Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Found two DVDs which may have arrived with one of my digital Nikons ( I think ) or maybe they arrived in one of my many books ( probably ); 1) Nikon Software Suite and 2) Nikon ViewNX2. They SEEM to state how to use them but they never seem to say what they are for. I just wish manufacturers would write things in lay man's term, plain language. Does anyone know what theses two DVDs are???

snowbear

Nikon ViewNX2 is a utility to transfer your shots to the computer. It will also convert raw format images to TIFF or JPEG, and provides some very basic editing capabilities. I recommend it until you can get something like Lightroom or Photoshop.

I don't know about Nikon Software Suite, but it may be the books and/or a photo organizing program. There should be a "read me" type file on the DVD that explains it, otherwise nikonusa.com might have some hints.

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Thanks. I can down load photos from SD cards directly to my laptop. However I would like to learn how to manipulate or transfer RAW photos. I opened the ViewNX2 disc and it all looked "Greek" to me and I have above average intelligence.

snowbear

Once you install ViewNX2, take a few test shots in raw (NEF files). ViewNX2 should just boot up when you plug the card (or camera) in.

Actually, there will also be a program "Nikon Transfer 2" that will actually transfer the photos from the camera, but each program should start automatically.

I don't really use them now, I use Lightroom. I have the Nikon apps installed as a backup. There are some test shots on my Flickr page comparing NEF-to-JPG using Adobe and using ViewNX2, and JPG straight from the camera.

deej

I can't remember which one, but one will show the point of focus. Maybe other software will but I couldn't tell you.

snowbear

View NX2 will show you focus point.

deej

Thanks Snowbear for clearing that up! I very seldom use this software as I also use Cs5 and Lightroom 4 and the Nik package for everything.

richie4223 Loc: Ocala Flordia

I know most serious photographers use one of the "photoshop" programs (Lightroom or Elements or Photoshop )for post processing. I am beginning to use/learn Ligtroom 4, but up to now have used Capture NX/2, but it has some drawbacks...OK maybe a lot of drawbacks...does Nikon plan to issue NX/3 ?

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Thanks for all the replies. I went on NIKON.com and saw so many, many negative reviews about ViewNX2 especially the one about it deleting files and the one about it renaming files incorrectly and after modifying a photo it deleted the original photo. I'm not all that interested in manipulating photos in the computer. I have a photoshop man who does that for me at very, very reasonable price. However, once in a while I may want to tinker. So, I'll wait until I can afford a better software. If I were to utilize ViewNX2 I would not allow it to transfer photos from my SD card. Rather I would down load using Windows, set up a separate folder of copied photos and then play with ViewNX2. Again thanks for all your inputs. Now off to review Elements, Lightroom and Photoshop. Any recommendations?

micro Loc: Texas

If you go to nikonusa.com, search on digitutor.
You'll find a video on ViewNX2.