Nikon NEF Quality in Lightroom

I have a quality issue, question !!
I'm using Lightroom 2, I also convert all my NEF files into DNG Lightroom. The process I use for photo management is the following. I view all my images with Nikon ViewNX first and delete the bad images, rename the images within ViewNX and then import into Lightroom with conversion to DNG.
Don’t know why but I just noticed this quality issue today. Two images from today’s work, when viewed in ViewNX have a better light to dark contrast that when I view them with Lightroom 2.0
Thoughts? Should there be any difference between the Nikon software and Lightroom?
I have no presets at all until I start processing each image
I would love to send someone these images to look at

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Jao vdL wrote:
Oh my! Culling images in ViewNX? Lightroom would be far, far faster and convenient to do the initial culling. It is one of the program's strong suits.
Since when Jao. As you know, I am a long time LR user, but I have recently gone back to using other programs to do an initial cull. Waiting for LR to create previews and then waiting for the previews to "render" can be painful. Even ViewNX is way faster. I can cycle through images, even on the card, almost as fast as I can press the arrow key.
I think this is one of lightroom's weak points, and hear frustration with regard to this frequently on this very forum. Many users still use photo mechanic first, even though it adds a workflow step.
Rory

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Nikon NEF thumbnails and Lightroom

I am trying out Adobe Lightroom and the Nikon NEF files from my D70s are imported directly into Lightroom just as I had hoped they would be. However, I am flying blind when it comes to seeing the thumbnail previews of those same files "before" I do the actual importing.
Only the "NEF icon" shows up in the directory where the files are located, so I really don't have the ability to choose which file I wish to import into Lightroom unless I look at them in Adobe bridge first. This is a little inconvenient to have to do that.
Also If I do have a file in "CS2 raw", I don't have an option to send it directly to Lightroom... only to CS2 itself.
If anyone can help with some advice here, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
Ron

This forum is for questions and issues associated with the
PDF Language and Specifications. Your query has nothing to do with the topic of this forum. Please repost in the LightRoom forum at
- Dov

HELP - How can I import Nikon .nef files into Lightroom?

I installed Lightroom 5 on a Mac and tried importing (copy as DNG) .net files from an SD card I used with my Nikon D750 (LR 5 is supposed to support the D750). LR couldn't display a preview or import that file type so I used the latest Adobe DNG converter (version 9) to convert the .nef pics on the SD card. LR then recognized the images but STILL WOULD NOT IMPORT them. I get an error message saying the images could not be "read." I've tried 2 different SD cards. !Any suggestions? Thanks.
I even tried uninstalling Lightroom 5 and installing a trial of Lightroom CC. I tried importing .dng files that were converted from Nikon .net files with the Adobe DNG converter. I received the error message in the screen shot below.

This error message means you have to set the Destination directory to have WRITE permission.
So, determine what directory is specified in the Import dialog box on the right in the Destination section. Then go to your operating system, find this exact directory, and then change the directory to have WRITE permission.

[Consolidation-Locked] Nikon D600 NEF files in Lightroom 4

Is there an update for Lightroom 4 to accept NEF RAW files for Nikon D600?
Message title was edited by: Brett N

Lightroom 4.2 has been released, which provides support for the Nikon D600. In Lightroom, go to Help > Check for Updates to download.
Please see: http://forums.adobe.com/message/4785056

ACR 8.5 and Nikon NEF: in Photoshop and Lightroom

Today I was on Nikon presentation. A manager from Russian office sad that Nikon gave Adobe some information how to open NEF files CORRECTLY in ACR, but that algorithms can be used ONLY in Photoshop, not in Lightroom. Is that true or fake? As I know, ACR for Ps and Lr is the same in case color reproduction (and has some differences in image correction).

To compare PS/ACR with LR, if you have both products, you can do an Export a TIF from LR and do a Save Image TIF from ACR, using the same parameters, and then open both in PS and layer one on top of the other, set the blend mode to Difference, merge the layers, and see if you have anything besides 0s for the pixel values of the combined layers. You could stretch the image in Levels to make finding any non-zero pixels, easier.
It has been said, above, that LR 5.x versions had a bug where they did not apply noise-reduction or sharpening in some situations during the Export so its important to understand what precise versions of the products you're talking about. Intending for the raw-conversion algorithms to be the same, and a coding error making them not so are two different things. In other words the mathematics would be the same, but the implementation in a different programming language by different people could have coding errors.
As far as which of Nikon Capture or Adobe Lightroom/PS-ACR is better, the words someone says or writes are a fact if you have the recording or original documents, but the idea they are communicating is an opinion and you can really only list pros and cons for someone else to draw their own conclusion, and unless you're quoting word-for-word, your interpretation of what is being said is also somewhat of an opinion, yours.

