

 

Same with DxO PhotoLab:

https://www.dxo.com/supported-cameras/

[beny.rfg]

I have the same problem. Please add support for Lumix S5II.

[Nevyn72]

And here somebody else with the problem. I have a S5iiX

[Tawny]

Thanks @fde101 for the tip on Apple and comparsion with Capture One and DxO. I am on Windows so I still have to wait.

The Lumix S5M2/ S5II is going to be a popular camera as an entry level full frame hybrid, and I am sure many owners of other new cameras are also on the same boat as we do. This is a top priority issue for me with Affinity Photo, and again an 1+ year wait feels too long for top notch app like this.

 

[MrGo]

So they introduced the new compression scheme and the difference is mere ~5 MB per file? That's annoying. Yes please, add support for S5II. I have DxO PhotoLab 6, which supports that camera, but it's quite annoying having to go through that program for every file I need to edit.

[Meliora spero]

LibRaw primarily focuses on converting sensor data into a basic image using standardized methods such as demosaicing and color conversion without advanced interpretation. It does not include advanced aesthetic algorithms that enhance image appearance through features like noise reduction, tone mapping, or lens correction. High-end RAW converters like Capture One and Adobe Camera Raw, on the other hand, use proprietary algorithms and research-driven methods to optimize image quality and enhance aesthetics, often offering refined color science and advanced tools tailored to specific cameras and lenses for a more sophisticated visual rendering.

Support plans will therefore not elevate Affinity or improve customers' image results - just provide better support for a mediocre and unprofessional product.

[Tawny]

Thanks for your reply Meliora, I understand and agree with your dislike of LibRaw, but I think you misread the need for us S5ii/S5iiX users. Since it is not an issue anymore after v2.4, I will be brief.

Pre v2.4, S5ii/S5iiX users couldn't even open our RAW file in Affinity Photo 2 AT ALL. The camera was released in Jan 2023. v2.4 was Feb 24. We use Affinity for best value, and we were simply asking Affinity to be able to OPEN our RAW file.

Personally, I went back to Lightroom, not because of Lightroom's "advanced" RAW processing algorithms, but simply because it can open S5ii's raw file.

[walt.farrell]

Since a release or two back (sorry, I've forgotten exactly when), Serif has been providing LibRaw support that is beyond what has been publicly released by LibRaw. I presume they must have subscribed to the extended-support plan to do that, but I haven't seen any public comments to that fact. 

Consider, for example, that the current 2.6 beta release says it is based on LibRaw 0.21-3 (which was released on September 18, 2024) plus additions up to January 6, 2025, as described here:

 

[Alfred]

55 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

I presume they must have subscribed to the extended-support plan to do that, but I haven't seen any public comments to that fact.

Is it a fact or is it merely a presumption? As far as I can see, it can only be both if it’s a correct presumption!

[Patrick Connor]

On 1/15/2025 at 12:50 AM, Meliora spero said:

It does not include advanced aesthetic algorithms that enhance image appearance through features like noise reduction, tone mapping, or lens correction.

Just because LibRaw does not include it, does not mean Affinity does not do these things itself, and we have proprietary algorithms too. Libraw gives us the raw data to work on but we do not stop there. 

23 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

I presume they must have subscribed to the extended-support plan to do that

We did. The LibRaw support is now bleeding edge direct from their developers. 

22 hours ago, Alfred said:

Is it a fact or is it merely a presumption?

why be pedantic? 

[Alfred]

6 hours ago, Patrick Connor said:

why be pedantic?

Why change the habit of a lifetime? 

[Meliora spero]

12 hours ago, Patrick Connor said:

Just because LibRaw does not include it, does not mean Affinity does not do these things itself, and we have proprietary algorithms too. Libraw gives us the raw data to work on but we do not stop there. 

That sounds good, but the results are not competitive. Feel free to take a break to rest a bit, but by all means, don't stop just yet.