photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I could not open my NEF files from my new Nikon (grey market) D3200 (while the model is old, the camera and technology are new to me); I was sure that it was a problem with the camera. It turns out that the problem is with the Nikon Transfer program! I "DuckDuckGo.com"ed the topic and found out that a lot of people were having the same problem with a variety of Nikon cameras and no one could say why they had the problem. As an experiment, I downloaded a photo directly from the memory card to a file I set up (not using Nikon Transfer), I then opened the photo in ACR without any problems!

I am posting this because I've read a few posts here with a similar problem. Try what I did. You may find the solution to your problem.

Now, I'm going to see about updating Nikon Transfer.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

As a matter of routine, yo should keep all of your programs updated on a regular basis. Most have an internal function to assist you with this.

William Royer Loc: Kansas

I only use a card reader to transfer images from the memory card to a file on the computer/hard drive. No issues with opening in PS or LR or ACR. Does the difficulty have anything to do with 'Nikon Transfer' itself?

William Royer Loc: Kansas

I only use a card reader to transfer images from the memory card to a file on the computer/hard drive. No issues with opening in PS or LR or ACR. Does your difficulty have anything to do with 'Nikon Transfer' itself?

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

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Use Adobe’s “Digital Negative Converter” program to convert one or all of your NEFs to DNGs. It is a free program from Adobe that converts all manufacturer’s RAW files to the DNG format. The NEFs are left untouched and the new DNGs are the standard format for PS, ACR, and Bridge. They are also the standard format for several camera manufactures and several software manufacturers. You can then store your NEFs or delete them. The program does one file at a time or all the RAW files, in a folder, at a time. A couple of weeks ago I got back from several weeks in Alaska, I had about 3000 14 bit NEFs. The program took about two and a half hours to produce 3000 DNGs. If you are using different camera brands to produce RAW files, it is handy to have them all in the same DNG format.

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CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

It's very easy to pop out the memory card and copy the photos into the pc. I use Bridge but you can just use the operating system to copy the files.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Ditto! Don't use your expensive camera as a card reader. Either use the card reader built into your computer, or buy an inexpensive card reader and use that. Chances of plugging and unplugging a transfer cable into your camera will cause damage. There's a chance that you could accidently pull on the cord and yank the camera off the table and onto the floor. You are using up the battery on your camera when and wasting time as you could put the battery on the charger and getting the camera ready for your next shoot. Card readers are faster than using a transfer cable too. Just a few reasons why you shouldn't use your camera as a card reader.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I tried to make the point as clear as possible that Nikon Transfer corrupted the NEF files. I've used a card reader for years. I update my programs regularly. When I went to Help>Update, Nikon told me that I had the latest updates installed. I installed the program "Fix Corrupted NEF" and was able to recover the files that I thought were lost forever, that's what sent me looking for the reason for the corrupted files. I'm not the only person with the problem as my web search on Duckduckgo showed me. When I download the photos directly to a folder I created, I have no problem opening them in ACR.

Digital Negative Converter cannot convert a corrupted NEF file, I know that from experience.

To reiterate: Nikon Transfer (even the newest edition) corrupts the NEF files from some cameras.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

You have now given me yet another reason that I am happy to have dropped Nikon CaptureD and replaced it with Lightroom CC.