DNG from Pixel 10 Pro only shows JPEG thumbnail

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I have downloaded some DNG files from a Pixel 10 Pro camera. When I open them in Rawtherapee or Darktable I only see the 1814 x 1366px JPEG. exiftool gives the following info:

---- ExifTool ----
ExifTool Version Number         : 12.76
Warning                         : [minor] Unrecognized MakerNotes
Warning                         : [Minor] Not decoding some large array(s). Ignore minor errors to decode
Warning                         : [Minor] Ignoring IFD0 ProfileLookTableData with excessive count
---- System ----
File Name                       : PXL_20260812_182957148.RAW-02.ORIGINAL.dng
Directory                       : .
File Size                       : 6.8 MB
File Modification Date/Time     : 2026:08:14 14:27:24+01:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2026:08:14 14:42:36+01:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2026:08:14 14:42:36+01:00
File Permissions                : -rw-rw-r--
---- File ----
File Type                       : DNG
File Type Extension             : dng
MIME Type                       : image/x-adobe-dng
Exif Byte Order                 : Little-endian (Intel, II)
---- IFD0 ----
Subfile Type                    : Reduced-resolution image
Image Width                     : 1280
Image Height                    : 964
Bits Per Sample                 : 8 8 8
Compression                     : JPEG
Photometric Interpretation      : YCbCr
Make                            : Google
Camera Model Name               : Pixel 10 Pro
Preview Image Start             : 4955738
Orientation                     : Horizontal (normal)
Samples Per Pixel               : 3
Rows Per Strip                  : 964
Preview Image Length            : 210812
Planar Configuration            : Chunky
Software                        : HDR+ 1.0.888945374zd
Modify Date                     : 2026:08:12 20:29:57
Y Cb Cr Coefficients            : 0.299 0.587 0.114
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling            : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
Y Cb Cr Positioning             : Centered
Reference Black White           : 0 255 128 255 128 255
DNG Version                     : 1.6.0.0
DNG Backward Version            : 1.3.0.0
Unique Camera Model             : Google Pixel 10 Pro
Color Matrix 1                  : 0.8787 -0.352 0.1121 -0.4708 1.2347 0.2657 -0.0622 0.181 0.6314
Color Matrix 2                  : 0.7935 -0.1671 -0.0911 -0.628 1.5114 0.1142 -0.2064 0.3983 0.4573
Camera Calibration 1            : 0.9892 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.9971
Camera Calibration 2            : 0.9896 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.9967
Analog Balance                  : 1 1 1
As Shot White XY                : 0.32564 0.337944
Baseline Exposure               : 1.53
Baseline Noise                  : 1
Baseline Sharpness              : 1
Linear Response Limit           : 1
Shadow Scale                    : 1
Maker Note Safety               : Safe
Calibration Illuminant 1        : Standard Light A
Calibration Illuminant 2        : D65
Raw Data Unique ID              : 1FA6E54956EAB85C47D53AC7BE58089C
Profile Name                    : Google Embedded Camera Profile
Profile Tone Curve              : (large array of 514 float values)
Profile Embed Policy            : Allow Copying
Forward Matrix 1                : 0.7409 0.1873 0.0361 0.272 0.8576 -0.1296 -0.0085 -0.5415 1.3751
Forward Matrix 2                : 0.7183 0.1427 0.1033 0.2966 0.7764 -0.0731 0.0471 -0.462 1.2399
Profile Look Table Dims         : 72 64 32
Noise Profile                   : 2.44900056713959e-05 6.71027038379179e-08 1.85183216672158e-05 5.82146029159958e-08 2.59182725130813e-05 7.2320212041177e-08
Profile Look Table Encoding     : sRGB
Default Black Render            : None
New Raw Image Digest            : 2285f55b808a1e2010953d814a69d639
Calibration Illuminant 3        : Other
Camera Calibration 3            : 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Color Matrix 3                  : 0.8339 -0.1963 -0.0977 -0.6952 1.5712 0.1202 -0.2376 0.4012 0.4904
Forward Matrix 3                : 0.6994 0.1629 0.102 0.3027 0.7613 -0.064 0.0638 -0.4161 1.1773
Illuminant Data 3               : >Hďż˝.@*ďż˝.@
Preview Image                   : (Binary data 210812 bytes, use -b option to extract)
---- SubIFD ----
Subfile Type                    : Full-resolution image
Image Width                     : 1814
Image Height                    : 1366
