A question about NEF

[StanleyBeck]

<p>I received a NEF file by email, and I could not open it in CS3 camera RAW. The file was from a D5000. I use a D200, and shoot RAW always, and never have a problem. I was able to use Adobe DNG converter to convert to DNG, and had no problems opening that. Could it be that CS3 can’t open NEF files from newer cameras, or could it be just a corrupted file?</p>

[fhmillard]

<p>try updating your ACR to latest version for CS3.</p>

[elliot1]

<p>I believe you would need CS4.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>The D5000 was introduced last year (2009). At the time the PhotoShop version was CS4 as Elliot points out. So you need CS4 or later (currently CS5) to open it. Otherwise, you need to use a recent DNG converter as you did or Nikon's free NikonView NX. There are a few more options.</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>btw, the DNG converter Shun mentions is free, too. It works okay, imho, but I would trust View NX (also free) more, unless it's not a very demanding file (as in, no real change in white balance).</p>

[howard_m]

<p>all the above is correct.</p>

<p>Adobe's policy is to stop adding support for new cameras once the next major version of PS/ACR is available so since the D5000 was introduced last year, CS3 will never directly support it (you need to go the CS5, DNG or ViewNX route)</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

<blockquote>

<p>Could it be that CS3 can’t open NEF files from newer cameras</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You got it.</p>

[albert_lee1]

<p>you can also download the free Nikon ViewNX program and export it to JPG using it</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/NVNX/ViewNX.html">http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/NVNX/ViewNX.html</a></p>

[peterafle]

<p>+1 for Nikon's free ViewNX2 -- it's a surprisingly versatile program, and displays NEF files in accordance with the picture control/white balance information encoded in the camera (which ACR can't do.)<br /> PR<br>

EDIT: Here's the link for ViewNX2 -- a huge improvement over ViewNX, and still free: <a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/NVNX2/ViewNX-2.html">http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/NVNX2/ViewNX-2.html</a></p>

 

[ellis_vener_photography]

<blockquote>

<p>displays NEF files in accordance with the picture control/white balance information encoded in the camera (which ACR can't do.)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>In other words use ViewNX to strip out the deeper level of information in the raw file and turn it into a JPEG. If that is your goal just shoot in camera produced JPEGS and be done. </p>

<p>Adobe Camera Raw can't access that information since Nikon (like Canon, etc.) sticks those processing parameters into undocumented data forks. </p>

[acbeddoe]

<blockquote>

<p>In other words use ViewNX to strip out the deeper level of information in the raw file and turn it into a JPEG. If that is your goal just shoot in camera produced JPEGS and be done.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That does not logically follow. ViewNX2 will allow further camera adjustment and edit before converting to .jpg (or .tiff) and will render a different, possibly better, file than in-camera .jpg will. Also, the ability to correct exposure of the .nef and inability to correct the .jpg is reason enough to capture in .nef.</p>

[lachaine]

<p>"In other words use ViewNX to strip out the deeper level of information in the raw file and turn it into a JPEG. If that is your goal just shoot in camera produced JPEGS and be done."</p>

<p>No, View NX (View NX 2 now) doesn't strip anything, it just opens the file and allows you to convert it to 8 bit or 16 bit TIFF, or any level of JPEG you want. It will do that with the camera's picture control settings applied if you don't change anything, but everything is changeable. You can even change the original picture control to controls the camera doesn't have on-board, or use the included picture control utility to make up your own. It's quite versatile.</p>

[leighb]

<p>Download Irfanview for free at www.irfanview.com</p>

<p>It reads all current file formats, and can convert between them, so you could output your NEF as a TIFF.</p>

<p>Excellent program, been around forever and is constantly being updated.</p>

<p>- Leigh</p>

 

[kenfretz]

<p>Stanley -<br>

The discussion about applications is beside the point. If you download and install Nikon’s codec for reading and writing their RAW (.NEF) files, any application can open and save RAW files. Nikon keeps the codec up to date so it works with all Nikon camera files. The download is at http://nikonimglib.com/nefcodec/. The current version is 1.10.0 and supports up to the D3100 and D7000. After the codec is installed just about any program can read and write files, Photoshop, ViewNX 2, even Microsoft Word. If you have any questions contact me at kenfretz@gmail.com. <br /><br />Ken Fretz<br /><br /></p>

[lachaine]

<p>If it's just to open it so you can see it, many free solutions exist. I agree that Irfanview is one, so are XNView, Faststone Viewer. In terms of working on the NEF file, these aren't really intended as raw converters though. Ufraw is such a converter. RawTherapee as well. All free, and all easy to install and uninstall. To see a thumbnail in Windows' file system, you do need to download and install Nikon's codecs, but you don't need that to open the file.</p>

[photo5]

<p>I believe NX2 is available as a 30 day free trial. It's the best application to open NEF files with.</p>