where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
I'm a film shooter wanting to convert to digital. Have shot 35mm Pentax for most my life. I want to switch to Nikon digital with FF or FX sized sensor. Kinda waiting for the D700x or D800 to come out. I currently run Mac OS X Tiger with Photoshop CS2. Would want to shoot in RAW & use my Photoshop for converting to PSD files. Would this be an efficient & workable workflow or should I use Nikon's or other third party RAW converting software. Any help would be greatly appreciated:^)
Jerry
A few notes:
1. If you get the D700x or whatever the new hotness is, be prepared to wait a month or so for Adobe\Apple\whoever to release a RAW converter. In the mean time, you will be stuck with Nikon's software.
2. Capture NX 2 - Nikon's raw converter, is fairly highly regarded. People who use it say that its not the best interface in the world, but its pretty powerful. It's made by NIK software, I use their other stuff, and its all pretty good.
3. I think it comes free with the D700 & D3. You will at least get a trial disk which will hold you over until Adobe can figure out how to convert the file.
4. Personally, I use aperture and then export to various editors when I need to make adjustments. I like aperture (Or Adobe Lightroom... they are roughly the same product) because it automates all the boaring stuff like file naming, key-wording, etc. for me. After import, I rate each of my shots and throw out the crappy ones. If all I'm doing is adjusting color, cropping, etc, then I can do it all from aperture. Further manipulation gets handled in one of several editors I use.
"2. Capture NX 2 - Nikon's raw converter, is fairly highly regarded. People who use it say that its not the best interface in the world, but its pretty powerful. It's made by NIK software"
To add to willis' 2nd point, I use nothing but NX2 these days. It's the best at not only handling RAW files but the controls are very powerful and IMHO, superior to PS, especially the D Lighting feature. Also, it will give you added controls over Nikon specific settings like the picture controls which, to the best of my knowledge, other RAW converters can't do.
It takes some getting used to as NIK software's U-Point system is unique. Once you are used to it though it's actually very easy.
"3. I think it comes free with the D700 & D3. You will at least get a trial disk which will hold you over until Adobe can figure out how to convert the file."
Willis, NX1 came free with the D300 so I'm sure that these two should have it as well.
Lightroom 2 has, arguably, one of the most complete workflows and is a very solid user interface, although it may not be as advanced as you need it to be, especially if you do very in depth editing. Also, I have no idea how well it renders NEFs, especially in comparison to things like NX2.
Personally I use Capture One 4 Pro for my D300 files. I have always has issues with Adobe Lightroom in trying to get details in deep dark shadows whereas Capture One has absolutely no problems. Although Capture NX is very powerful software, I do not find it to be the most useful workflow solution whereas you are converting many RAW files, but the U-Point system is pretty cool feature. Another drawback to NX is the user interface, it definitely is not the most intuitive interface of all time. I do find Capture One very simple, and intuitive to use.
Question for you RAW people:
Let's say you shoot RAW, and import into a workflow management program like Lightroom or Aperture. Once you identify your handful of winners, can you export those files to another RAW editor like Capture NX, and if so, does it render the photo from scratch (presumeably a little differently than the program before)?
It can and many times will render a RAW differently from application to application. It has to do with how each program interprets the RAW data, however once converted, there should be no differences at all in the TIFF or JPEG as long as the program you are viewing in is color managed.
Hello Jerry, welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately you will have to upgrade to photoshop CS4 if you want to continue editing your RAW files through photoshop. CS2's bridge will not open RAW files from newer cameras. You'd have to convert the files to DNG or open them up in Nikon NX View (free program) or Capture NX2 (pricey) and then open in CS2 as TIFF files. I believe support for CS2 RAW files ended with Nikon's D200/D80 or thereabouts.
Lightroom is a cheaper alternative if all your going to be doing is editing your photos. However since your using a Mac computer then it's out of the question as it runs only on PCs. Aperture is a great alternative to Lightroom. Capture One 4Pro is OK, but it's expensive and is geared more towards professionals. Nikon Capture NX2 is the best at manipulating your Nikon pixels but it is very buggy and tends to do weird things sometimes. It's also the slowest at rendering files too.
