RAW (NEF) Files

John_M_King · Apr 5, 2016

When I do use Digital, (I am mainly film orientated) I have the option of either my Nikon D90 or my Nikon D700. I always use RAW (NEF). To make RAW files readable I use Photoshop CS4. When I come to download them onto the screen if I am using the D700 I can go straight into Adobe camera RAW version 5 and change the format to what I want then swap over to Photoshop if any work needs to be done.

If I use the D90 I can download as normal, but the files remain unreadable as RAW files unless I first use the Nikon Capture NXD programme to change them into either Tiff or JPEG files. Am I missing something here that I should be doing. The only differences that are obvious to me are the D90 has the smaller sensor and uses a SD card.

If this is normal, so be it, but one extra stage is a pain and because I cannot change things whilst they are still RAW files, I may be loosing some capability when I convert to TIFF or JPEG before I work on them.

Doyle Thomas · Apr 5, 2016

I use lightroom as my raw editor mostly. in ACR do your edit if you save the file it will remain raw, if you open to photoshop and save it will save as tiff and the raw remains intact

jon.oman · Apr 5, 2016

I've used photoshop with all of my digital cameras (d70, d200, d300, d700, d2x, d800). I have never had a problem with the software reading the NEF file (as long as ACR supported the camera). Since the d90 is an older camera than the d700, I would think that your version of photoshop should be able to read the NEF file. Something is not right...

John_M_King · Apr 6, 2016

I am really still none the wiser, but thanks anyway. I spoke to an engineer at Nikon UK this morning and His explanation was that different cameras even when manufactured close together (the D90 and D700 come out on the market within a couple of months of each other.) can and most probably have a different method of dealing with RAW files. He went on to elaborate that the D700 was aimed at a Pro or Semi Pro market who would almost certainly have access to Photoshop or something similar. The D90 was aimed at an amateur market so access to Photoshop was not so certain and they provided a disc with the programmes View NX1 and Capture NXD to cover the absence of 3rd party software for image editing. One significant difference with the D90 and D700 (apart from the sensor size) was the D700 can record images in TIFF files whilst the D90 isn't so equipped and this probably accounts for the difference..

As both cameras are working perfectly I will go along with that explanation....straight from the horses mouth so to speak.

John_M_King · Apr 6, 2016

Raw files

Duplicate Post content deleted

jon.oman · Apr 6, 2016

According to this Adobe site, both the d90 and the d700 require the same Adobe Camera Raw versions (4.6 and 5.1): https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html So, your version of photoshop should support both cameras NEF files. You should be able to directly process the d90 NEF files with the version of photoshop you have.

John_M_King · Apr 6, 2016

I think I have found the solution to the problem and that is to download Adobe Camera Raw 5.2. The version I have is only Camera Raw version 5 which was the standard wit CS4. The link above provided by jon.oman is for version 5.1 which is not now available as a download.. This will explain why the D700 works with Version 5 whilst the D90 doesn't At present though it will have to wait for a few days until I have time to download it. Here's hoping

rpsawin · Apr 6, 2016

John, I have an issue with my D810 and CS5. My solution is to use Adobe DNG Converter (a free download) to make DNG copies of the NEF files. The DNG files are easily processed in CS 5. While it is a bit cumbersome it works.

Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.

John_M_King · Apr 7, 2016

Thanks Bob. I only have CS4, will it work with that?

I stayed up late last night and played about with it and managed to get a sort of result. It still isn't perfect but I will persevere. There was a button in the NX1 software that I had not used before and that sort of works, Oddly enough it jumbled all the image titles around and the titles (file numbers) didn't correspond with what was there before, just out of sequence - doooooh bloody computers. Now where's my darkroom?

John_M_King · Apr 9, 2016

I seem to have sorted the problem. I downloaded a later version of Camera Raw (5.7 and all's back to normal, apart from getting my head around some of the new features.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 28, 2017

jon.oman said:
I've used photoshop with all of my digital cameras (d70, d200, d300, d700, d2x, d800). I have never had a problem with the software reading the NEF file (as long as ACR supported the camera). Since the d90 is an older camera than the d700, I would think that your version of photoshop should be able to read the NEF file. Something is not right...

on a Mac , you can always open the raw file in Preview and safe it as a tiff but with Camera Raw, just convert them to dog and Photoshop CC will open that.

markbarendt · Aug 28, 2017

The only times I've had PS or Lightroom not read a raw file is when I didn't have all the software updates installed.

Eric Rose · Aug 28, 2017

Glad you have it sorted out. I had a D700 and D70s and shot RAW in both. Never had an issue with Adobe but then again the latest non CC version I was using was PS6. I have since moved on to m4/3rd's and sold the Nikon gear. Still have Nikon film cameras so my lenses are getting worked out on a regular basis.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 15, 2017

rpsawin said:
John, I have an issue with my D810 and CS5. My solution is to use Adobe DNG Converter (a free download) to make DNG copies of the NEF files. The DNG files are easily processed in CS 5. While it is a bit cumbersome it works.

Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.

worked for methinks.

Down Under · Sep 15, 2017

I use a (free) software image processing program called Faststone to download all image files from my Nikons (D700 and D90). It has always worked well and enables me to keep less software in the ageing laptop I carry with me in my travels. I shoot both RAW and JPEG images in-camera and these download quickly into any folder I create or select.

Faststone is also excellent for almost all the (admittedly basic) post processing I do on my images.

I have intended for years to move up to something supposedly better like Lightroom, but as a card carrying Luddite and somewhat cheap at heart, I've managed to so far resist making the investment.

RAW (NEF) Files

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