SINAR RANT

[chris kolk]

FOR ALL YOU SUFFERING SOULS OF CAPTURE SHOP HELL HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL SENT OF TECH SUPPORT

Thank you for your continued help with this problem. As we further our exploration into the causes of my issue I must say that I have noticed something about Sinar. Your tech support is pleasing but your software people seem to do everything they can to make your job impossible. Examples: the sinar raw files are destroyed by Bridge, the premier file management program, why aren't you putting bright orange stickers on the backs and software that tells photographers of this? There should be a warning as soon as you open capture shop that your files will be corrupt in bridge. Make the warning stop showing if the user desires but at least put it in there until you guys fix the problem. And tell all your retailers to warn the users. I have heard of many people losing their files because of this. Also, why do you hide the manipulation options in captureshop, shy do you have to option click to display things like exposure compensation, etc. they should show up as a default and then be able to turn them off. Sure I could have read the user guide except that there isn’t one that came with my back and why not make the software intuitive to begin with. And last, in making the update only compatible with Intel Macs running os 10.4.9 you are omitting 90% of your users. Fortunately I  have the required system but many people don’t. Why not make it for both platforms. A few last items. Why cant one tag files in captureshop. Why does captureshop refuse to close half the time. You don’t have to answer these questions but pass them on. I cant believe that I am the only user with these concerns and for a company that asks a person to spend $35,000.00 on a piece of equipment surely you have the resources or at least the obligation to make the software helpful or at least make the raw files compatible with adobe raw or bridge.

[rainer_v]

i strongly suggest to try out  the brumbaer programms for your sinar back, as long its an emotion ...... you can convert also capture sti files in that. any idea what is destroyed by bridge in the sti files? i havent known this also but i will try it out.....

it seems so that many companies ( maybe except phase ) are really struggling with their software,- even not only the mf companies, as  well even the sharks as canon or nikon. their conversion software also is everything else than good programmed and intuitiv ( the canon 5d long time was not working with mac os 10.4 in teithered mode !!! ) . strange enough but reality.....

[mattlap2]

FOR ALL YOU SUFFERING SOULS OF CAPTURE SHOP HELL HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL SENT OF TECH SUPPORT

Thank you for your continued help with this problem. As we further our exploration into the causes of my issue I must say that I have noticed something about Sinar. Your tech support is pleasing but your software people seem to do everything they can to make your job impossible. Examples: the sinar raw files are destroyed by Bridge, the premier file management program, why aren't you putting bright orange stickers on the backs and software that tells photographers of this? There should be a warning as soon as you open capture shop that your files will be corrupt in bridge. Make the warning stop showing if the user desires but at least put it in there until you guys fix the problem. And tell all your retailers to warn the users. I have heard of many people losing their files because of this. Also, why do you hide the manipulation options in captureshop, shy do you have to option click to display things like exposure compensation, etc. they should show up as a default and then be able to turn them off. Sure I could have read the user guide except that there isn’t one that came with my back and why not make the software intuitive to begin with. And last, in making the update only compatible with Intel Macs running os 10.4.9 you are omitting 90% of your users. Fortunately I  have the required system but many people don’t. Why not make it for both platforms. A few last items. Why cant one tag files in captureshop. Why does captureshop refuse to close half the time. You don’t have to answer these questions but pass them on. I cant believe that I am the only user with these concerns and for a company that asks a person to spend $35,000.00 on a piece of equipment surely you have the resources or at least the obligation to make the software helpful or at least make the raw files compatible with adobe raw or bridge.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108259\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Chris,

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions or help to clear up some of your concerns.

Without knowing which version of Captureshop you are using I am assuming you are using the latest version of 5.4.2.   This version of Captureshop will support any Mac running version 10.4.3 or higher (10.4.4 or higher recommended) whether it is an Intel Chip or not with the excepton of Core 2 Duo Chips.   I would however wait before upgrading the MAC operating system until you have had a chance to hear of potential bugs.   Sometimes the OS operating from one version to the next causes unexpected problems.   10.4.6 and 10.4.7 were problematic for some users.

