The Enhanced Raw Format and Live View

Last Updated:- 31st May 2023

  

We are studying the history and growth of Olympus Live View. It all started with the Olympus E330 in 2006 and the E-3 in 2007. The E3 was the first Pro DSLR with a fully Articulating and Live View Display. The focus was functionality and the ability to compose an image while viewing the sensor's live data. The E3 was also the first DSLR to display the sensor's RAW data and update the display as the photographer adjusted settings like the WB, ISO, Auto & Manual Focussing, and Exposure. The photographer could also monitor the camera's IBIS operation on the Live View display.

This was the start of the Olympus Live View function. The current Live View and Workspace (Raw Converter) option advanced to a level one would think is absolutely normal. Interestingly, other manufacturers don't offer a similar solution, except for the Fuji X-RAW-Studio. We are reviewing the Enhanced Raw Format and the integration of Olympus cameras with Workspace.

What does this mean? We can now replicate the sensor's raw data, the camera's final Live View display, and our camera settings in Workspace.

I wrote a new article discussing different options to create profiles in January 2024.

Also, see the 2nd article I wrote about the Enhance Raw Format.

Also, see these articles:

- How I convert my Enhanced Raw Files - link

- Olympus Color and Creative Photography - link

- See this article for details on how Live View works - link

- How to use the Olympus Color Creator and Workspace - link

1. Introduction

What would photographers typically expect from the camera's display:-

• High-resolution LED or OLED screens with 1M-Dot or higher resolution
• Visibility and functionality are critical aspects for most photographers
• Fully Articulating 3" or larger touchscreen displays for video applications
• Bright displays with good viewing and controls, similar to mobile phones
• Large magnification EVFs (2.3M-dot +, and 120fps) with no black-outs
• The new Fuji XT-5 display is one of the best photography formats in 2023
• The eyepoint on the EVF is important, especially for those wearing glasses
• The Super Control Panel (SCP) on Olympus cameras is a great solution
• The existing Olympus menu is great and easy to use for M43 photographers
• Backward operational compatibility is a strength of the EM1 III UI & menu
• The ability to recreate the camera's Live View display in the raw converter
• The ability to develop and practice camera color profiles at home (software)

The EM1 III is the final Pro-level camera from Olympus with the familiar UI and menu. This menu system developed and improved over many years. The best advantage of the EM1 III is its backward compatibility with older cameras. For example, I recently bought a 10-year-old Olympus EM1 MKI and had no problem applying my preferred Olympus configuration to the older EM1.

The above image illustrates the conversion process of the Enhanced Raw File. It starts with adding the final Live View data and camera settings to the Enhanced Raw File. When uploaded to our PC, we open the Enhanced Raw File in Workspace. Only the sensor's raw data will be visible when we open the raw file. The next step is to "activate" the camera settings to enable the final camera's Live View display. The next step is adjusting our camera settings in Workspace. We could also apply more advanced editing in Workspace. The final converted raw file is exported (16-bit Tiff) to PS...

Tip:- Study the Live View Boost function from Olympus in the Users Manual. 

Olympus E-3 with an Articulating Display (Competing with the Canon 40D and Nikon D300).

Olympus continued to develop the Live View function and the compatibility between the camera and the previous Olympus raw converter, Viewer 3. The next step was the Creative Color concept. The Creative Color concept from Olympus consists of functions like B&W filters, Color Profiles (Pen F, EP-7), Color Filters, Adjust Color, and the Color Creator.

I discussed the Live View function in some of my other articles. My search for information on Live View and the Histogram started in 2019. For example, I found more data about Live View in my older E30 documentation. Older News Releases from Olympus and User Manuals are a treasure trove of "unfiltered" Olympus information on their cameras, lenses, and software...

Please study as I use this terminology in this article.

2. Live View and Olympus Cameras

Olympus photographers need to answer this, do you think Live View or the Raw Converter (Viewer 3 & Workspace) were only random thoughts? Olympus introduced Live View in 2006, and the Olympus Imaging Division's marketing team never re-launched or advertised any improvements. They looked like the worst marketing team in the industry. The enormous progress by the Imaging Engineering team is only visible when you study the new "Working Space" from Olympus.

For example, have you ever asked yourself why calling it, WorkSpace and Live View?

Any camera's Live View display should mirror the image sensor's response to camera adjustments and the reflected light reaching the sensor. This concept was part of Olympu's design criteria from day one. Combining the sensor's raw data with the functionality of Workspace was the next logical step for the Olympus Imaging engineering team...

But all cameras have Live View. Yes, it's possible to list and evaluate the design criteria of all mirrorless cameras by reviewing the unique photography landscape promoted by camera reviewers and what supposedly photographers (promoters) want from a camera and Live View display. 

Studying Olympus, we see the following:-

• A live connection between the image sensor and the Live View display
• The histogram with the same direct link to the sensor raw or image data
• The ability to monitor the raw or image data while adjusting the camera
• The ability to evaluate camera adjustments before capturing the image
• Selecting and changing any color or creative adjustments in Live View
• The ability to have an Enhanced Raw File with ALL the camera settings
• Compatibility between the Live View data and supplier Editing Software
• The ability to accurately apply & monitor exposure techniques like ETTR
• The ability to edit the camera settings or practice with them in Workspace

This basic Live View flow diagram matured with M43 Olympus cameras.

How to Enhance your Raw Files in Live View?" Your camera's Live View display or EVF replicates the sensor's Luminance Perspective. The only difference between the sensor's raw data perspective and the camera Live View image is a layered "Display Profile" placed onto the raw data. Olympus created another layer to add user profile settings (Creative Data) to the sensor's raw data. This is how the Enhanced Raw Format enabled Workspace to access the camera's layered Enhanced Raw data. In other words, we can now simulate the camera's final Live View display in Workspace. It also allows us to experiment with many camera settings or profiles in Workspace.

