deanc56

Hello...first post, and new to this forum (and it's awesome!)
Sorry to bore you right off the bat, but I need to put out a little baseline info. I have a new Nikon D500; I get great pictures but rarely have time to even learn Photoshop or Lightroom (tho I have LR on my iMac, OS Yosemite), so right now, I primarily organize via the Mac's iPhoto software, and fiddle with LR if I have any time. I've been using iPhoto for years as I like the general organization (I use for a lot more photos than just DLSR photos), though I'm well aware that it is extremely limited in any editing. Now, iPhoto is no longer supported (which means no updating to work with new cameras like mine) and the Apple push is to use Photos - but I don't like it. I shoot in both NEF (RAW) and .jpg; NEF on one card, and .jpgs on the other. When I download to iPhoto, it downloads the .jpgs but not the NEFs, so while I get thumbnails and can open them up, they're 'only' .jpgs. I checked the Master folder, wondering if NEF's were getting loaded 'on the side', but it only contains the .jpgs. So, I decide to create another library and import the D500 photographs into Photos. Bam.....I now get all the thumbnails of the photos that I KNOW are NEF's (not .jpgs), so I've advanced a step, but, when I go to open a thumbnail on Photos, it will not open. I've checked the new Master folder and I've now saved NEF files, so I have that going for me. One more thing, I do NOT use iCloud (not a fan of that, either).
Bottom line is that neither iPhoto nor Photos appears to work with NEFs (curious if there are updates to Photos to now support D500/NEFs, but haven't discovered anything), so I'm trying to figure out 'simple' software that allows me to download, organize, and view full-sized NEFs and if I really want to edit, I can drag into LR and muddle my way along (but I've not even figured out basic organization with LR)
Sorry if this got confusing, but I'm a tad frustrated now, so appreciate any suggestions!
Thx
Dean

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Hi Dean! Congratulations on the D500, what a capable camera you have there! I think what I would do is download Nikon's free NX-D software. Oops... not sure if it will run on a Mac but take a look. If not, give Adobe's Elements a look as it might be a bit easier to learn than Lr or PS. Also, google free raw converting software and quite a bit will come up. I hear RawTherapee mentioned a lot. And ask the guys on the DPR (digital photography review) Retouching Forum this same question and you will get a ton of info. Take a look at the D500 forum there as well.

picsman Loc: Scotland

I use DxO because it is simpler than photoshop but it doesn't have a catalogue system so I just create my own folders and albums. DxO accepts NEF but so does Luminar, Affinity and On1. You should trial on or two to see what works for you.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

The software that came with the camera will open the NEF files.

Some possibly helpful links -

http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/170/NEF_Codec.html
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/microsite/capturenxd/download/

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

Both Photos and iPhoto will open NEF files. Even though iPhoto and Aperture are no longer supported, Apple supports new RAW formats in its routine updates of the operating system, which then allows Photos, Aperture, and iPhoto to read them.

I went off Aperture a year ago anticipating eventual non-ability to open, but it still functions just fine with Sierra.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

First of all, you must understand that every camera produces a different raw file. By this I don't mean camera brand, but camera model - the NEF file from you D500 differs form a D810 or a D4 and every other Nikon camera. Now, unlike Windows,on the Mac the OS itself contains the programs that read raw files, so when you take updates to the OS part of the update includes the demosaicing programs required for newer model cameras. So you probably need to install the upgrade to Sierra (or just upgrade to a newer version of OS X).

Otherwise, Nikon's own program can read your NEF files, as can some others.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Dean, I suggest you learn the basic rules of using LR for organizing your images. You already have it, and it is a powerful tool. That would be the easiest, least frustrating solution. Even if you seldom use the editing capabilities of LR, it can make your life so much easier!

Just a brief description of the process:

First, you already have your images in a folder on your HD. This is where they live now and will continue to live.

Second, use the "Import" function in LR to bring the entire folder into LR. LR is only a "catalog", your photos are still in the folder on your HD. LR "reads" from that folder and allows you to see, print, edit, etc. then the changes are also automatically included in your HD folder.

Third, once you have LR interacting with your HD folder, you must remember to ONLY make changes from within LR. If you want to move photos from one sub-folder to another, do it in LR. If you want to use another program to do some editing, like Photomatix for HDR, etc., they can be used as "plug-ins", and accessed from within LR. Same thing for PS if you have the Adobe CC plan, you access it from LR. Then any edits made in other programs will be brought back into LR automatically, even though the "Save As" asks you to choose from a folder/sub-folder from your HD. If you were to change anything directly in your HD folder, LR will tell you the photo is "missing" because it is not in the position where it is looking for it. You can show it where it is, and all will be well, but it is simpler/easier to just make changes from within LR.

LR is designed to work with other programs, as well as being able to function as a stand-alone program. In addition, if you have the Adobe CC subscription, you will never run into your current situation of incompatibility. It is regularly updated, not only with new tools, improvements, etc., but also with the ability to read images taken with new cameras.

Hope this helps. And remember, even if you do not often use the other capabilities, LR can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. And you do not have to learn everything at once. Concentrate initially on the organizing capabilities. Then gradually expand your understanding of the rest.

Susan

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

This is just a hint. If you would have made your post a series of short paragraphs, like the last reply, I would have taken time to read the whole thing.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Congratulations.





Congratulations again.



That is not exactly correct. Apple updates Digital Camera Raw regularly and iPhoto used Digital Camera Raw. Per Apple (see link below) the Mac OS Sierra version of Digital Camera Raw does support the D500 raw images, but only in the Nikon L format.

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207049

deanc56

All, thank you so much for your thoughtful answers, it is greatly appreciated....looks like I have some work to do but I now have some great direction thanks to you!

For BobHarfung....thanks for the lack of help. I had a lot of thoughts all trying to get out at one time; most others were kind enough to work around my shortfalls. I'll try to remember to use the AP style guide next time....

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Please try not to let the BogHarfung's of this forum get you down. There are a few of them like that here, but also many more are willing to help.

If you would like, I would be happy to try to open one of your D500 NEFs on my computer, using iPhoto. And I will let you know if it works.I still have Aperture and iPhoto on this machine, and they both are functional. I use them for quick access to my "legacy library". I am running the latest version of Mac OS (10.12.4). If you would like to try that please send me a PM.