I can't download any images with Lightroom from any of my cameras, NIkon NEF, or Canon IMG, or Sony

I can't download any images with Lightroom 4.4 from any of my cameras, NIkon NEF, or Canon IMG, or Sony DSC images...please advise...I used to download all my images with the previous versions...3.0 I have Mac 10.7.5
mark

Sounds like a hardware problem to me.
Card reader or cable gone bad; or as Victoria said, permissions

Lighroom and Nikon NEF files

I have some questions about Lightroom's handling of Nikon NEF files, specifically the parts of the NEF files that Nikon has decided it is a brilliant idea to encrypt. I am using a Nikon D200.
How does Lightroom handle white balance in a NEF file? Has Adobe licensed the "mini-SDK" from Nikon, is the white balance estimated from the image data, or how is this done?
And what about the sharpening (and other data?) - how does Lightroom handle that? Is it always the same (by camera)? Can the default settings be customized?
I am also interested in knowing whether using NEF+JPEG enables Lightroom to use more of the image metadata, as white balance/etc is not encrypted in the JPEG file. Will using NEF+JPEG give me the in-camera settings for the data that is encrypted in the NEF file? I'd be happy to shoot RAW+JPEG with a small JPEG if it helps Lightroom with the in-camera settings.

To answer your question, yes, Adobe has licensed the mini-SDK from Nikon in order to get at the encrypted white balance info. Nearly everything else is encrypted and inaccessible and can only be accessed by Nikon software.
Ironically, all this has done is push me almost 100% in favour of DNG.
Shooting NEF+JPEG will not get you anything more, in terms of more available data. Technically a NEF image will have an associated in-camera preview that Lightroom replaces with its own previews (no one wants to see the actual raw data, which hardly looks like an image). Apparently there is a limitation with Lightroom such that identically named image files differing only in extension will not be imported properly, anyway. Check the archives of this forum.
The in-camera settings in the file are not useful for you unless you use Nikon imaging software.
I've pretty much decided the following:
- Shoot only raw, and let your camera and Lightroom generate the previews you need at the time.
- Create a camera profile for importing those raw files. Every camera responds a little differently.
- Either keep the raw files or convert to DNG for archival purposes. The arguments for and against this are easy to find elsewhere on these forums and on the web.
If you need to be able to tweak your NEF images on the computer as if you were tweaking the camera controls /before/ taking the shot, you have to use Nikon software. I personally see little value in this, but your kilometreage will vary.

Nikon NEF workflow ?

Hi all,
Just a casual user here with a couple of questions RE: Nikon NEF (from my D3100) and how best to use it in LR.
I understand that the Develop module uses different ways of rendering previews than other modules.
Note: this is as per
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/358017?tstart=30
although the TECHNOTES link doesn't go anywhere..
My problem is that I can't get the look in Develop to export properly! I tweaked the NEF directly and
tried to EXPORT the pic in DEVELOP as a simple jpg, but the jagged
problem I see in all modules except DEVELOP is still there, I tried importing the jpg back in but it still looks terrible
in Library (it's a long exposure of a lake at night, the shades of blue that look great in DEV look terrible in anything else).
When I export, shouldn't it also include the settings + look that I see in DEV so that the resulting export looks exactly the same
I tried making the NEF a DNG first, but even after replicating the tweaks I had done to the NEF, I couldn't get it
to look quite the same (sounds obvious to me since LR treats it as two completely different original files).
Does anyone have a solid workflow for NEF's ? Should I just make them DNG's from the beginning, then import into
LR and go from there ?
Cheers for any help..
Benny.

