thomas Loc: ottawa canada

Looking to buy a Nikon Z7ii but before I do, I would like to know which editing programs accept this cameras file.
I currently use lightroom 5 which I know can't be updated. I'm open to suggestions and what others use.
Thanks

ejpeters Loc: New Jersey, USA

I use Lightroom Classic through the monthly subscription.

CO

Nikon just released NX Studio. I've been using it. It's very good software. The good thing about using Nikon software with Nikon RAW files is that 100% of the information in the RAW file is being utilized. Third party software makers such as Adobe have to reverse engineer things. Only about 70% to 80% of the information in the RAW files is being utilized with third party software.

chuckla Loc: Kennesaw, GA USA

[quote=CO. Third party software makers such as Adobe have to reverse engineer things. Only about 70% to 80% of the information in the RAW files is being utilized with third party software.[/quote]

I am curious as to where you got this information.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You need to update your software is you shoot in RAW. You don't need to update your software is you shoot in JPEG. If a RAW shooter, a minor additional step is using Adobe's DNG converter to convert your NEF files to DNGs where the DNGs are then available to LR5. The DNG converter is fast and runs in batch, so it is only one minor step. But, you should retain those original NEFs for a day when / if you update your software, that does present some diskspace issues, roughly doubling the needs for each image.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Use the latest version of Nikon's free NXStudio. It is very good.

thomas Loc: ottawa canada

First thing thank you for answering my question.
Will lightroom 5 convert to dng or is this a separate program.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The DNG converter is free and separate download from Adobe.com. This post has the software and a brief presentation of the workflow below the software link:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/adobe-dng-converter.html

I suggest looking at the DNG format / version you create. Your aged LR5 will better handle an older DNG / Camera RAW (ACR) standard. I don't have LR5 installed, but if you look at the DNG version options in the LR export panel, whatever the highest DNG / ACR version LR5 could create, that's the version setting to use to convert NEF to DNG as input into LR5.

thomas Loc: ottawa canada

Thank you very much for you input.
I will look into this.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

So, with the ability to do it free, there is the question of whether this DNG approach maximizes the image results from your investment in one of Nikon's cutting-edge mirrorless and high megapixel cameras. You can use the DNG approach if / when you have the new camera and your own NEF files. I'd suggest keeping in the back of your mind some other options such as:

Nikon Capture NX-D, also free. Here, you'd convert to 16-bit TIFF in the AdobeRGB colorspace. This is a more time consuming approach over the DNG batch conversion. Also, the diskspace needs really jump with the TIFF files added to the NEF files.

There's multiple non Adobe software to purchase that overlap mostly / nearly completely to LR5. You might find these other tools become your 'editor' and you retain LR5 as your digital asset management tool, with likely revisions to your workflow.

Finally, there's the Adobe subscription that adds the full-power of Photoshop to your toolkit along with the current LR software tuned to these larger byte and pixel resolution images.

I consider the DNG approach as a temporary workaround for a newest camera release pending Adobe's release of support for the native RAW files, if you find yourself on the bleeding edge of a new camera release. Also, I find the DNG approach is very effective on sharing edits between various LR users, where we can import / export the edits and see that slider settings for the images.

Every year I add another $120 to my life-time cumulative savings of not being an annual subscriber to Adobe. But, I also haven't updated my cameras beyond those supported by my standalone LR6. A day will come when I need to move forward on cameras and the related software.

CO

A pro photographer I used to work with knows a couple of engineers at both Nikon and Adobe. The engineers both concur about the 70% to 80% of the information in the RAW file being utilized in Adobe software. Camera makers don't share information with third party companies. Third party software companies have to reverse engineer.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I believe On1 will do the job. No converting from other formats is necessary.

thomas Loc: ottawa canada

Thank you all for your input!
Greatly appreciated!

tcthome Loc: NJ

LR classic/PS subscription. I imagine Capture One would also. C1 came out with a Nikon specific version at a cheaper cost. You would have to check the comparison of what is available with each. One thing for sure is, who evers software you look at, they should have a list of supported cameras. Have fun with your new camera.

Affinity Photo camera list

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/73699-faq-list-of-supported-raw-cameras-19x-for-desktop-lens-correction-list/

thomas Loc: ottawa canada

Thank you for your input!