Regular Raw Converters are different because they access the sensor's Raw Data Layer. Traditional editors like PhotoShop, Lightroom, or PhotoLab cannot access or process the Enhanced Raw Data from Olympus cameras. It does not mean they are not good. WorkSpace has full access to the sensor's Raw Data and the user's Creative Layer via the Enhanced Raw Format. OM-System uses the same "Advanced Raw Format" terminology on its official website and press releases.

Traditional Raw File = Sensor Raw Data

Live View Image = Sensor Raw Data + Display Profile

Enhanced Raw File = Sensor Raw Data + Camera Creative Layers

This is BIG news because the Enhanced Raw Format enables us to test different camera settings while Workspace simulates the camera's Live View display. This process also improves our experience of testing and developing new camera profiles in Workspace. A good example is the Color Creator from Olympus. It is difficult to familiarize yourself with this function on the camera display.

The above illustrations demonstrate the Enhanced Raw Format and Live View in Workspace. It also shows how to activate your camera settings in Workspace. Those camera settings, like Picture Mode, which is not clearly marked, can be found in the Exif data. For example, the Color Creator...

Older WorkSpace versions could only replicate the Creative Color settings of specific camera models. The anomaly was the EM1 II. It was possible to overlay a Pen-F color profile onto the EM1 II raw data. Workspace V1.5 and later versions opened Color Profiles. 

How should we edit Enhanced RAW Files? The first step is to Activate your Camera Settings in Workspace. The camera's final Live View display will be displayed on your computer. You will only see the Sensor's RAW Data if you don't activate your Camera Settings in Workspace. See Tip 22 on my Workspace How-to-Page.

Why RAW files and not JPEGS? The reason is simple for WorkSpace. The editing space for jpeg and raw files is the same in WorkSpace. Considering only the available image data, you will find raw files have more than double the file size (amount of data). These reasons should be enough to use raw files. The biggest reason is the Enhanced Raw Format and Live View for Workspace. This changed everything for photographers and Olympus cameras...

Olympus Stylus SH50 Compact Camera - ISO125, f5.8, 1/200

The Live View display allows us to simulate or test our camera settings in Workspace. Trying new camera settings is the best advantage of the Enhanced Raw Format and Workspace. A good example is building new color profiles. Workspace also made it possible to fine-tune your camera settings in Workspace. This is an advantage Olympus photographers shouldn't ignore...

Should we Calibrate our Cameras and PCs? It's possible to select an sRGB or RGB Colorspace for the camera. The color space is embedded in the image Exif data. Color Calibration is a complex subject and warrants a separate article. To keep it simple, I have been using RGB for all my gear.

This short paragraph reminds photographers to use the same Colorspace for all their equipment. I selected my Embedded PC Profile (RGB) for Workspace (see below). These basic steps synchronize the camera, computer, and WorkSpace. Some forum "experts" promote the idea of using the sRGB ColorSpace. My biggest concern is the sRGB color space is the lesser option... 

What are the benefits of discussing this information? The advantage of using the same Colorspace on all your equipment is compatibility and the ability to improve your Color Awareness Skills in the comfort of your home. This enables Olympus photographers to grow their creative ART photography skills by editing and practicing their Creative Color camera adjustments in Workspace.

The more you use the WorkSpace Live View mode, the easier it is to apply this experience in the field with your Olympus camera. Live View and WorkSpace were the two most significant developments in the modern history of Olympus digital cameras...

The Olympus histogram:- The Olympus Histogram is as much a part of the Olympus Live View functionality as the image sensor raw data in Live View. The same principles of collecting data apply to the histogram and Live View. You can only benefit from practicing at every opportunity with the different features of Olympus cameras. For example, what is the function of the green add-ons in the Olympus histogram? How do they help us?

It is critical to study and master the Exposure Techniques discussed in this article. This will help you improve your image sensor's performance and exposure settings for creative photography and image quality. It's critical to master your shutter speed and aperture versus the ISO function.

Final Comments:-

What would an Olympus workflow look like? One would typically convert the Enhanced Raw File in Workspace and post-process (edit) the 16-bit Tiff file in Photoshop. Photoshop post-processing includes the Adobe Raw Converter as a layered Smart Object with access to LR features...

Olympus EP-7 w 17mm f2.8 - ISO200, f5.6, 1/500 - Enhanced Raw file, Gradation High, Color Graded and converted in WS and edited in PS.

The above image is an example of using the computational features of Olympus for ETTR, protecting highlights, and improving the shadow SNR and tonal data. See this article. 

Is OM-System a concern or a hope for the future? I bought my Olympus EM1 III from OM-System in 2021, and my Inbox turned into a junk box. The OM-1 has a new menu because they couldn't manage the pressure from promoters (product reviewers). PCRAW Mode segregated the OM-1 from the rest of the Olympus Pro cameras. Are these decisions and the OM-5 simply inconsistent decision-making or part of a future product strategy? Does a Photography DNA mean anything? For example, even my old Olympus Stylus XZ-2 works with Workpace and the Enhanced Raw Format.

I haven't used my Fuji XT-5 much because I am satisfied with the Olympus Pen-F, EP-7, and EM1 III. I even considered selling the XT-5 but decided to keep it until I make a final decision...

Why would competitors benefit from having promoters and a new OM-1 menu UI?

When you think about it, Olympus enabled photographers to "edit" the captured raw data before reaching the TruePic Image Processor. In other words, we are dynamically altering the "sensor raw data" before we release the shutter. This is the purest form of digital photography...