Nikon d3500 s-s-s-software
Aug 12, 2019 20:49:16 #
bellgamin
Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
I'm trying to get started with my new Nikon D3500 DSLR. I just downloaded & began studying a User's Manual almost 300 pages in length. Worse yet, inside the box the camera came in was a Nikon URL for downloading software updates.
Good grief, this thing looks to be almost as complex as the cockpit of a 747.
I checked Nikon's website for the software. There are just 2 items for my D3500 (ViewNX-i & Capture NX-D), both of which are for installing on one's computer. The ViewNX is used to copy pictures from camera to computer. The Capture NX is used to post-process RAW images and enhance JPEG and TIFF. HOWEVER, I plan to buy either Photoshop PRO or Luminar 3 so I have a couple of questions.
Bearing in mind that, although I am a DSLR novice, I am (not to brag) a computer whiz, please answer the following 2 questions:
Q1- Do I really need the View NX &/or CaptureNX software considering that I will be using either Photoshop Pro or Luminar 3?
Q2- Which do you recommend for a DSLR novice: Photoshop or Luminar?
Good grief, this thing looks to be almost as complex as the cockpit of a 747.
I checked Nikon's website for the software. There are just 2 items for my D3500 (ViewNX-i & Capture NX-D), both of which are for installing on one's computer. The ViewNX is used to copy pictures from camera to computer. The Capture NX is used to post-process RAW images and enhance JPEG and TIFF. HOWEVER, I plan to buy either Photoshop PRO or Luminar 3 so I have a couple of questions.
Bearing in mind that, although I am a DSLR novice, I am (not to brag) a computer whiz, please answer the following 2 questions:
Q1- Do I really need the View NX &/or CaptureNX software considering that I will be using either Photoshop Pro or Luminar 3?
Q2- Which do you recommend for a DSLR novice: Photoshop or Luminar?
Aug 12, 2019 20:58:08 #
bellgamin wrote:
Trying to get started with my new Nikon D3500 DSLR.
Is the hissing in the title of your topic necessary or do you have some sort of lisp brought on by partaking of too much pineapple?
Aug 12, 2019 21:05:04 #
You'll get lots of advice. But, no. You won't need those two pieces of software.
Aug 12, 2019 21:13:08 #
bellgamin wrote:
I'm trying to get started with my new Nikon D3500 ... (show quote)
Hi and Welcome -
First of all answers to your questions:
Q1: Nope
Q2: Take a look at Photoshop Elements. It's a good place to start your journey into post processing. 3 levels of expertise. Once you feel comfortable with the highest level you may want to move onto Photoshop and Lightroom. They are a bundle that you pay a yearly subscription for.
Then:
Comment 1: Don't let the curmudgeons on this board get to you.
- FTn
Aug 12, 2019 23:57:35 #
Steve DeMott
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
I agree with FTn with one exception. With your experience with computers start with photoshop & Lightroom first.
Aug 13, 2019 00:11:36 #
bellgamin wrote:
please answer the following 2 questions:
bellgamin wrote:
Q1 - Do I really need the View NX &/or CaptureNX software considering that I will be using either Photoshop Pro or Luminar 3?
A1 - No, you do not need ViewNX, BUT, it can be an excellent tool for easily and quickly viewing, sorting and rating images. These can then be opened directly into other programmes, e.g. PS
No, you do not need CaptureNX if you are going to be using other software.
bellgamin wrote:
Q2 - Which do you recommend for a DSLR novice: Photoshop or Luminar?
A2 - Unable to answer as I have no experience of Luminar, I use PS.
Aug 13, 2019 01:48:44 #
bellgamin
Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
@Grahame -- based on your answer to Q1, I took a closer look at ViewNX by browsing through its Help files online. It looked pretty well designed for a freebie. Then I read the Help file for Capture, & it looked equally high-quality. I shall install them both on a virtual machine & take a closer look before doing a regular install. It's free software, with the photography stuff nicely dumbed-down for a rookie so --- why not? However, I still plan to graduate to Photoshop rather early on, because it seems to offer endless possibilities for messing around (I'm retired & have time on my hands).
