Anyone deal with NEF (RAW) files from a nikon camera?

[stilly]

Okay. All you pro photographers.

I am a professional amat. photograpgher because I do not use RAW files usually. (yes that was a joke).

Anyways, I shot a lot of NEF files on my D80 last night and I have the converter and updated codec from nikon's site, but is there a PREFERRED method of converting them to jpg files or being able to open them easily with a photoshop version?

I am only using photoshop 7. but ACDsee 2.43 to view things and I grabbed a third party converter, but I am not thrilled about that. I think I might get nikons software and install it too. We just shot some portraits and stuff last night and wanted to go over them.

[problemchild]

You can use photoshop to develop the raw files and a host of other tools/software. I would not convert to jpg i would convert to tiff. Keep the raws and tiffs in a safe place backed up twice and organized by trip and date. You can save a tiff as a jpg if you want smaller files but keep the raws and tiffs as your negatives. At a minimum keep the raw files but disk space is so cheap now days why not keep all 3.

As far as raw software find the one you like best. I used capture one for the longest time but have been out of the loop for a while now.

Here is my work

[stilly]

AHH yes. THAT is what I meant. Tiff. JPG only for previews. Tiff is better than JPG in my opinion for quality prints and what not. It just seems to be finer and better color representation.

Thanks. Nice pics. You gonna get into HDR also? I only looked at the curent gallery.

Really? Photoshop 7 will let me use NEF? Okay cool. I will load it up.

Damn I gotta update photoshop.

I hope the newer versions are easier to use or can do more.

[Bryansix]

Yes, the newer versions can do A LOT more. The current (Creative Cloud) version of Photoshop has the bridge and camera raw apps in addition to the main program to deal with RAW formats from various camera manufacturers. Camera Raw can do non-destructive editing/enhancement before it shuttles the image over to Photoshop.

[yellowsulphur]

I believe photoshop 7 will read DNG files. Adobe makes a free DNG converter that is updated regularly and will easily convert your .NEF files to this format.http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...atform=Windows

[V8toytruck]

http://www.phaseone.com/Imaging-Software/Capture-One-Pro-7.aspx

This is industry standard in almost all professional studios. If you're not shooting raw, you're wasting your time and you're denying yourself a large percentage of the information that is available when you took that picture. All that shadow detail, highlights, etc.

Without this program my job would be a lot harder. Try the 30 day trial and batch generate JPEGs, or edit directly from the raw image with much more flexibility than PS Camera Raw.

Keep only RAWs unless you have a slow computer. Regenerate JPEGs/TIFFs as needed. Shooting 1000 raws and having 1000 TIFFs and 1000 jpegs is a waste of space. All the adjustments you have will be contained within Capture One.

[stilly]

This is some good info.

I installed Adobe Photoshop CS 6 today on a requested computer within the city and what a PITA it was because now you have to not only install with a license (which of course was validated) but then adobe expects you (the computer that it was installed on it looks like) to then log into their website and even further authenticate with another account of some sort. Just more work for us to do... I like the regular volume licensing contracts and stuff where we just install and be done. My comments of liking the "simpler to just 127 activate.adobe.com" drew a couple blank stares. hehe- mini rant...

Anyways, I will have a look at some of these things. I will look around for a newer version of photoshop that will not kill my wallet.