manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

Does anyone know what the difference is between View NX2 and Capture NX-D? What is the benefit of 1 over the other? It seems to me that Capture NX-D is similiar to ACR. Would that be a fair assumption? There is getting to be so many different photo converter programs and PP programs that I don't know what to use. I typically transfer my RAW photos using Nikon Transfer 2 then use ViewNX2 to move them to an external drive. I then use Bridge and CS6 for tweaking the RAW photos. I make most of my changes in ACR. Now I have things like CaptureNX-D to look at. Now I have a headache. I would like to know opinions on the best uses for these programs.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I cannot speak on behalf of others so I will tell you what I do.
I make it simple and for all my Nikon images I use Capture NX2 latest version. This is the only RAW editor that honors settings made to the camera although obviously you can modify what you need to.
Once I am done with Capture I export to Photoshop for a final tune-up before storing the originals.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

View NX2 is a free program provided to all Nikon users that allows for uploading, minor editing etc. Capture NX2 / Capture DC are for pay programs (about $180 US) that allow (depending on skill) the ability to edit and manipulate similar to Lightroom and Photoshop. (I have both View NX2 and Capture NX2, and while they are good programs, Lightroom / Photoshop are easier to use. I keep Capture because I can do some things in it that I haven't learned how to do yet in Photoshop. Plus, I feel that having more tools is always helpful. LOL.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

From my understanding, NxD is the next release of Nx2. Although Nx2 was not free, NxD is supposed to be. I read this somewhere, but don't recall where. I just checked the Nikon site and could find no information.
FWIW, I use Transfer to get files from my cards, re-name and add my copyright to them during transfer, and store them directly to their final resting place--which is a Synology Disk Station--all in one motion. I use Nx2 to convert the files for use in another program such as Photoshop. Personally, I prefer to use Nikon's native conversion rather that another program for this purposes. There must be, literally, a thousand possible workflows!

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

Thanks for the input everyone, but what is the benefit of using NX-D? How is it different.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

The biggest benefit of NxD is that it will be free (so I understand). Other than that, since I haven't used it, and I don't believe it is yet available to the general public, I can't comment. I would expect nothing less than it being as useful as the current version.

pmackd Loc: Alameda CA

Nikon Capture NX-D is available for free download on the Nikon website

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/Capture-NX-D.html

It has many features that Nikon View NX-2 lacks. However I found it to be clunky, and not user friendly compared to View NX-2 and other comparable software.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

NX-D is a poor substitute for Capture NX2 and not user friendly compared to View NX2.

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'll have to try it for myself and see what I think. I have a very long drawn out way of downloading and doing PP of photos. I could probably cut out some of the steps, hoping this would do that. Thanks again for the replies.

bedwelljp Loc: Chelmsford Essex - United Kingdom

What are the differences between Capture NX2 to Capture NX-D?
Capture NX-D is designed for a broad range of Nikon camera users wanting to use a variety of functions to develop RAW images taken with their cameras (NEF/NRW). Capture NX 2 will no longer be updated, Capture NX-D can be considered a successor to Capture NX 2.

What are the differences between the two applications?

Capture NX-D is available free of charge.
Capture NX-D does not include U Point functions (for portional editing).
Adjustments performed with Capture NX-D are saved in a sidecar file format rather than with the original NEF file.
The user interface has been changed.
There are no differences in color reproduction with RAW images developed in Capture NX-D and Capture NX 2. Images saved in Capture NX 2 can be opened in Capture NX-D in their original form.

What are the primary functions of Capture NX-D?

Adjustment functions have been specialized for RAW development.
Editing of JPEG and TIFF images is also possible.
A variety of image display formats are available.
Comparison display of multiple images is possible.
Adjustments are saved in a sidecar file format that preserves the integrity of RAW files (non-destructive).
Multiple thumbnails can be selected for simultaneous adjustment of multiple images.
Troublesome or complicated adjustment processing can be performed at once with batch processing.
RAW images can be developed and then transferred to another application in TIFF (16 bit) format.
It offers support for Picture Control.
It offers a function that enables coordinated action with Camera Control Pro 2, convenient for studio photography.