@FTn -- I just bought PS Elements (boxed CD) for a good price on EBAY, from a seller I have dealt with before. When it gets here, I shall shelve it for a while, until I accumulate some pictures worth working with.
@Anybody -- I'm still interested in comments relative to the quality/user-friendliness/effectiveness of Photoshop versus Luminar or any other competing software. From comments so far, I suppose that I will eventually "graduate" from PD Elements.
@FTn -- I just bought PS Elements (boxed CD) for a good price on EBAY, from a seller I have dealt with before. When it gets here, I shall shelve it for a while, until I accumulate some pictures worth working with.
@Anybody -- I'm still interested in comments relative to the quality/user-friendliness/effectiveness of Photoshop versus Luminar or any other competing software. From comments so far, I suppose that I will eventually "graduate" from PD Elements.
Aug 13, 2019 06:51:18 #
I have both View NX-i and Capture NX-D. View NX-i has the transfer function for uploading to your computer. It creates new folders automatically and numbers the folders sequentially.
Both programs will automatically apply the same Picture Control you had selected in your camera. This applies to .jpeg files out of the camera. It doesn't apply to RAW (NEF) files. It will automatically apply the lens distortion correction profile for your lens.
Because it's Nikon software, it's utilizing 100% of the information in the RAW files.
Both programs will automatically apply the same Picture Control you had selected in your camera. This applies to .jpeg files out of the camera. It doesn't apply to RAW (NEF) files. It will automatically apply the lens distortion correction profile for your lens.
Because it's Nikon software, it's utilizing 100% of the information in the RAW files.
Aug 13, 2019 07:05:25 #
rjaywallace wrote:
Is the hissing in the title of your topic necessary or do you have some sort of lisp brought on by partaking of too much pineapple?
I get his "Hissing" and can't imagine why it would be problematic for you.
Is the hissing in the title of your topic necessary or do you have some sort of lisp brought on by partaking of too much pineapple?
I get his "Hissing" and can't imagine why it would be problematic for you.
Aug 13, 2019 07:07:59 #
CO wrote:
I have both View NX-i and Capture NX-D. View NX-i ... (show quote)
Can you please clarify your last sentence? Doesn't that also apply to other RAW processors?
(I'm interested because I may want to start using Capture NX-D for RAW instead of Affinity)
Aug 13, 2019 07:33:06 #
kpmac wrote:
You won't need those two pieces of software.
Right. I've never used them. Photoshop and Lightroom come together for $10 a month. There are lots of alternatives.
Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.html
Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/
Aug 13, 2019 08:53:17 #
[quote=bellgamin]I'm trying to get started with my new Nikon D3500 DSLR. I just downloaded & began studying a User's Manual almost 300 pages in length. Worse yet, inside the box the camera came in was a Nikon URL for downloading software updates.
Hi again -
You may want to get yourself a copy of David Busch's Nikon D3500 Guide to Digital SLR Photography (The David Busch Camera Guide Series). The manual will tell you how things work on the camera but books like this on tell you the when's and whys as well as the hows. Just a thought.
- FTn
Hi again -
You may want to get yourself a copy of David Busch's Nikon D3500 Guide to Digital SLR Photography (The David Busch Camera Guide Series). The manual will tell you how things work on the camera but books like this on tell you the when's and whys as well as the hows. Just a thought.
- FTn
Aug 13, 2019 09:00:50 #
Aug 13, 2019 09:25:51 #
Given your comfort with computers, I'd say you'll have an easier time with file managent in Lightroom than the average non-computer savy photographer. The catalog is where they all get stuck. The editor, with it's short command list shouldn't be too bad. Photoshop has a more formidable set of commands, but for photographic purposes the learning curve, while still longer than Lr, is still manageable. I see no real advantage to using other, less capable software.
Aug 13, 2019 12:58:10 #
photoman022
Loc: Manchester CT USA
kpmac wrote:
You'll get lots of advice. But, no. You won't need those two pieces of software.
I shoot the D3000 series and only use Photoshop Elements 14 for post processing. I have my own system for downloading, so you don't need the Nikon software (as has already been stated).
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