Nikon Software

<p>Probably a silly question, but since I'm already using iPhoto and Gimp, is there a need for me to do an install of the Nikon software that came on a disc with my new camera (D5100)? Thanks in advance for your replies. </p>

<p>Not necessary per se, but you might find it interesting to try View NX2, since it can quickly render TIFs and JPGs from Nikon's native NEF format RAW files, aware of your in-camera settings like no brand of software can be.<br /><br />If you want to take advantage of all of that extra data (dynamic range, ease of white balance corrections, etc), give it a try. You might also want to try a free trial of Capture NX2.</p>

<p>The Nikon software (ViewNX) includes the well hidden Picture Control Utility that will let you upload to the camera new/different picture styles (if the camera allows it).</p>

<p>Yes, it's worth installing. It doesn't hurt anything on the computer even if you don't use it much. What it does though, and does exceptionally well, is to put an extension of your camera's software onto your computer. It does some easy editing of existing JPEGs, but it really comes into its own when you shoot raw files, because it gives you all the Nikon picture controls right on your computer. You can experiment with them at will - including modifying them with the Picture Control Utility. In my opinion, people who accept the standard "don't bother to install the manufacturer's software" line are missing out on a great thing. It's essentially like having the paid-for Capture NX with all the picture controls but without control points, cloning and all that other stuff. Most of that you can easily do in another image editor if you get the raw file as close to as you want it in ViewNX, and then convert it to a TIFF for further work.</p>

<p>Unfortunately the GIMP's developers still haven't given it 16 bit support, and by the look of it the rest of the world will have moved on to 32 bit colour before they get around to it! Also the UFRAW plugin is no match for ACR or CaptureNX2's raw conversion in terms of end quality.</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong. I think GIMP and UFRAW are great for free, but its programmers seem to have lost the plot and insist on teasing meaningless functions while basic and glaring bugs and poor default options remain. Try changing the brightness of the Red channel in Hue&Saturation for example; neutral greys get altered too! And why doesn't the brightness control go from full black to full white..... and why would anyone want to resize Layers > None? Madness!</p>

<p>Haven't used iPhoto for years. I didn't think it was still around, but it's what I cut my photo manipulation teeth on, too many years ago now to remember exactly when. Ahhh! Just Googled it and see that Apple have stolen the name from that ancient and great predecessor. Shame the original developers and vendors of i-Photo aren't around to give Apple a good lawsuit kicking.</p>

<p>ViewNX2 is not that useful but, give the Capture NX2 free trial a try. A friend of mine says he can uninstall and reinstall it for another 60 days after the first 60 are over (he's on a Mac).</p>

<p>Gegl is scheduled to support 16bit in 2013, and Gimp says we idle folks should help them patch up the code...</p>

<p>ViewNX is usefull for showing the focuspoint, only for that it is usefull to install it.</p>

<p>I'd gladly weed out the saturation and brightness control bugs if someone would point out where the relevent bit of code is lurking, but I'm not going to sift through megalines of code to find it.<br>

The use of Bugzilla for reporting bugs is also very irritating and counter-productive IMHO. Tried to register for Bugzilla and got interrupted part way through the process. Came back to find I'd been timed out and just gave up! I can do without that sort of timewasting activity. </p>

<p>Don't they have a forum to ask where what code is located? Bugzilla bugs me too, I wish everybody used reportbug.</p>