On the Sinar Raw front there is some good news.   The next versio of the software called eXposure 6.0 is going to shoot native to the .DNG format that will be able to be opened in most 3rd party software options.    I understand Sinar was in talks with Adobe to make the .STI accesible, but that stopped with the introduction at Photokina of the new software.   Frutrating I understand but there is the new software coming probably in June.

As for the missing functions.   Sinar decided to make the tools scalable for the end users.   By righ clicking your mouse or pressing Cntrl + the mouse key you can click on and off many functions.   Depending upon how much clutter or control you would like on your desktop.   It is an easy way to keep functions you use often on top ...and hide functions you would like to not accidently change.

Are you in the United States?    If you could contact me offline at my email address mlapointe@sinarbon.com I would like to get more information on the system you are using (OS, processor, version of software ..etc) and get your contact information.   I will make sure you get put in touch with the proper people.

Thanks,

Matt LaPointe
Sinar Bron Imaging
National Sales Support Specialist
(219) 670-9905
mlapointe@sinarbron.com

[ynp]

i strongly suggest to try out  the brumbaer programms for your sinar back, as long its an emotion ...... you can convert also capture sti files in that. any idea what is destroyed by bridge in the sti files? i havent known this also but i will try it out.....


[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108274\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have been using Brumbaer Tools for the last 6 month. It is a joy to use: simple and efficient. I do RAW conversions in LR. Nothing more to desire. For tethering I still use Jenoptik Capture Pro which I found cumbersome and difficult to understand and set good colors initially . After a long learning curve I am was to shoot to my old G4 Powerbook (e22 + Rollei 6008 and Alpa)and have good results.

I was unable to get rid of greenish casts on Capture Shop regardless of my efforts with color management. I was playing with an idea to buy a Sinar M for my copying work ( a small Moscow museum asks me to shoot exhibits, a sort of sponsorship and I planed to lend them the camera ) and my inability to get good results with CS affected my decision to stay with the Rollei.

I remember that somebody mentioned on this forum that there is a Brumbaer’s tether solution. I am very interested to try it and upgrade my macs. I am not a volume shooter and a simple DNG workflow will suit my needs.
Yevgeny.

[rainer_v]

I have been using Brumbaer Tools for the last 6 month. It is a joy to use: simple and efficient. I do RAW conversions in LR. Nothing more to desire. For tethering I still use Jenoptik Capture Pro which I found cumbersome and difficult to understand and set good colors initially . After a long learning curve I am was to shoot to my old G4 Powerbook (e22 + Rollei 6008 and Alpa)and have good results.

I was unable to get rid of greenish casts on Capture Shop regardless of my efforts with color management. I was playing with an idea to buy a Sinar M for my copying work ( a small Moscow museum asks me to shoot exhibits, a sort of sponsorship and I planed to lend them the camera ) and my inability to get good results with CS affected my decision to stay with the Rollei.

I remember that somebody mentioned on this forum that there is a Brumbaer’s tether solution. I am very interested to try it and upgrade my macs. I am not a volume shooter and a simple DNG workflow will suit my needs.
Yevgeny.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108289\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

write an email to brumbaer@brumbaer.de . the tethered program is already ß
and therefor not public. but i like it, its fast and easy.

[thsinar]

Dear Chris,

I have waited to answer your post until I got feedback from our Tech dpt. about the below "Rant".

Now I have been given all information from Tech @ Sinar and would like to answer as following:

1. Adobe Bridge Compatibility with Sinar .sti files

We have informed since September 2005 about this issue (as well as Phase One and Hasselblad/Imacon), by different ways: our distributors have been informed, our customers have been informed directly by means of our "Tech Info" (email sent to registered users), our Forum on Sinar's Homepage has informed and our "Sinar News" magazine sent monthly to our customers has informed.

Athough informing about a problem is only half the way, we have also said that our next Sinar "Exposure" software will solve this problem, since it will write .dng files.

I have myself and many times here pointed to another solution by means of using the Brumbaer tools written by Stefan Hess, if one shoots with an eMotion: these tools are fantastic, easy and fast to use, providing an optimized workflow and dng. files which can be used in any dng. compatible application thereafter.

