The Sony NEX-3NL digital camera does not include a CD or DVD. Although the NEX-3NL is designed for new ILC users, I really like that Sony didn't waste resources on physical media or software that most users probably won't install. The only hint of any software for the Sony NEX-3NL is a sony.jp and sony.net URL on the printed booklet and on the box. For diligent users who check the PDF manual before investing on expensive hardware, the Sony support page will list two free downloads for the Sony ILC: Sony PlayMemories Home and Image Data Converter.
As a user with no illusions of being a photographer, I'm having an incredible time playing around with the Sony NEX-3NL's features and I'm saving a review of the ILC for a later article. However, after testing if software in Fedora and openSUSE supports Sony's .AZW RAW format, I decided to install the free Sony Image Data Converter.
Image Data Converter and more
After working with dozens of OEM-provided software and crapware over the last twenty years, I was expecting Sony's Image Data Converter to be a colorful and pretentious utility with ads for upgrading to an overpriced commercial software.
I was totally wrong. And I was impressed.
Sony's name is not found anywhere on the Image Data Converter interface until you click the Help and About Image Data Converter option. The utility is clean, simple and straightforward with a standard folder tree and a preview window. I'm a huge fan of applications that execute a few tasks but do them well and I haven't seen a utility with these characteristics in Microsoft Windows for a long, long time.
Image Data Converter is designed to do the following:
1. Preview .ARW files.
2. Convert a whole folder of .ARW files to JPEG or TIFF. Click File then Output or click the JPEG/TIFF icon on the control panel to run the batch processing system. Make sure you're sure you want to convert the whole folder before clicking Save or you're in for a long wait.
3. Display Image Properties - this is extremely useful for checking which of Sony's special camera settings were applied to a photo you took.
4. Sort, rate and tag with color labels .ARW files.
5. Edit Sony's .ARW RAW format. Image Data converter has a very competent set of RAW editing tools. Note that if you took photos using the JPEG format, the photo-editing tools are limited to Shading and Tone. The Sony developers focused on their .ARW format when they created this utility and it shows. Some of the more notable tools found in the edit palette are Version Stack (to track editing changes), Noise Reduction, Tone Curve and Creative Style (to apply Sony's camera filters).
6. Create index prints for printing or exporting to applications such as Microsoft Office OneNote.
I'm no expert, but I liked the robust editing tools provided by Image Data Converter for .ARW files. Although most users would probably lean towards their beloved (and more likely pirated) Adobe Photoshop, I have a notion the Sony developers have a leg up since these tools are designed for their own RAW format. However, Image Data Converter will detect Photoshop if it's installed on your computer and will allow you to open .ARW files in a third-party application by converting them to TIFF first. The utility failed to detect my Corel Photo-Paint though you can add other photo-editing software by clicking Tool then Settings and then Add on the External Programs tab.
Worth Installing
I generally avoid redundant freeware even if it's provided by the OEM. As a Linux user, I'm very happy using DigiKam and showFoto, both of which proved to handle Sony's .ARW files well enough. However, since my Linux systems are on fairly low-powered computers, I will more likely manage my Sony NEX-3NL photos in my Windows machine - assisted efficiently by Sony's own Image Data Converter.
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