Is there a Workaround that will let me download raw from Panasonic G3?

Question

Help!  I just bought this camera to carry on a trek through the Alps, did not want to cart along my heavy Nikon D90.  I never realized that the raw files could not be read with the current version of LR3, which I do have up to date on my computer.  I seemed to see somewhere that there might be a workaround for this?  Something about changing an EXIF marker, which I would have NO idea how to do!  I would so much appreciate any and all help.  Had I known that the Panasonic G3 raw files were not supported by LR, I would have gotten something else, but it is too late now!  Yikes!
Barbara Lee

Answer 1

Barbara Lee,
Inside the raw file, there is a field that names the camera that took the picture. In some cases, it's possible to change that field to match one that LR recognizes. You'd need a hexadecimal editor of some sort to do it, but if you aren't computer-fluent (that's two steps up from computer-literate) it probably isn't a good idea. The trick only works if the raw files are shot with the same sensor.
Within a couple of months Adobe will very likely come out with an update that will support your camera. Can you just hang onto your raw files until then? If that isn't feasible, could you shoot jpegs instead of raws until LR catches up with your camera? Or possibly shoot jpegs and raws, use the jpgs until LR supports the raw files, and then swicth over?
Hal