Raw vs jpg issue, I give up, will Nikon Capture be the solution?

[sjackal]

I love Nikon colors. I love the jpg produced by my camera.

While I shoot Raw+jpg, I am thinking I will use the jpg if the picture is ok, and will use Raw as a backup for savaging/correcting pics, etc, if needed.

So I was post processing this jpg picture, all done, I saved over the original picture, but the next day I look at it, I thought it looked a bit overprocessed, nevermind I thought, I'll just extract another jpg from my raw file and redo it. So I spent long time trying to get it look like my original jpg, but failed, it just never looked the way it was produced by my camera. The Lightroom conversion also added more noise.

Will using Nikon Capture render the raw files more accurately like the way it was shot in camera?

 

[pandukades]

I love Nikon colors. I love the jpg produced by my camera.

While I shoot Raw+jpg, I am thinking I will use the jpg if the picture is ok, and will use Raw as a backup for savaging/correcting pics, etc, if needed.

So I was post processing this jpg picture, all done, I saved over the original picture, but the next day I look at it, I thought it looked a bit overprocessed, nevermind I thought, I'll just extract another jpg from my raw file and redo it. So I spent long time trying to get it look like my original jpg, but failed, it just never looked the way it was produced by my camera. The Lightroom conversion also added more noise.

Will using Nikon Capture render the raw files more accurately like the way it was shot in camera?

I too have encountered simillar problems at times.. Waiting to see the experiances of CSérs.

 

[snoopyzai]

Yes definitly better. Previously using the Capture NX and noew upgraded to Capture NX 2. All i can say is that for NEF file it really does better than other software with the least effort in editing with the software.

 

[knpan]

I too had similar problems when i started using RAW back about 5 months ago. As you go on, u will improve. Trust me. I dont think it is on the programme u use ( Though some might be better etc ) , but it is how you really bring out the clour in RAW. yeah....to me the white balance is the 1 that takes up most of the tiem for raw preocessing

 

[two200]

Not sure for Nikon but for Canon, the bundled software for RAW actually has picture style function that will convert to any jpg picture style that is available for the jpg taken by camera.
Maybe your bundled software has a similar function? :think:

 

[sjackal]

I too had similar problems when i started using RAW back about 5 months ago. As you go on, u will improve. Trust me. I dont think it is on the programme u use ( Though some might be better etc ) , but it is how you really bring out the clour in RAW. yeah....to me the white balance is the 1 that takes up most of the tiem for raw preocessing

I trust you. I guess need more work on. And if its a lot of pictures...

Not sure for Nikon but for Canon, the bundled software for RAW actually has picture style function that will convert to any jpg picture style that is available for the jpg taken by camera.
Maybe your bundled software has a similar function? :think:

Nikon bundled software is the Capture loh, but free for 30 days only. Must pay for full version.

 

[tanhb]

Use ViewNX that come with your camera to convert the RAW file to JPG. I believe it uses the same conversion engine as CaptureNX.

 

[pisduck]

lightroom is by adobe right? Did you try the camera profiles for adobe raw? Adobe provide custom profiles for a LOT of cameras so that the colors will duplicate the in-camera engine.

 

[kkcharles82]

I love Nikon colors. I love the jpg produced by my camera.

While I shoot Raw+jpg, I am thinking I will use the jpg if the picture is ok, and will use Raw as a backup for savaging/correcting pics, etc, if needed.

So I was post processing this jpg picture, all done, I saved over the original picture, but the next day I look at it, I thought it looked a bit overprocessed, nevermind I thought, I'll just extract another jpg from my raw file and redo it. So I spent long time trying to get it look like my original jpg, but failed, it just never looked the way it was produced by my camera. The Lightroom conversion also added more noise.

Will using Nikon Capture render the raw files more accurately like the way it was shot in camera?

Guys, there is no need to "backup" your RAW shots with jpeg files. That is just a plain waste of card space and time. You can use a small application available online to extract the embedded jpeg file that is present in the RAW. This jpeg file will be the same as that created in the RAW+jpg option. The following links are good for you to try, I personally use Faststone Viewer,

Faststone Viewer : http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm
Preview Extracter : http://drchung.new21.net/previewextractor/
RawShooter Essential 2006 : http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-shooter-essentials.php

Preview Extracter has the additional ability to extract the metadata from your shot that can reflect your camera's shutter count. I have not tested this software before, neither RawShooter, so feedback on this 2 will be beneficial to the community.

 

[armchairsurf]

As to my understanding and experience with my previous D80...

Lightroom 1 was not able to read (or decode) some data in the raw file, thus when u read ya raw with it, the colours come out DULL (Nikon colours should be vibrant!)

Go google for it. I found out about this somewhere on the net, and from then on, either I shoot both jpeg and raw OR I will just shoot raw to convert in NX capture...

Hope this helps....

 

[wildsoyabean]

raw takes lots of time...i dun do it unless for impt shots...i use photoshop though...but damn maifan if i were to do it for more than 50 shots...spoils the fun of photo-taking.

 

[Octarine]

Have you tried Lightroom 2? Comes with a lot of Adobe RAW filters to import most camera RAW formats. There's a free trial version.
Secondly: 'vibrant' is interpretation, your camera display is not accurate anyway. RAW is dull to a certain extend and when compared to JPG - just because it's unprocessed. None of the presets for 'vibrant' or whatever are applied here, it's just the plain data from the sensor. Before judging colours please make sure your screen is neutral (properly profiled). Otherwise you won't get any decent results whatever you do.

