P6000 RAW conversion and adjustments

[Rich Jacobson]

I would like to use the NRW RAW format of the P6000, and I have a couple of fundamental questions:

1) What is the difference between using RAW+JPEG at the time of capture compared to converting to JPEG either in camera or with Nikon View NX?

2) Although I am able to view the NRW files and convert to JPEG with View NX 1.2.0, I am unable to make any adjustments to the image with this software - not even exposure comp or white balance. I emailed Nikon Support with this issue, as these two adjustments are supposed to be available with .NRW files. Has anyone else had this problem? Again, if I just use ViewNX to view and convert to JPEG, what have I gained vs saving as JPEG to begin with?

3) I have found that viewing RAW files in PSE 5.0 (D40 NEF images) and the trial version of PSE 7 wirh ACR 5.1 can be painfully slow - in full screen mode it can take ten seconds to display a P6000 RAW image. View NX does this almost instantly. Is there a good solution which will allow me to organize and edit the NRW files which is faster than Elements 7? Since ACR 5.1 is not supported in the PSE5, I will be forced to buy new software anyway, so might as well evaluate the current options. Any suggestions?

 

[Ben Herrmann]

As a quick image viewer, it's fine. What you need is a real RAW converter. I highly recommend that at a minimum, you purchase Adobe Elements 6.0 or the more recent (may not be in stores yet, but is available at http://www.adobe.com ) Elements 7.0. Within this software you have the Adobe Camera RAW plug-in known as ACR - the current version being 5.1.

You see, with RAW files, you have so much more flexibility and le-way in dealing with files and getting the results you want. Once you become accustomed to shooting in RAW and making adjustments, you will find it is the best way to go. Nikon View (which is free obviously) doesn't really allow you make the adjustments necessary in WB, Dynamic Range extraction, and other key variables.

If you want to see your RAW files pop - get the Elements software which can range from $69.95 to $99.95 USD depending on where you purchase it from.

If you just take JPG's with the camera, you don't have much flexibility in that the determine determines how much compression and other adjustments are made. You're just left with the final file. But with RAW, you have so much more to deal with - the digital negative, if you will. In fact, when you make high quality JPG's from a RAW file, it is far superior to the JPG's the camera captures for you.
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As always - good shooting....

 

[Rich Jacobson]

I have owned at least 4 versions of Elements, perhaps more if you go back to Photoshop Album which preceded it. I now use Elements 5, which I had to purchase in order to use ACR with D40 NEF files. So I am somewhat familiar with RAW processing with ACR, but by no means an expert. Now it looks like I'll have to upgrade again - part of the price of a new camera. As I said in my original post, viewing RAW files is very slow in PSE, at least with my PC.

I may start saving Raw+JPEG, importing only the JPEGs into PSE until I know which files I want to keep and edit.

Can anyone recommend a good book or web site on Raw workflow for everyday, non-professional use?

 

[hvbarker]

The following can read NRW files on my MAC running 10.5.6. I have not done much testing.

Aperture2.1.2 ( edit ), Lightroom 2,Photoshop CS3, Bridge CS4, Photoshop CS4, NXView 1.2.0 (convert to tiff), iPhoto '09 (8.0.393), Preview.app 4.1

The Following cannot:
Expressions Media 2, Capture One 4.6.1, Photoshop Elements 6.

 

[arlene2]

well...dont listen to that stuff about view nx being no good for the p6000 raw files. if you get the current version 1.2.2 which is a free upgrade, you can manipulate them using White Balance-Exposure compensation-shaprness-contrast-picture control utility- and basic color adjustments. Also the Geo tag information is there as well if you used the gps in the 6000. I am not sure why everyone seems to be so down on the 6000 and the software......it all takes a bit of time for both nikon and 3rd party developers to get on board...but view nx will give you what you need to manipulate and then convert to jpg to do some final work in photoshop if necessary......

So dont despair....view nx is fine.....its not as powerful and capture..and doesnt have the cool stuff photoshop has....but it does an amazing job with WB and exposure compensation.......its WB fixes are way better than anything photoshop offers. I do my conversion to jpg from view nx...and then on to photoshop for fun stuff......try it....just make sure you have View NX 1.2.2

 

[arlene2]

that is not good advice as the new View NX 1.2.2 (windows) does WB correction-Exposure correction-shaprness control-contrast control-a bit of color correction-pictrure control-contrast correction...and has a pretty nice NRW raw converter to go to jpg. Just make sure what you have is View NX 1.2.2 the newest version. then use the left tab for quick adjustments....all the controls are there....and it does a really great job of WB correction if you are off a bit......

 

[arlene2]

oh...and 1 more thing....its kind of fun to do the corrections right in the camera......shoot a photo with the WB setting way off...and then go in and correct and save it just using the camera.....it works great! I know its a small screen and not perfect, but it saves dragging along a laptop or waiting to do some of the corrections until you get home.....The built in software in the camera to do manipulation is a lot of fun......it takes some getting used to...but still fun....

by the way...how do you like the p6000.....you will like it even more when you shoot some raw files and work on them a bit in View NX 1.2.2

 

[arlene2]

oh...as for your questions...well shooting raw+jpg give you 2 files on your card..which can just be a waste of space unless you have a specific reason for shooting both formats. So, unless I am just shooting snapshot stuff....Here is what I do......I shoot everyting on Raw only. when i get back home, I pop the card in a card reader and open them in View NX 1.2.2 to do main corrections such as WB/Exposure and maybe a bit of color correction....I then batch process them to a folder as jpgs to either print or continue to process in Photoshop.....CS3 or you can use any post capture software that reads jpgs. The reason for shooing raw is so you can make the WB/Exposure corrections with virtually no change to the file itself. If you shoot in jpg only....you dont have the latitude of control over the final image....like you do with raw. The NRW files are nice to work with.......I hope sometime nikon makes them available to Capture....but honestly, View does a really nice job with them.....

 

[Ben Herrmann]

to point out that with the "free" software that you typically get with a camera, you are limited to say the least. Yes, View 1.2.2 has a few options - but it pales in comparison with the better RAW converters out there. Of course, you can spend the extra money on Capture NX - but you do have options. It's amazing the things you can do with the likes of Lightroom, Silkypix, Capture 4, Lightzone, and ACR (which comes with Photoshop and Elements).

Yes, as a basic stand-alone "quick" raw converter, View NX is not bad at all. But once you've experienced some of the others mentioned - and you become proficient in RAW conversions (heck, that's all I shoot with with all of the digicams I own that have this capability), you will most certainly appreciate the difference.
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As always, make it a great day!

 

[arlene2]

Oh yes....I am mostly addressing the issues that some have with the new NRW file from the p6000.......I find that View does a nice job with WB and Exposure on those files Like I said...i just let View do the conversion to jpg...then on to photoshop CS2 for final fussing.