Bits Per Sample                 : 16
Compression                     : JPEG
Photometric Interpretation      : Color Filter Array
Samples Per Pixel               : 1
Planar Configuration            : Chunky
Tile Width                      : 240
Tile Length                     : 240
Tile Offsets                    : (Binary data 383 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Tile Byte Counts                : (Binary data 287 bytes, use -b option to extract)
CFA Repeat Pattern Dim          : 2 2
CFA Pattern 2                   : 0 1 1 2
CFA Plane Color                 : Red,Green,Blue
CFA Layout                      : Rectangular
Black Level Repeat Dim          : 2 2
Black Level                     : 0 0 0 0
White Level                     : 15344
Default Scale                   : 1 1
Default Crop Origin             : 8 8
Default Crop Size               : 1798 1350
Bayer Green Split               : 500
Anti Alias Strength             : 1
Best Quality Scale              : 1
Active Area                     : 0 0 1366 1814
Opcode List 2                   : GainMap, GainMap, GainMap, GainMap
Opcode List 3                   : WarpRectilinear2, WarpRectilinear2, WarpRectilinear
Noise Profile                   : 2.44900056713959e-05 6.71027038379179e-08 1.85183216672158e-05 5.82146029159958e-08 2.59182725130813e-05 7.2320212041177e-08
Profile Gain Table Map          : (Binary data 3158080 bytes, use -b option to extract)
---- ExifIFD ----
Exposure Time                   : 1/101
F Number                        : 2.8
Exposure Program                : Program AE
ISO                             : 110
Exif Version                    : 0231
Date/Time Original              : 2026:08:12 20:29:57
Create Date                     : 2026:08:12 20:29:57
Offset Time                     : +02:00
Offset Time Original            : +02:00
Offset Time Digitized           : +02:00
Shutter Speed Value             : 1/101
Aperture Value                  : 2.8
Brightness Value                : 2.49810791
Exposure Compensation           : -2
Max Aperture Value              : 2.8
Subject Distance                : 16.118 m
Metering Mode                   : Other
Flash                           : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length                    : 17.9 mm
Sub Sec Time                    : 168960
Sub Sec Time Original           : 168960
Sub Sec Time Digitized          : 168960
CFA Pattern                     : [Red,Green][Green,Blue]
White Balance                   : Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio              : 2.21
Focal Length In 35mm Format     : 110 mm
Subject Distance Range          : Distant
Lens Make                       : Google
Lens Model                      : Pixel 10 Pro back camera 17.9mm f/2.8
---- GPS ----
GPS Version ID                  : 2.2.0.0
GPS Latitude Ref                : North
GPS Latitude                    : 42 deg 31' 5.86"
GPS Longitude Ref               : West
GPS Longitude                   : 4 deg 43' 47.58"
GPS Altitude Ref                : Above Sea Level
GPS Altitude                    : 1045 m
GPS Time Stamp                  : 18:29:46
GPS Dilution Of Precision       : 15.816
GPS Processing Method           : fused
GPS Date Stamp                  : 2026:08:12
---- Composite ----
Aperture                        : 2.8
CFA Pattern                     : [Red,Green][Green,Blue]
Image Size                      : 1814x1366
Megapixels                      : 2.5
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 6.1
Shutter Speed                   : 1/101
Create Date                     : 2026:08:12 20:29:57.168960+02:00
Date/Time Original              : 2026:08:12 20:29:57.168960+02:00
Modify Date                     : 2026:08:12 20:29:57.168960+02:00
GPS Altitude                    : 1045 m Above Sea Level
GPS Date/Time                   : 2026:08:12 18:29:46Z
GPS Latitude                    : 42 deg 31' 5.86" N
GPS Longitude                   : 4 deg 43' 47.58" W
Circle Of Confusion             : 0.005 mm
Depth Of Field                  : 42.03 m (9.55 - 51.58 m)
Field Of View                   : 18.6 deg
Focal Length                    : 17.9 mm (35 mm equivalent: 110.0 mm)
GPS Position                    : 42 deg 31' 5.86" N, 4 deg 43' 47.58" W
Hyperfocal Distance             : 23.42 m
Light Value                     : 9.5
Lens ID                         : Pixel 10 Pro back camera 17.9mm f/2.8
2

Welcome!

That is actually the real size of the raw image in the DNG. (The preview is actually 1280x964.)

