Is there a "one-touch" way to convert to my existing library to DNG?

Question

Is there a "one-touch" way to convert to DNG?
My Aperture library currently has three types of files: JPEG files taken with point-and-shoot camera going back for years, (ii) RAW (NEF) files made with a Nikon D60, (iii) RAW (CR2) files made with a Canon G9, and (iv) RAW (DNG) files I have shot recently.
I am interested in converting all the non-DNG RAW files (NEFs and CR2s) into the Adobe DNG file format. I understand that the format has a smaller file size (than the original RAW file) and that it is "lossless" (unlike converting to JPEG). So, in addition to "standardizing" my file-types, it will also reduce my overall library size (in GBs).
So, the question is: is there a way to take my existing Aperture library and, through some (hopefully free) combination of scripts and programs, convert all the RAW files to DNG automatically and without having to export each one from Aperture and them import it again. That is, I want a solution that will look at each file and ignore the JPEGs and DNGs, (ii) convert the NEFs and CR2s into DNG, and (iii) move the original NEF/CR2 files to a folder (just in case)?
This is not an problem going forward, because I can easily just import as DNG to begin with ... but its an issue for a few thousand images in my library.
Any ideas? Also, anyone think this is a crazy bad idea?
Thanks,
~B

Answer 1

Do you find that using Aperture to "import" the pictures (e.g., using the import function on Aperture and pointing it at your memory card) gives better results than using the DNG converter to "import" (e.g., by selecting the camera memory card and saving the conversions to disk, then importing those DNG files into Aperture)?
Not the way it works. The camera memory card does not have conversions on it, it has RAW (or JPEG) image files.
IMO generally most useful to help keep drives underfilled and fast (drives slow as they fill) is to manage by Reference ("referenced images") as in the workflow outline below where Master images can live anywhere. However with small changes similar workflow could be applied to Managed Masters.
I feel pretty strongly that card-to-Aperture or even camera-to-Aperture handling of original images puts originals at unnecessary risk. I suggest this workflow, first using the Finder (not Aperture) to copy images from CF card to computer hard drive:
• Remove the CF card from the camera and insert it into a CF card reader. Faster readers and faster cards are preferable, and Firewire is much preferable to USB2.
• Finder-copy images from CF to a labeled folder on the intended permanent Masters location hard drive.
• Eject CF.
• Burn backup hard drive or DVD copies of the original images (optional recommended backup step).
• Eject backup hard drive(s) or DVDs.
• From within Aperture, import images from the hard drive folder into Aperture selecting "Store files in their current location." This is called "referenced images." During import is the best time to also add keywords, but that is another discussion.
• Review pix for completeness (e.g. a 500-pic shoot has 500 valid images showing).
• Reformat CF in camera, and archive originals off site on hard drives and/or on DVDs.
Note that the "eject" steps above are important in order to avoid mistakenly working on removable media.
Alternatively, does anyone actually use (or recommend) Nikon-branded software for any step in this process? If your camera shoots JPG (as all mine did till a few months ago), it does not matter ... but does the RAW thing change that equasion?
Yes RAW changes the equation. Folks who want the very best NEF conversions will use Nikon Capture NX2 but the interface *****. Personally I find Aperture very good for the D2x.
Good luck!
-Allen Wicks