Opening .nef files in Adobe Lightroom?

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 17:47

How do you do it? When I try, it just says something like; "These files cannot be opened as they cannot be read". Do I have to convert them first, or is there a plugin or something? It seems stupid that it can't read .nef as surely thats going to affect a lot of Nikon users.

robertgilbert86 · 21 Apr 2007 at 17:56

It all works fine for me.

DR_D · 21 Apr 2007 at 17:57

i'm guessing you just need the latest Adobe RAW converter package

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:00

Weird. What version you got robertgilbert86? Im using 1.0

tsinc80697 · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:09

Its obvious why it doesnt work, the camera shop gave you a broke D40X

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:12

tsinc80697 said:
Its obvious why it doesnt work, the camera shop gave you a broke D40X

Nothing wrong with my D40X... I just can't actually open the pics thats all.

robertgilbert86 · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:15

messiah khan said:
Weird. What version you got robertgilbert86? Im using 1.0

I'm on v1.0, try the latest photoshop 'camera raw' plug-in.

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:39

Ive tried the Photoshop RAW plugin, and no luck. The Raw converter says "cannot parse files" as well. Doesn't seem like anything wants to opne them:/ Ive just tried shooting in jpg, and they open fine.

Joe T · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:43

Its possible that Adobe Camera Raw hasnt been updated yet for the D40x. Maybe check Adobe's website?

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:45

It doesn't actually mention D40X under the RAW4 compatibility list, so that might be the case. I would have though the D40 and D40X were so similar that it would work though. Hope thats whats causing it. They better hurry up though, as I want to view my pics.

Joe T · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:47

messiah khan said:
It doesn't actually mention D40X under the RAW4 compatibility list, so that might be the case. I would have though the D40 and D40X were so similar that it would work though. Hope thats whats causing it. They better hurry up though, as I want to view my pics.

Different sensor, so quite possibly a slightly different file. Hope they sort it out soon.

Joe T · 21 Apr 2007 at 18:49

I think you can use Picture Project for basic RAW conversion?

Messiah Khan · 21 Apr 2007 at 19:02

Ok, thanks for that. Just reading some Nikon Forums, and it seems people can't open D40X nef files in Aperture either, so it would seem an update is needed. So im back to shooting jpegs for now. Probably better, as ive only got a 512mb card until my 2x2bg cards turn up, and a 10mp raw file seems to eat up space like theres no tomorrow. That will teach me to be lucky and get a brand new D40X

robertgilbert86 · 22 Apr 2007 at 07:48

messiah khan said:
Ok, thanks for that. Just reading some Nikon Forums, and it seems people can't open D40X nef files in Aperture either, so it would seem an update is needed. So im back to shooting jpegs for now. Probably better, as ive only got a 512mb card until my 2x2bg cards turn up, and a 10mp raw file seems to eat up space like theres no tomorrow. That will teach me to be lucky and get a brand new D40X

Lightroom can do JPEGs just as well as NEFs, I'd use that for processing.

Shoei · 22 Apr 2007 at 09:36

Waht about getting the trial of Capture NX, open the NEF's then save as tif for lightroom. Saying that, tried the lightroom trial, but sticking with NX for processing NEF's. Control points are brilliant in NX

Messiah Khan · 22 Apr 2007 at 10:44

Im sticking to Jpegs for now. Ive managed to convert the nef file to jpg, via Nikon Picture Project. I don't really want to have to rely on it though, as I really like my Lightroom>CS2 workflow.

SilverPenguin · 22 Apr 2007 at 13:07

Bit of topic but can you shoot compressed RAW with the D40x? I switched the compressed with my D200 to save space and never looked back. I now do the same with my D2x as well.

Purists say you lose detail using compressed RAW but I've done test shots and the difference is so small you'd wouldn't even know there was one even when viewing at %100.

That will give your 2gig cards about 270 pictures each if I remember rightly.

Shoei · 22 Apr 2007 at 17:05

SilverPenguin said:
Bit of topic but can you shoot compressed RAW with the D40x? I switched the compressed with my D200 to save space and never looked back. I now do the same with my D2x as well.

Purists say you lose detail using compressed RAW but I've done test shots and the difference is so small you'd wouldn't even know there was one even when viewing at %100.

That will give your 2gig cards about 270 pictures each if I remember rightly.

If its any thing like the D70/D50 then the RAW's are compressed any way. No option on my D80 to select uncompressed RAW.

I get 322 images on a 4gb card set to RAW only.

Messiah Khan · 22 Apr 2007 at 19:29

SilverPenguin said:
Bit of topic but can you shoot compressed RAW with the D40x? I switched the compressed with my D200 to save space and never looked back. I now do the same with my D2x as well.

Purists say you lose detail using compressed RAW but I've done test shots and the difference is so small you'd wouldn't even know there was one even when viewing at %100.

That will give your 2gig cards about 270 pictures each if I remember rightly.

As Shoei says, the RAW on the D40x is compressed by default, and theres no way to save it as uncompressed as far as I can tell. Its quite good actually, as I was shooting in 10mp jpegs today, and managed to fill a 512mb card and a 256mb card in about an hour. I would have to end up lugging a small fileserver around with me if I shot in uncompressed RAW.

Completely OT... Anyone know if its possible, and how to enable auto exposusure bracketing on the D40/D40x? Ive figured out how to use the exposure compensation, but I want the camera to do it automatically when I press the shutter.

SilverPenguin · 22 Apr 2007 at 19:34

An 8gig card is what you need, I get almost 800 compressed RAW with the D2x

(feel free NOT to say 'all your eggs in one baskset' anyone lol. When your out shooting wildlife the last thing you want is to swap cards and risk missing a shot)