Reading mode: Light Dark

Does anyone use NX Studio as opposed to Lightroom or Capture One?

Go to last post
I’m probably more the exception than the norm. I was a firm CaptureNX user until it finally quit working on my laptop due to Nikon discontinuing support. That really ticked me off as I loved Control Points.

Now…I use Pixelmater on an iPad Pro and rarely need more. It is laid out so well and does everything I need. Plus, the repair tool is amazing!!!

Most will poo-poo my workflow, but it seems to work and my images still sell:)

As a footnote, I tried to use NX a few years ago and couldn’t figure out how to do hardly anything without searching help. If Nikon would make an iOS version, I would consider it. But, I don’t expect to see and iOS version of NX Studio in my lifetime since Nikon struggles in that area.
 
Last edited:
All I use is NX Studio. I have an old copy of Photo Shop on a computer and haven't used it in years.

I take sports photos as a side job and have always used only Nikon software.

I take my sports photos as NEF and go through all of the images rating the ones I like, then make batch changes to the images by adding basic captions and minor level changes, then batch convert to JPEG to upload and submit for publication.
 
I'm not converting 1000s of RAWs at a time so yes. Shortly after the Z9 1st launched, many were complaining how bad the results were - particularly high ISO noise. Rather than trying to find out why the results were poorer than say the D850, they rubbished the camera. It soon transpired that these folk were using the default Adobe import settings where NX-Studio was giving far better results, though some thought it did rob a little detail at default settings. I have more recently used ACR for its AI-based noise reduction before final post in PS. I've just d/l'd a trial of DxO's PureRAW 3 that almost seems like magic - especially if I lift shadow detail in PhotomatixPro before exporting to PS as tiffs. Single RAW HDR can increase shadow noise beyond what many would consider acceptable without noise reduction above ISO12800. One reason for many's dissatisfaction seems to be the unwillingness to change a well-oiled work flow - it's a sensible idea to use the manufacturer's own RAW converters with new cameras.
 
I use it for making changes to

Picture Control

and

Active D-Lighting

And then export TIFF 16bit and edit in C1 or other.

Sometimes make other changes as well ie WB/Exposure
 
If NX Studio can implement de-noise that rivals Lightroom/Camera Raw, I'll cancel my Adobe subscription in a heartbeat.
 
Last edited:
jthomas39 said:
No "open containing folder" to launch the Windows file explorer.
Click to expand...
Not that I'm suggesting you change your opinion of NX Studio, but just FYI, you can right click on a folder and choose the option to "View in Explorer".
 
j_photo said:
jthomas39 said:
No "open containing folder" to launch the Windows file explorer.
Click to expand...
Not that I'm suggesting you change your opinion of NX Studio, but just FYI, you can right click on a folder and choose the option to "View in Explorer".
Click to expand...
Thanks for "View in Explorer" option. Is there anything similar to the old View NX and "Control-O" to open the file in NX Studio? I know I can right click on the NEF in Windows Explorer but that's a "small" thumbnail.

Also, I've never figured out what Picture Control is all about.
 
I've given up on NX Studio because of ongoing performance issues and spinning beach balls that don't go away on my iMac with 64Gb of RAM. What's the point of having a slider if when I manipulate it, it takes 15-30 seconds to show me the result?

So I finally after a long period of underutilization went back into Lightroom and wow the sliders respond with feedback immediately, no spinning beachballs, and I can very easily copy settings from one image to many others from the same shoot. It's been a breath of fresh air.

I really can't stand software that is slow and doesn't improve. Isn't that just pure laziness or is it cheapness that Nikon does not want to pay SilkyPics for this to happen? I love the rendering and features of NX Studio but I just can't take it any more ;-)

I was a real expert with Capture NX-2 back in the day.
 
In the midst of a three week trip right now and decided to give NX a try for quick selection and editing. On a MacBook Air M2 and it works great, even with just 8GB RAM. Quite a surprise to me after reading about all the performance issues. While it lacks a fair amount in selection tools and layers compared to C1, it is very responsive and perfect for my usage in a mobile setting. The RAW rendering really does appear to be better than anything else I've tried.
 
rbmphoto said:
Early on, in this site and others, one of the comments I frequently came across by the then well respected Nikon gurus, now long gone, was: “nobody knows NEFS like Nikon” - the gurus pretty much all started with initial edits via Nikon Capture - often then converted to TIFFs for further processing. I believe that was back then, and is still now, sound advice.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think DxO Photolab does a better job interpreting NEF files than the Nikon software. And it does not force lens distortion correction on the images like Adobe does. I did quite a bit of testing, and I preferred the Photolab version. You results may vary.
 
Old thread, I know, but came here specifically to say how excellent NX STUDIO renders colors and deals with color problems like Moire. I had a brown shirt centered in the frame with a moire pattern that even Photolab couldn’t remove. NX Studio removed it natively — didn’t even need to use the Moire tool. Also rendered the model’s dyed hair and skin tones perfectly, where Photolab and Apple’s Raw converter were struggling.

So, for some work, I will definitely start in NX Studio and then export as a TIFF.

The program isn’t exactly snappy but it’s certainly faster than Canon’s good but glacial offering (DPP) and since I’m on a MAC I can customize most of the shortcuts, so it’s actually quite functional outside of retouching.

Win!🥇
 
Last edited:
Perambulator said:
Old thread, I know, but came here specifically to say how excellent NX STUDIO renders colors and deals with color problems like Moire. I had a brown shirt centered in the frame with a moire pattern that even Photolab couldn’t remove. NX Studio removed it natively — didn’t even need to use the Moire tool. Also rendered the model’s dyed hair and skin tones perfectly, where Photolab and Apple’s Raw converter were struggling.

So, for some work, I will definitely start in NX Studio and then export as a TIFF.

The program isn’t exactly snappy but it’s certainly faster than Canon’s good but glacial offering (DPP) and since I’m on a MAC I can customize most of the shortcuts, so it’s actually quite functional outside of retouching.

Win!🥇
Click to expand...
Yep, NX Studio for the win!
 
Last edited:
For those who primarily use NX Studio for editing, what do you used for a DAM? Or can everything be done in NX Studio.
 
I must take a close look at it.
 
LeonD said:
For those who primarily use NX Studio for editing, what do you used for a DAM? Or can everything be done in NX Studio.
Click to expand...
What's a DAM?
 
LeonD said:
For those who primarily use NX Studio for editing, what do you used for a DAM? Or can everything be done in NX Studio.
Click to expand...
NX Studio has basic DAM functionality. You can add star ratings, color tags, reject tag. There is no keywording, but the filter functionality is decent.

As I am largely a session-style photographer, I don't care about keywording. I'm sure for many this is a big problem, though.

All told, NX Studio is probably, for most photographers, a first stop in a multi-step process.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Nikon Z30 and NX Studio (V 1.8)
Replies
7
Views
660
Antony John
A
T
Matching NX Studio with Lightroom
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
skyrunr
skyrunr
Photo Philosopher
Any luck connecting a Z50ii for tethered capture in Lightroom Classic or other software???
Replies
4
Views
1K
ScottKantrowitz
S
dacrema
NX Studio v 1.9 vs NX Studio v 1.8
2
Replies
34
Views
1K
rscott900ss
rscott900ss
Joacim Schwartz
NX Tether and Z8 - No Pixel Shift?
Replies
6
Views
351
timothyjgmiller
T

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top