new d810 confusion - downloading & editing images

I'd taken a few photos with my brand-new d810, uploaded them to my Mac 10.11, imported them to LR 6, and everything was fine. I didn't have to do any extra conversion, computer read the SD card, LR read the NEF files.

 

That was once. Hasn't happened again despite several attempts at uploading.

 

Now I get a message about unsupported file format. I've download the Nikon's ViewNX-i which does allow the NEF files to be converted to TIFF. But is this really necessary? Is there a preset or plug-in (or something) for LR so I don't have to take the extra step to convert them? Or some other LR setting? My Olympus and Fuji cameras' files don't have to be converted. . .

 

If I have to do the extra step, it's not a big deal but not having to would be better.

 

Any advice?

 

Thanks. --Sally

According to Adobe's website D810 is supported by LR6 so you should have to look at other issues than LR compatability. Sorry, I can't post a link but you can google "Lightroom supported cameras" to get the list.

Thanks, I'll see what I can find out. I probably just missed some LR setting.

I think the problem was the card I was using. None of the photos from that card was readable. I switched back to the card I'd used initially, which had worked with the camera and LR without a hitch, and. . .no hitches. No extra step in LR, viewing, editing photos as usual.

FYI: I've found that converting NEF files to DNG brings them all into a consistent, lowest common denominator format that all versions of LR and PS that I have access to can use and edit, without losing any of the raw data. (As opposed to using TIFF.) I've heard of others who do this, and more who think it's a waste of time. I've just found there's enough variation in NEF formats and active updates on various hardware/software sets that this works best for me. I'm glad you found and resolved your problem.

Thanks, David. I'd been under the impression that TIFF retains all the information from a raw file but some quick research shows that not to be true. I've never used DNG, see it recommended often. Will look into it. --Sally

The last batch of Nikon D810 NEFs i converted to DNGs for a client, surprised both him and me.

 

The NEF, DNG, 8 bit and 16 bit TIFFs from the same file were 43.3MB, 135MB, 103MB and 207MB. respectively.

 

That has a large impact on storage!

Bad cards happen as do bad formatting. Glad you got it sorted.

 

Mike, interesting about the file sizes. Wow.

 

Any conversion risks loosing valuable data. I converted to DNG for a brief period because some well regarded folks said LR and PS worked faster with them. I noticed no benefit so that was a short experiment and I'm back to NEF and quite happy. NEF also retains stuff like focus points that can come in handy. I've also noticed the Capture One and Affinity both produce better output from a NEF input than a DNG input and since I've moved from PS to Affinity that's important.

 

In the future I can always produce a DNG from NEF if needed but I'm not sure I'd be able to produce an original NEF from a DNG if DNG is all I've kept.

Thanks. Keeping original files makes sense. I shoot fewer photos than anybody I know so storage isn't a big deal. Maybe keep both NEF and DNG files so if one gets corrupted, I'll have the other. Still working it out.

 

A LOT to work out with this camera. Yesterday's shoot was "semi-successful." "Successful" because I got downloadable, edit-able images; "semi" because I didn't know how to switch settings to get what I wanted, lost a few good images.

It won't help you with the past shoot, but I always learned a lot about new Nikon cameras (D50, D80, D300 and now D750 respectively) from Thom Hogan's guides (I'm not affiliated with him in any way, it's just a happy user's opinion). He carefully explains settings, and why you might want to use a particular setting (or not). For beginners, advanced and pro users.

 

His general site is here: New Camera and Photography Articles, Nikon DSLR camera and lens, the page with the guide to the D810 is here: Nikon D810 & D810A Guide | DSLRBodies | Thom Hogan

 

About failing cards; I always keep to this regimen: I format the card in camera (never in a computer), after shooting and downloading the images to my computer I make backups to a hard drive on my home network and to an online storage, then put the card back in my camera and format it before ausing it again.

 

Things I avoid:

* using a usb cable to transfer the image from camera to computer (the camera might run out of power and images could get damaged)

* formatting a card in the computer, as there seem to be differences in formatting

 

Good luck and have fun with the D810!

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look. I've been watching on-line tutorials and keep the manual at hand when I'm home, wish I could take it to the field with me but it's too big and bulky (200 8.5x11" pages).

 

I'd used a card that is incompatible with the camera. So, the card, as such, didn't fail, it works fine in another camera.

 

What do you think about the NEF DNG question?

 

Your regimen is the one I've been using with the camera--shoot, download, back-ups locally and online, re-format. Good to know someone else finds it a good system. Question about back-ups on home network: what's the best way to do that? Copy files from computer-to-computer (I don't have a network, per se) or download from the card to two places? I am more comfortable since setting up online backup.

I think DNG is more 'future proof' because it's not a specific Nikon format, and more widely 'accepted' by different brands of software. Having said that I (partly out of laziness, partly out of not wanting too many large files) just keep the NEFs and the jpg's I create from them. If it ever should happen I cannot open the NEFs anymore, I'll still have good quality jpg's.

 

As for backing up... it's mostly a matter of preference I think. Both your suggestions should work equally well.

In my case I have my ISP's modem/router which creates a (wired and wireless/wifi) network, and have added network hard drive to it; all my computers automatically back up to that. But that's just a matter of it being slightly more convenient (for me anyway) than copying twice by hand, not more reliable.