Benny,
Your problem isn't one of DNG versus NEF. They are treated identically by Lightroom.
Yes, exporting to jpeg from a modified nef file should produce an image that looks pretty darn similar to what you see in the Develop module. Unless, of course, you have specified parameters in the Export dialogue that mess up the exported image. Also, you may see differences if you look at the exported image with an non-colour-managed viewer of some sort.
So, what parameters are you specifying when you do your export? List them all, off of the Export dialogue, or better yet, take a screen shot of the dialogue and post that here.
Hal

How do i import NEF files to lightroom 5?

I just downloaded LIghtroom 5 and tried to import my raw NEF files into it. The ones on my camera still imported with no problem, however, the ones i had previously saved to my computer using the Nikon transfer software won't open. Both files are .NEF, my camera is a D3200, already checked for updates and there are none. would really appreciate any help. Thanks.

Fix Corrupted Nikon NEF Images

Is this a sensible workflow for Nikon NEF files?

Hi,
I'm new to the world of digital SLRs having received a Nikon D40 for Christmas. After comparing Aperture 2 and Lightroom 2, I've decided to go with Aperture, as I already use Logic Pro so like the user interface and (I know a lot of people don't agree) I prefer the way Aperture renders the Nikon NEF files without extra adjustment. I'm also evaluating Capture NX 2, but am undecided as to whether I need it at this point.
Up until now I've been using Nikon Transfer to transfer the photos to my iMac, and View NX to view them. I like the automatic naming of folders in Transfer, plus being able to see Nikon's interpretation of the raw files. I've then been importing the photos as referenced files into Aperture for proper cataloguing, etc.
Is this a good approach? I'm a hobby photographer, mostly landscapes and townscapes, and deal with hundreds rather than thousands of images.
I'm a bit confused by all the options, so any advice would be very welcome!
Chris

Is this a sensible workflow for Nikon NEF files? YES!
I shoot Nikon NEF files and use Aperure exclusively with occasionally a little blending of layers made from versions of the same raw file (to improve the dynamic range a little more).
You like Nikon Transfer's "automatic nameing of folders" Check out the Subfolders drop down menu in the Import Window in Aperture; you can do that and much more too.
"...plus being able to see Nikon's interpretation of the raw files." You need to choose between the Nikon route and the Aperture route I think. You don't drive from A to B in one brand of car and then go back and do it in another brand of car just in case it might be better do you?!
"I'm a hobby photographer, mostly landscapes and townscapes, and deal with hundreds rather than thousands of images" Can you keyword images and then use them to sort and group images in View NX? You can in Aperture.
From my humble experience as a Nikon owner using Aperture for two years I suggest you use Aperture to download, organise and edit your raws. I prefer referenced so that I can archive large numbers of Raws to free disk space and for protection but still search the previews or do a keyword searches. I used to use Capture NX to process any files that needed more work but now that Aperture2 is so good and has so many plug-ins I have left the slow, clunky Nikon Prog' alone. Be brave and jump in to Aperture. It is great once you are in!

TS2518 My RAW (nikon .NEF) files changing to a dull, darker version of themselves after selecting them for the first time after import.

My RAW (nikon .NEF) files are literally changing to a dull, darker version of themselves after selecting them for the first time after import. I.e. The correct photo (light/color/etc) seems to be there and then a second later the photo changes. It's almost like it's showing a quick enhanced version then back to basic raw image. Started within last two updates.
Is there a fix or is this the straw that forces a switch to Lightroom?

Just recall that Aperture (or any other 3rd party raw converter) has NO information about the JPEG preview and how it was made. That information is camera-vendor proprietary.
Also note that there are like 6 "picture styles" in camera and this change you're seeing is entirely dependent on how you have them set. If you have your camera set to "vivid" or something you'll see more of a change than if your on-camera is set to "faithful."
That said, people here ALSO complain that Aperture's initial renders are TOO vivid, the exact opposite of your complaint, so you can't please everybody (in some cases, it seems you can't please ANYBODY ;-)
Aperture provides a starting point. Again, if you don't like it, you can tell Aperture to go with a "punchier" interpretation at its first render. In the import dialog, try setting Aperture to use the "auto enhance" preset which is built in. Aperture will add a little vibrancy adjustment, and it will add a curve, which will greatly add punch to the image. If you want adjustments in a different direction, you can create a preset and set it at import.
The only thing Aperture CANNOT do is what you're asking, which is "take the JPEG that my camera vendor generates through some voodoo and try and render the raw file just like that." It's, unfortunately, impossible to do.

