New Camera...ViewNX2, Convert, CS5...Calgon Take Me Away! My husband bought me a new camera, Nikon 5200 with 18-55 lens and also 55-300 lens. I have had a Canon since 2005. Several...

CardinalLady Loc: Hoosier

My husband bought me a new camera, Nikon 5200 with 18-55 lens and also 55-300 lens. I have had a Canon since 2005. Several changes including only being able to open my RAW files in ViewNX2. So I then converted to Tiff and then uploaded in CS5. That's all I could figure out. Is there a better way?

OK so I took some backyard photos to get the hang of it. The Pileated Woodpecker was overexposed so I cropped and worked on it some. It still looks a little lifeless. The others I may have cropped some and tried to do very little. These are my first true bird photos.

Would love some advice on processing, composition, etc...any advice you can give to help this transition easier!
Thanks so much! Love UHH!

Pileated Woodpecker, female

Tufted Titmouse

Red bellied Woodpecker, male

Red Squirrel

My bird watching buddy, Boogity Boo, keeping the rabbits in line.

Shrub Rose

Chipmunk

Clematis

Cardinal, male

kit_kit Loc: NYC

CardinalLady wrote:

My husband bought me a new camera, Nikon 5200 with... (show quote)

Have you tried the ACR plug-in for CS5?

Some other programs that quickly come to mind that can process NEF files are Picasa, Faststone, and Gimp with the UFRaw plug-in. UFRaw can also be used as a stand-alone program. If you download the Nikon Raw Codec you can view NEF files in Windows Explorer.

CardinalLady Loc: Hoosier

kit_kit wrote:

Have you tried the ACR plug-in for CS5?

Some other programs that quickly come to mind that can process NEF files are Picasa, Faststone, and Gimp with the UFRaw plug-in. UFRaw can also be used as a stand-alone program. If you download the Nikon Raw Codec you can view NEF files in Windows Explorer.

Thank you! I will look those up and try! I see many use Picasa on the Forum.
Thanks again Kit Kit! Love black cats!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Adorable shot of the cat and rabbit - as long as no animal was harmed in the making of this movie :)

I like your perspective and composition in the chipmunk photo very much. And you captured the red squirrel's tail beautifully.

The titmouse shot is very cute too, though I might crop a bit off bottom.

Hope you have a great time learning your new gear!

CardinalLady Loc: Hoosier

Linda From Maine wrote:

Adorable shot of the cat and rabbit - as long as no animal was harmed in the making of this movie :)

I like your perspective and composition in the chipmunk photo very much. And you captured the red squirrel's tail beautifully.

The titmouse shot is very cute too, though I might crop a bit off bottom.

Hope you have a great time learning your new gear!

Thank you, Linda! No one harmed. Boo seems to think they are his playmates and they have all gotten used to him. All the birds vie for that spindly branch on top of the redbud tree. The squirrel was flashing his tail like teenagers flip their hair back, so beautiful. Thanks for your advice!

kit_kit Loc: NYC

CardinalLady wrote:

My husband bought me a new camera, Nikon 5200 with... (show quote)

To me the shots other than the Woodpecker look underexposed. I see you used -1.67 EV which is probably the reason.

CardinalLady Loc: Hoosier

kit_kit wrote:

To me the shots other than the Woodpecker look underexposed. I see you used -1.67 EV which is probably the reason.

Thank you, didn't realize I had done that. I need to pay closer attention. It just had me kind of boggled, old lady thing. New and changes just seem to overwhelm. I just have to charge in and adapt! Thanks for your input, Kit Kit!

kit_kit Loc: NYC

CardinalLady wrote:

Thank you, didn't realize I had done that. I need to pay closer attention. It just had me kind of boggled, old lady thing. New and changes just seem to overwhelm. I just have to charge in and adapt! Thanks for your input, Kit Kit!

You're very welcome. I hope you find it helpful.