If cost is an issue you can convert your RAW files using NXview (free) make adjustments to the RAW file and saving your files as TIFFs. You can then open the files in CS2 work on them further and save as PSD files. Lots of extra steps so it's time consuming but the cheapest alternative. Otherwise you will have to spend money on new software. Though all these programs will take time to learn if you are not familiar with them.
Nikon Capture NX2 was only free with a D300 purchase for a limited time when it was first introduced.
"Nikon Capture NX2 was only free with a D300 purchase for a limited time when it was first introduced"
Not true. I got NX one with my D300 (NX2 was not out yet) a year after the D300 came out. I think this may have to do with region though.
jvossphoto, go to Nikon's website and download the 60 day trail version of NX2. It will give you all the controls for that period. I won't lie, Niko is right, it can be buggy at times although not nearly as much as NX1 is. It cost I believe about $120-140 USD. it will eliminate all the steps discussed above though.
Now, after all this time I see why everyone says RAW requires extra steps. I never had all those issues. If I did, I probably wouldn't shoot RAW at all.
Nikodoby - Lightroom is cross-platform (Mac & PC). Even better, you get both versions on the same disk (Lightroom 2 at least). My girlfriend uses lightroom because she works on a combination of PC & Mac. I prefer Aperture because I can switch back and fourth between full screen and normal view. I also prefer the interface in aperture.
Both are about as good as each-other assuming you know how to do everything.
Oops, I meant Aperture is Mac only and NOT for PCs. Lightroom is Mac or PC. And I also meant CS2 Camera Raw (not Bridge) will not open RAW files from newer cameras. Thanks for reminding me that I'm going senile, Willis. :^)
Gentoo, yes it is TRUE. NX not NX2 came with D300 purchase, correct. But it was only a LIMITED TIME offer. If your D300 came with it you must have gotten an early stock that had yet to sell. Nikon made thousands and thousands of D300 and it was possible to buy one that still came with NX months later when other retailers weren't selling any. Nikon never said how long their LIMITED TIME offer was going to run for, but I suspect they included NX with D300 production for about six months.
WOW thanks guys for all your help & time. This forum is gonna be a garden of great time saving info for me. Sounds like my best bet is to purchase NX2 and then either go with Lightroom or Aperture down the road.
Good day all,
Jerry
You can download Nikon ViewNX for free. I like it for sorting out the bad stuff. It will directly convert a RAW file to 16 bit Tiff or Jpg. If you don't need to do alot of RAW processing, this works great and then do the final tweeks in PS.
You can download Nikon ViewNX for free. I like for sorting out the bad stuff. It will directly convert a RAW file to 16 bit Tiff or Jpg. If you don't need to do alot of RAW processing, this works great and then do the final tweeks in PS.
Just so I know for sure, will NX2 open TIFF files, so I can play with a trial version before I purchase my D700x :^)
Thanks everyone,
Jerry
Yes it can read Nikon D700 TIFFs. I think you should also tryout the Aperture and Lightroom trials too, if you haven't already
I used the lightroom 2 beta trial for a good year before I finally had the money to buy it... You just have to reset the date on your computer before you launch the program.
Shame Shame Willis !
Oh, I always find work arounds like that. Except I don't mess around with the date and time of the computer. I like that to be accurate. Usually I go into the files of the software and try to find and erase the file that tells the trial when it began. Sometimes I can find it, sometimes I can't. But it's amazing how many programs you can simply duplicate to reset the timer (of course, excluding Adobe software)!
However, one of my friends has the ultimate work around. He calls it pirating! ;-)
You see, this is exactly why I have to pay over $1000USD for photoshop so that they can recoup the money they lose from ya'lls resetting "experiments"
"Gentoo, yes it is TRUE. NX not NX2 came with D300 purchase, correct. But it was only a LIMITED TIME offer. If your D300 came with it you must have gotten an early stock that had yet to sell"
Niko, I think you are right. My D300 did come with the original firmware, not the new one which was released not long after but newer D300's were shipping with it when I bought mine.
"Usually I go into the files of the software and try to find and erase the file that tells the trial when it began. Sometimes I can find it, sometimes I can't."
Tell me how to do that please?
"You see, this is exactly why I have to pay over $1000USD for photoshop so that they can recoup the money they lose from ya'lls resetting "experiments"
Or you could just reset?
Great, I'm the only "honest" guy in this thread :^(
Gentoo,hint program files
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