D70 NEF vs. JPG quality..

Hello d70 users...

just got back from Cozy and was shooting in NEF+JPG mode. I've noticed that the NEF files when brought in to PS CS loose a lot of the red saturation and hues compared to the basic jpg.. The raw converter will not bring them (reds) back... Has anyone else seen this? I know RAW is "supposed" to be better but when an 800K file looks better than a 14M file I'm beginning to wonder....

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

M.

You could try converting them in Nikon's own software. Alex

Hi Starbuck,

Think about it this way: the same exact information is recorded either way. So where does the red "come from" in the JPEG's? It's pumped up by the camera software when it cooks up the JPEG.

You too can do that yourself when converting your files - but the good news is that if you don't want to, you don't have to. With a JPEG, you're "stuck" with the conversion that the camera decides to choose.

Cheers

James

Hi Alex and James -

Alex - that is an idea..I'll try that...

James - I tried all that last night till 11:30 pm... just could not get the same result.. ....

I'll keep fiddlin'

Thanks guys!

M.

Hey Guys -

Just opened with Nikon editor and it looks perfect! Guess Im stuck using two programs now and have to splurge for the Nikon product. Too bad the plug - in does not work well with PS CS.. Is there a way to change this?!?!

M.

Starbuck, do you have your monitor profiled and does the Nikon editor know about it? I have noticed with the Coolscan 5000 that if I use Nikon's colour management system I get different results on screen to what I see when I open the same file in Photoshop CS.

This applies to the Nikon scan software, I don't know if the same settings are available in your capture software. I set the monitor profile in the Nikon scan software to the custom profile I made for my monitor, then the disparities between the nikon and adobe products went away. FWIW, the adobe software is more "accurate" in displaying what the coloUrs will look like on a Pictopia lightjet print.

I profile the monitor with a Gretag Mcbeth Eye-one display.

Hi Craig -

I opened file in question with Nikon editor and colors were restored.. Im in the process of saving file as .tiff and then opening in Adobe. I use Pictopia as well and my G4 colors match the lightjet prints perfectly. Thanks for your input! This is my first dslr and my NEF (RAW) file workflow needs a little tweaking!

M.

I have the same problem... When I use the Nicon Capture is absolutely diferent. I think the Plugin "Camera raw" is not the better for Nikon NEF.

Some examples:

Photoshop:

Nikon Capture:

Photoshop:

Nikon Capture:

The diference is absolutely impresionant!

What you describes here is quit strange since all the reviews I sow said that the Nikon software is a little a bit better but not that better...

Maybe because of the unusual colors profiles we have underwater the there are such a big different.

Eric pointed out a while ago that different RAW converters have different strengths and weaknesses. Just because Adobe (my favourite) seems to offer more control does not mean that it will do a better job than the manufacturer's own brand.

Eric's feature: http://www.wetpixel.com/module-pagesetter-...-1-pid-53.phtml

This is an interesting thread. Alex

The camera saves the information with every RAW file: what would have been done with a jpg file in terms of camera post processing.

But every RAW converter interprets this information a little different as they work with different software algorithms.

The results are not better/worse. They are just different when based on the camera written information in the RAW file header.

Adobe Camera RAW / CS is written for many cameras. Canons or Nikons RAW software just for one type. And the ugly camera manufactures converter (speaking of canon software) simply converts your file on a base more close as the camera would have done with saving JPG.

But as James stated, you have all the recorded data in your RAW file and can set the converting parameters for what you want.

Julian

I am about 75% finished with my article comparing RAW converters for Nikon F-mount cameras. I tested ACR, Nikon Capture, Capture One DSLR Pro, and Fuji EX 2.0

Cheers

James

I am about 75% finished with my article comparing RAW converters for Nikon F-mount cameras. I tested ACR, Nikon Capture, Capture One DSLR Pro, and Fuji EX 2.0

Really, this could be quite interesting. Which cameras did you test? I have a feeling you will see differences among converters when used with the D70 and D100, despite the cameras' similarities.

On the Wetpixel trip, I was agog by the beauty of Capture One that Eric and Alex were using with their respective Canons, although one particular sun shot of Eric's showed a huge variation (C1 was not so good in this case). I compared this with the washed out look that Nikon View had (which was the case on Paul Ng's Apple notebook as well as mine). I hadn't seen much difference between my limited trial use of Nikon Capture and CS, so I've been using CS for easier workflow. I haven't found a single review of C1 and the D100. I recall an unflattering review, but I may have confused it with the Silverfast Raw converter.

After seeing C1 and the Canon cameras, I've been less impressed with CS.

I compare shots from the Nikon D100 and the Fuji S2pro. I did not have a Nikon D70 for testing.

OK, I'll try to get off my butt and finish this article - I have a couple in the pipeline...well...make that 5 or 6 that need finishing up.

Cheers

James

On the Wetpixel trip, I was agog by the beauty of Capture One that Eric and Alex were using with their respective Canons, although one particular sun shot of Eric's showed a huge variation (C1 was not so good in this case).  I compared this with the washed out look that Nikon View had (which was the case on Paul Ng's Apple notebook as well as mine).  I hadn't seen much difference between my limited trial use of Nikon Capture and CS, so I've been using CS for easier workflow.   I haven't found a single review of C1 and the D100.  I recall an unflattering review, but I may have confused it with the Silverfast Raw converter.

 

After seeing C1 and the Canon cameras, I've been less impressed with CS.

Have you considered the possibility that this is more than a software issue.

Re Adobe camera raw - if you download the latest version you will get more controls on the conversion screen (orig version only lets you adjust exposure control and White balance).

Maybe the problem is that the post processing in CS involves a lot of menu work whilst Nik progs (editor and pic project) put the controls right in front of you on the screen.

Personally I do all my "tampering" with CS and find it very good - my main problem is that the D70 RAW files look dull and washed and take quite a LOT of tweaking before they are ready. I presume this is the same for RAW from other cameras (?????? is it - the D70 is my first RAW capable camera).

www.whiteheadimages.com

I am about 75% finished with my article comparing RAW converters for Nikon F-mount cameras.  I tested ACR, Nikon Capture, Capture One DSLR Pro, and Fuji EX 2.0

 

Cheers

James

Hey James can you include Bibble in your review?

Good Morning everyone!

I'd like to thank everyone for all of their input yesterday regarding Nikon's capture editor. I spent a few hours yesterday converting about 21 photos from Cozy and Capture is the hands down winner (compared to CS) for my D70.

Also, Nikon DOES NOT provide a product key for this software anymore.. You have to buy from nikonmall and have them send a disk via snail mail. So, if anyone (like myself) only has a few days left on their trial version call now!!!

I'll have a link to my pictures later today or Wednesday..

M.

Have you considered the possibility that this is more than a software issue.

I've considered everything. But there are too many variables to test. I have a theory, but I might be out in space. I can't test my theory unless I have another camera with me. Conversion software is much easier to test.

Hi Andrew,

I don't plan to include Bibble. I believe I have covered the major converters and don't wish to divide my time on the many many less popular software packages (Bibble, Irfranview, DCraw, etc).

If you would like, I can send you a RAW file to convert and send back with your observations.

Cheers

James