Is this perhaps when using some large zoom-in factor? It’s been known that Pixels in some modes then store only the cropped portion of the sensor that was used, not the entire one…

1 Like
3

I think the top shot images might be smaller… that’s the google precap/post caputure burst … just a guess thought…

4

I have a Pixel 10 (non Pro version) and some of the RAW files are comically small when using a non-native-res zoom factor like 2x. This EXIF data shows a 2.21 zoom ratio, so I bet that’s the reason.

5

You could be right as well I recall first noticing this on my pixel 3

I think you basically get a computational raw (capture might be a better term) of the digital crop…

My pixel 9 at 1x 12.5MP 3072x 4080
Same dimensions and file size at 2x
@ 2.5x 8.3MP 2496x3316
@ 4x 3.1 MP 1530x2030
Full 8x
0.8MP and 768x1020

File size on disk 6MB for smallest resolution and 17.5MB

6

I think we need a sticky post: dng does not equal raw

3 Likes
7

I think when people say “raw” they just mean non-8-bit linear data.

8

There was an interesting url in one of my latest DNG …I dont think I had noticed it before…

http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/computationalCapture

9

To be fair, Google calls it a RAW file.

10

In the metadata it says 12 frames… from a standard shot I just took of my desk with the google camera…

image

I’m not sure if its combining all of those or a few are pre and post trigger…but for sure the smartphones from google anyway aren’t really giving you a “raw” file any more if they do and they are doing a lot of black magic when combining these frames and leaving you with a DNG…

Even in the link I shared they are sharing some standard terminology for captured and combined images that they are using for tags… THere are even codes in the meta data for actions which I can only assume some how further define what has been down with these multiple frames to create the final image presented in the DNG container…

EDIT
Lots of tags for this information now in the google DNG…maybe others too…

11

And so does every other OEM…apple even calls the Prores NotSoRAW.

If you bake all the things in the world …how is remotely RAW data. Pixel and Samsung are one of the worst offenders when it comes to this . The stock DNGs may look fine but they are worse than what you can get out of a single frame RAW exporting from a basic third party app.

Google does have two images in the stack when you capture. The preview sometimes gets downloaded if you download from gphotos or while sharing from the phone.
It usually shows dng but dt shouldn’t show it as one I think. I’ve had times when I download a bunch of images and it downloaded the thumbnails for some reason (and this isn’t even pixel related).

This is a bit offtopic but I recommend trying apps like PhotonCamera forks or heck even some gcam mods are far better because you can disable all the over sharpening, aggressive NR, and so on. And none of these issues. Some offer lossless compression, unlike stock’s bloated 80mb files on many devices.

(Yeah that was a rant)

2 Likes
12

The tech is good. Stacking can improve both SNR and at times detail. Although there are better forms of HDR out there like DCG, TCG and so on but google and other OEMs will lock it down to their stock and only use it on very niche cases.

You can enable it using opmodes on supported devices on the third party apps that support opmodes.

The issue is what these OEMs do with the tech. The entire pipelines is messed up from the very intent they put into it. The HDRy look or the fascinating color science with messy matrices isn’t very pleasing to me at least.
What if your 50MP stock DNG retains less real details than a single frame untouched RAW out of the same sensor?
It is infuriating how good the hw is and how much the tech has advanced yet they ship this.

1 Like
13

Ya at least for the phones I think it’s not a raw file any more but it’s the " primary image capture " and that embodies all the merging and tweaking of multiple frames and the steps that yield the image saved to storage.

Then you have secondary camera processing of that to produce some JPG or other processed version of that initial capture for final presentation…

14

If it is DNG format why does it say JPEG compression?

15

It is just a compression algorithm. LJ92 and the newer JXL . “Lossless” probably means a DNG compressed using one of these compression algorithms. Someone can correct me if I missed something.

16

I’ve found another DNG that was created by some software and it has the following:

---- SubIFD ----
Subfile Type                    : Full-resolution image
Image Width                     : 4936
Image Height                    : 3296
Bits Per Sample                 : 14 14 14
Compression                     : JPEG
Photometric Interpretation      : Linear Raw
17

It Is lossless LJPEG92, quite usual for raw/CFA data.

Please feel free to browse the DNG specification.

That other file is no longer CFA but demosaiced “Linear Raw”, i.e. high bit depth RGB data (non-WB nor other corrections).