When I received my Nikon D80 six years ago, it came with CD with View NX on it. I downloaded it to the hard drive of my computer but never really used it. I chose to use Lightroom for handling and processing Nef RAW images. When I received my D610 earlier this year, it also came with a CD with this program on it. My question is threefold, are the software on these two discs the same? If not, do I have to use one program for images from my D80, and the other for my D610? What is the purpose of these programs other than viewing RAW images anyway?
They are basically the same photo editor. The one that came with the 610 might just be an updated/newer version. They are NOT camera model specific.
Thank You. I wondered if I could use the later version for my D80 as I still use it as a backup.
jsmangis wrote:
When I received my Nikon D80 six years ago, it came with CD with View NX on it. I downloaded it to the hard drive of my computer but never really used it. I chose to use Lightroom for handling and processing Nef RAW images. When I received my D610 earlier this year, it also came with a CD with this program on it. My question is threefold, are the software on these two discs the same? If not, do I have to use one program for images from my D80, and the other for my D610? What is the purpose of these programs other than viewing RAW images anyway?
When I received my Nikon D80 six years ago, it cam... (
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jsmangis, I have a downloaded version of Nikon's View NX2 and I use it for all of my JPG files (from card slot #2). I find that I need to edit all of my JPGs, especially the sharpen function. My D7000 keeps the RAW files in card slot #1 but I haven't figured out how to edit these using View NX2. To be honest I see absolutely no difference when viewing the RAW pics versus the corresponding JPG. I notice that the RAW file size is much larger than the corresponding JPG but that's all. When I download the RAW files onto my computer, I expected to see images that are not totally viewable but I don't. They look fine.
I believe that we actually are viewing an embedded JPEG file when we look at most RAW files in NX2. I'm sure someone can clarify.
I am fairly new to DSLR photography (less than a year) I have a D5200 and the same program came with it. I have recently started shooting JPEG +RAW and I can take the raw photos and adjust white balance and exposure and do basic editing with the program. I have not made the step to Lightroom or Photoshop yet. This program can handle all the basic stuff.
DaveO wrote:
I believe that we actually are viewing an embedded JPEG file when we look at most RAW files in NX2. I'm sure someone can clarify.
DaveO, if I view my RAW (NEF) images directly with "Windows Photo View" OR "PictureViewer" and by-pass View NX2 altogether, I still can see really nice images - as good as the JPG counterpart. I told my camera that I want RAW(NEF) images to be stored in Slot #1 and JPG images to be sent to the card in Slot #2. But I have no way of checking to see if this is really happening. And I am a real dunce when it comes to all this technology stuff.
-FiddleMaker
I'm still waiting for the experts to weigh in. My contention is that you're viewing the embedded jpeg by default. Help!!!
Madman
Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA
jsmangis wrote:
When I received my Nikon D80 six years ago, it came with CD with View NX on it. I downloaded it to the hard drive of my computer but never really used it. I chose to use Lightroom for handling and processing Nef RAW images. When I received my D610 earlier this year, it also came with a CD with this program on it. My question is threefold, are the software on these two discs the same? If not, do I have to use one program for images from my D80, and the other for my D610? What is the purpose of these programs other than viewing RAW images anyway?
When I received my Nikon D80 six years ago, it cam... (
show quote)
I use View NX more than any thing else, but there is a difference in the two programs that you mentioned concerning your operating system. I also had a D80 and the software that came with it. It will not work on Windows 7 but was fine in Vista. The newer software that came with my D7100 has the same functions and works with my Windows 7 Home Premium. I can go back to stored files from the D80 and re-work them without problems.
You can adjust lighting, color, sharpness, straighten, crop, etc. It's only shortcoming, in my opinion, is that it lacks a noise reduction function. I am a minimalist when it comes to post processing, so I don't miss the other advanced functions of some of the other programs.
DaveO wrote:
I'm still waiting for the experts to weigh in. My contention is that you're viewing the embedded jpeg by default. Help!!!
Not a simple answer, with most software programs you are viewing the embedded jpg which does look the same as the jpg from the camera.
It stops being true at some point, especially in programs like Lightroom and Aperture when edits are made to the raw files. What you see then is a new preview with the catalogued edit instructions applied.
You cannot actually see an image made directly from a raw file, only a rendering made from the instructions in the raw file and the metadata modifying instructions.
Searcher wrote:
Not a simple answer, with most software programs you are viewing the embedded jpg which does look the same as the jpg from the camera.
It stops being true at some point, especially in programs like Lightroom and Aperture when edits are made to the raw files. What you see then is a new preview with the catalogued edit instructions applied.
You cannot actually see an image made directly from a raw file, only a rendering made from the instructions in the raw file and the metadata modifying instructions.
Not a simple answer, with most software programs y... (
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Searcher, thanks much for your explanation.
After I have edited my JPGs with ViewNX2, they look pretty good. I don't see how I could make them much better if I were to use the RAW(NEF) corresponding images and some PP software such as Coral or Adobe. When I get real bored, perhaps I should try a trial editing software and see for myself. -FiddleMaker
FiddleMaker wrote:
Searcher, thanks much for your explanation.
After I have edited my JPGs with ViewNX2, they look pretty good. I don't see how I could make them much better if I were to use the RAW(NEF) corresponding images and some PP software such as Coral or Adobe. When I get real bored, perhaps I should try a trial editing software and see for myself. -FiddleMaker
A good test of raw/Lightroom capabilities would be to deliberately under expose an image, import the raw and jpg into your preferred software and see if the raw can be salvaged easier or better than the jpg.
I say under exposed, because there would be nothing that can be done to get details from blown out images.
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