If Exposure shows “Unsupported camera model” for your RAW files, converting them to DNG (Digital Negative) format is a reliable way to work with them. The most common reason is a camera released more recently than the version of Exposure you are running, since each release adds support for the cameras available at the time. Older cameras are occasionally affected too.

Exposure can read and edit DNG files that have been created in-camera or converted from a proprietary RAW format. If your camera isn’t officially supported, see if saving in DNG format is an option. You can also use a DNG converter to create an DNG file from a RAW file.

There is a second reason a RAW file may need converting. A camera can be fully supported and still offer a newer in-camera compression setting that Exposure cannot read yet, such as Nikon’s High Efficiency (HE and HE*) or Sony’s newer lossy compressed RAW. The Adobe DNG Converter reads those files, and Exposure reads the DNG it writes, so the same conversion below applies. Right-click the files and choose Convert to DNG.

Convert to DNG

1. Select a file, or group of files, you want to convert. See Selecting images for details.
2. Click Convert to DNG in the thumbnail window, or right-click an image and choose Convert to DNG from the options list.
3. Exposure will seamlessly convert the file(s) using the Adobe Digital Negative Converter. When complete the new DNG files will show in the same folder as the original file.

Unsupported files in grid view showing the thumbnail and right-click Convert to DNG options. Note that the Convert to DNG option will only show in the thumbnails of unsupported RAW files. The right-click option is available for all RAW files.

If no converter is installed or detected, you’ll see this message.

To install or configure the Adobe DNG Converter click Configure. Exposure will open the DNG section of the Preferences dialog.

DNG Preferences

Open the DNG Preferences to download and/or configure the Adobe DNG Converter integration.

Location - The default installation location is automatically populated. If no converter is found at that location this message will show.
Converter not found - find the install location above, or download and install it.

If you already have the DNG Converter installed, click the folder icon and navigate to the application location.

To install it, click download to open the Adobe DNG Converter page in your web browser.

Download the DNG Converter from that webpage and install it to your computer.

Once the Adobe DNG Converter is detected, the Converter not found message is removed.

Adobe DNG Converter Options
The Options relate to Preferences used by the Adobe DNG Converter application. The converter will use these settings each time you use Convert to DNG.
Embed original RAW file - Embeds the entire non-DNG raw file inside the DNG file. This creates a larger DNG file, but it allows the original raw file to be extracted later if needed.
Lossy Compression - Significantly reduces DNG file size, but discards some image data. Leave it off unless you need the space.
Fast load data - Speeds loading images when adjusting settings. Increases DNG file size slightly.
JPEG preview - Chooses the size of the preview embedded in the DNG: None, Medium or Full size. A larger preview displays faster in other applications and makes the file slightly bigger.