2. Features in Captureshop

As default not all the plugins are displayed, for not confusing too much users. However, Captureshop, when installed to your Mac will AUTOMATICALLY install as well an "ONLINE HELP" file which is excellent and provides all information necessary to make the best use of the application and explaining all features and plugins

3. Captureshop Compatibility with PPC/Intel Macs and UPDATES

There seems to be a confusion here, with 2 different issues:

a. PPC/Intel Mac Compatibility with Captureshop

Captureshop is compatible with both PPC and Intel Macs and as well supported by Sinar, EXCEPT for the current new "INTEL CORE 2 DUO" machines, which works fine in most cases but for which we did not YET give the definitive "OK" from ur side, until we have all necessary feedback.

I would like to remind here the meaning of "NOT SUPPORTED": "not supported" DOES NOT mean that a certain digital back does not work with this particular computer configuration, but simply that we have not got enough experience/feedback from the market to approve and give a clear "OK for the use of it, and therefore probably not able to support efficiently should any bug/problem arrise. As an information: I am using myself the latest MacBook Pro with INTEL CORE " DUO processor and did not experience any particular problem with the Sinar backs I am using on it.

b. Firmware UPDATES of eMotions backs with OS 10.4.8 for INTEL Macs

Apple has informed, shortly after the introduction of OS 10.4.8 for Intel Mac, that there is a bug in this version: the consequence of this bug is that it was not possible to perform an UPDATE the FIRMWARE of an eMotion back with and only with this particular OSX 4.8 Intel version. However, it was always possible to update the firmware on any older Intel OSX version or on any PPC Mac (any OSX version from 10.4.3).

Since OSX 4.9 for Intel Mac has been released and the bug fixed: eMotion backs firmware can now been updated normally.

4. Captureshop refuses to close half the time

Our tech has asked you by email to give them more details about what is meant here: a good way to provide useful information to our tech is to send a "Computer Profile" creaed with the Mac "Profiler". Here how to do:

- Go to the Apple "Menu" ---> "About This Mac" ---> "More Info"
- "Profiler" application will now open and display the profile of your computer
- Go to the Menu "Save As" and save this file as "System Profiler 4.0 (XML)"
- Send this file to our tech dpt. at tech@sinarcameras.com

this will help us to look into your issue.

As a general information and according to my experience with Intel Macs: Captureshop needs a little longer to close on Intel Macs. One has first the feeling that the application is not closing, but after a few seconds it does (not only Captureshop, but as well and e.g. LR)

I hope this helps and gives some answers to your questions.

Best regards,
Thierry

FOR ALL YOU SUFFERING SOULS OF CAPTURE SHOP HELL HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL SENT OF TECH SUPPORT

Thank you for your continued help with this problem. As we further our exploration into the causes of my issue I must say that I have noticed something about Sinar. Your tech support is pleasing but your software people seem to do everything they can to make your job impossible. Examples: the sinar raw files are destroyed by Bridge, the premier file management program, why aren't you putting bright orange stickers on the backs and software that tells photographers of this? There should be a warning as soon as you open capture shop that your files will be corrupt in bridge. Make the warning stop showing if the user desires but at least put it in there until you guys fix the problem. And tell all your retailers to warn the users. I have heard of many people losing their files because of this. Also, why do you hide the manipulation options in captureshop, shy do you have to option click to display things like exposure compensation, etc. they should show up as a default and then be able to turn them off. Sure I could have read the user guide except that there isn’t one that came with my back and why not make the software intuitive to begin with. And last, in making the update only compatible with Intel Macs running os 10.4.9 you are omitting 90% of your users. Fortunately I  have the required system but many people don’t. Why not make it for both platforms. A few last items. Why cant one tag files in captureshop. Why does captureshop refuse to close half the time. You don’t have to answer these questions but pass them on. I cant believe that I am the only user with these concerns and for a company that asks a person to spend $35,000.00 on a piece of equipment surely you have the resources or at least the obligation to make the software helpful or at least make the raw files compatible with adobe raw or bridge.
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