 

[tomcat]

I love Nikon colors. I love the jpg produced by my camera.

While I shoot Raw+jpg, I am thinking I will use the jpg if the picture is ok, and will use Raw as a backup for savaging/correcting pics, etc, if needed.

So I was post processing this jpg picture, all done, I saved over the original picture, but the next day I look at it, I thought it looked a bit overprocessed, nevermind I thought, I'll just extract another jpg from my raw file and redo it. So I spent long time trying to get it look like my original jpg, but failed, it just never looked the way it was produced by my camera. The Lightroom conversion also added more noise.

Will using Nikon Capture render the raw files more accurately like the way it was shot in camera?

If you want to get raw conversions that are closest in look to the out-of-camera jpeg files for your NEF files, then only Nikon Capture will produce that since only Nikon knows the true interpretation of their own RAW format while all other 3rd party raw converters are simply just making their own guesses on how to interpret the Nikon RAW format.. some do it better than others of course. The same goes for other camera brands and their respective proprietory raw converters.

Just keep the settings to as shot during conversion in Capture and the result should be the same as in-camera jpegs.

 

[serametin]

If you want to get raw conversions that are closest in look to the out-of-camera jpeg files for your NEF files, then only Nikon Capture will produce that since only Nikon knows the true interpretation of their own RAW format while all other 3rd party raw converters are simply just making their own guesses on how to interpret the Nikon RAW format.. some do it better than others of course. The same goes for other camera brands and their respective proprietory raw converters.

Just keep the settings to as shot during conversion in Capture and the result should be the same as in-camera jpegs.

i agreed. no one know NEF better than nikon themselves. so nikon capture is the best for raw conversion.

 

[sjackal]

Use ViewNX that come with your camera to convert the RAW file to JPG. I believe it uses the same conversion engine as CaptureNX.

Cool, will check it out. Thanx.

lightroom is by adobe right? Did you try the camera profiles for adobe raw? Adobe provide custom profiles for a LOT of cameras so that the colors will duplicate the in-camera engine.

Hmm, I got Lightroom 2, I guess I don't know the program well enough perhaps!

Guys, there is no need to "backup" your RAW shots with jpeg files. That is just a plain waste of card space and time. You can use a small application available online to extract the embedded jpeg file that is present in the RAW. This jpeg file will be the same as that created in the RAW+jpg option. The following links are good for you to try, I personally use Faststone Viewer,

Faststone Viewer : http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm
Preview Extracter : http://drchung.new21.net/previewextractor/
RawShooter Essential 2006 : http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-shooter-essentials.php

Preview Extracter has the additional ability to extract the metadata from your shot that can reflect your camera's shutter count. I have not tested this software before, neither RawShooter, so feedback on this 2 will be beneficial to the community.

Actually I meant back up my jpeg with Raw file, not back up the raw file with jpg. But thanx for the links.

 

[sjackal]

raw takes lots of time...i dun do it unless for impt shots...i use photoshop though...but damn maifan if i were to do it for more than 50 shots...spoils the fun of photo-taking.

Exactly lor, damn maifan, I agree with you, thats the problem!

Have you tried Lightroom 2? Comes with a lot of Adobe RAW filters to import most camera RAW formats. There's a free trial version.
Secondly: 'vibrant' is interpretation, your camera display is not accurate anyway. RAW is dull to a certain extend and when compared to JPG - just because it's unprocessed. None of the presets for 'vibrant' or whatever are applied here, it's just the plain data from the sensor. Before judging colours please make sure your screen is neutral (properly profiled). Otherwise you won't get any decent results whatever you do.

Yah I am using lightroom 2 temporary but I guess I am not familiar with it yet. Anyway I don't really like it that much. I read in magazine preview that Capture features is similar to lightroom, where you can flag, and arrange and tag, etc... so for Nikon users it could be a worthly investment.

If you want to get raw conversions that are closest in look to the out-of-camera jpeg files for your NEF files, then only Nikon Capture will produce that since only Nikon knows the true interpretation of their own RAW format while all other 3rd party raw converters are simply just making their own guesses on how to interpret the Nikon RAW format.. some do it better than others of course. The same goes for other camera brands and their respective proprietory raw converters.

Just keep the settings to as shot during conversion in Capture and the result should be the same as in-camera jpegs.

Ok, very likely to get the Capture. Thanx!

i agreed. no one know NEF better than nikon themselves. so nikon capture is the best for raw conversion.

Thanx for the affirmation!

 

[two200]

Nikon bundled software is the Capture loh, but free for 30 days only. Must pay for full version.

Been thinking about your problem. Since Capture can convert RAW to out-of-camera jpg profile, one way is to instal on a computer that has not been install with Capture before so you can use it for the next 30 and rectify your problem this once. You probably would not need to use after the 30 days trial as you would have learned your lesson to keep a copy of jpg as your backup. :bsmilie:

 

[sjackal]

Been thinking about your problem. Since Capture can convert RAW to out-of-camera jpg profile, one way is to instal on a computer that has not been install with Capture before so you can use it for the next 30 and rectify your problem this once. You probably would not need to use after the 30 days trial as you would have learned your lesson to keep a copy of jpg as your backup. :bsmilie:

I am using ViewNX now to retrieve the file. Just that ViewNX don't have much edit options. Then again, I got CS3.

Capture will provide features similar to Lightroom, so that can do batch WB correction.

 

[ortega]

why not just don't overwrite your original jpeg file

 

[pisduck]

since we are talking about nikon capture, where is the place to buy? Nikon service center? or do retails shops sell it cheaper?