I can't import Nikon NEF (RAW) files. It says it doesn't recognize the file. Help.

I just installed Nikon Transfer and then View NX2 with Nikon Transfer 2 and successfully transferred over 300 RAW (Nikon NEF) files from my camera (Nikon D600) but Lightroom (v5.6) won't import them. It says it doesn't recognize the files. How can I resolve this?

Obsolete versions of Nikon software corrupt Nikon raw files slightly making them unrecognized in Adobe products.
You can reverse this corruption by using the utility from the following webpage:
http://owl.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/fix_corrupted_nef.html
Basically you need to use Nikon software that is at least as new as your newest camera or don’t use Nikon software at all.

Major problem: I can not export NEF files from Lightroom

This is just plain weird: I can't export NEF files from Lightroom 2. I can export any other file format, but not NEF. With Lightroom 1 this was no problem.
It makes no difference whether I choose the export command with my mouse, via the menu or with a key stroke - nothing happens.
Lightroom version 2.0
Camera Raw version 4.5.0.175
Camera Nikon D3
Photoshop CS3 version 10.0.1
MacOsX version 10.5.4
I've called Adobe, and they simply don't know. I have reinstalled Lightroom 2 with no succes. Restarting, repairing permissions, nothing helps.
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Marsel

Marsel, your language is confusing, First, you cannot 'export' NEFs to PS. You can send a copy there from within LR as a tif or psd.
Exporting per se takes place through the Library module under the Export function. When Nef's are exported by choosing 'original' in the export dialogue, the file is the 'original' NEF accompanied by an XMP. That Nef, if opened directly in PS from your file system should appear in the Camera Raw window, where you can make whatever new edits on it you want or change the original adjustments you made in LR. Then, once you open that file in PS from the Camera Raw window, any further work you do will be pixel editing. That work can then be saved in a number of formats, but not as a NEF.
Transferring files to PS from LR for editing is another matter. That sends a copy of the original NEF, including LR adjustments to PS as either a Tiff or a PSD (your choice via the dropdown). After you have edited that Tiff or PSD in PS and hit save, it will send a copy back to LR as a Tiff or PSD, which will appear next to the original nef.
These procedures work perfectly on both my windows 32 and 64 bit machines with LR2 and 2.1. with all my NEFs from several camera models.
When you say 'export' do you really mean sending a copy to PS or do you mean 'Export' as LR defines that term?

Snow Leopard renaming Nikon '.NEF' file extensions to '.FEF' ?

Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not -
Since installing Snow Leopard, all the file extensions for Nikon .NEF are renamed for some reason to .FEF (switches the N to an F) when copying them from my CF card to the Mac - Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop will not recognize or open them. But if I change the file extension to .NEF, it immediately changes the icon to the proper RAW thumb and Lightroom or Photoshop treats it as a normal RAW file.
Has anyone experienced this before, and do you have a fix? (other than manually renaming hundreds of files)
This happened immediately upon installing Snow Leopard.

I have read there are a lot of compatibility issues with Nikon software and Snow Leopard, I think Nikon is working on these.
What Nikon software are you referring to? You said you just copied them from the CF card to the drive. If you used Nikon Transfer, you had some sort of renaming turned on.

I re-downloaded my Photoshop recently and Adobe Bridge no longer displays my Nikon NEF files and Camera Raw will not open them.

I re-downloaded my Photoshop recently and Adobe Bridge no longer displays my Nikon NEF files and Camera Raw will not open them. I get a message saying that Camera Raw does not support my camera type but it always has in the past. The bridge no longer shows the picture view of my NEF files. These are Nikon NEF files from the Nikon 5100 DSLR camera. How do I fix this?

I re-downloaded my Photoshop recently and Adobe Bridge no longer displays my Nikon NEF files and Camera Raw will not open them. I get a message saying that Camera Raw does not support my camera type but it always has in the past.
When you re-installed Photoshop, you also re-installed the version of Camera Raw which shipped with Photoshop - in other words you reverted to an older version of Camera Raw which does not support the D5100.
Camera Raw plug-in | Supported cameras
The D5100 was first supported in Camera Raw version 6.4.
In Photoshop, click Help > Updates to update Camera Raw.

Nikon NEF Quality in Lightroom

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