Camera setting when shooting in RAW

[Singletracklovr]

IS it true the Optimize image settings like Normal/Vivid/Soft/Portrait are not applied to the image if you shoot in RAW? That they only take effect if you use jpeg?

[Frog]

Hadn't thought of it before but that is probably true.
When you shoot raw you have the option of making them soft, vivid, etc. in editing.
You can do some of that even with jpeg but not as effectively, especially if you shot anything but normal.
This is what I think but someone with more knowledge may disagree.

[OldClicker]

I don't use Nikon, but as far as I know this is true for Nikon also:

RAW is nothing but the digital representation of the amount of light that hit each of the sensors and which color filter (red, green or blue) was in front of that sensor, but the camera settings ARE also saved in the file and whatever software you use to render that RAW file into something usable and visible may use those settings to show you the image.

TF

[Franglais]

I just tried it with my D300 and NX2 to be sure.

OldClicker is right. The camera settings are recorded in the NEF file as individual adjustments and you can change them in NX2 with an interface that is very similar to what you see in the camera (I couldn't find the Yellow filter I set for monochrome but it might be elsewhere)

NX2 actually presents different possibilites according to the camera model. A NEF taken with the D60 doesn't have the same options as one taken with the D300.

[armando_m]

if i look at the raw files using picasa, then the settings are ignored

using capture nx2 as mentioned above does use the settings at the time the photo was taken. this can be changed to the settings supported by the particular model used to shoot the photo.

I triedd lightroom for a while and it interpreted correctly the settings of the D40.

[Frog]

Very interesting. Don't know how I would use the knowledge but it is knowledge.
Thank you to all of you that can figure this stuff out.

[Singletracklovr]

Yes, thank you all, for reporting your experiments and thoughts.
So If I understand this right. The setting are applied when I render the photo in the PP software and of course I can change it if I don't like the effect because the RAW file has not been altered.
This saves me from taking the same shot 3-4 time with different Optimize image settings. Basicly get the exposure right and do the rest at the kitchen table.
Sweet...

[Franglais]

...
This saves me from taking the same shot 3-4 time with different Optimize image settings. Basicly get the exposure right and do the rest at the kitchen table.
Sweet...

You don't even have to get the exposure right. With NX2 I can adjust the exposure by plus or minus 2 stops (though plus or minus 1 stop is best). The metering on modern cameras is very good but on at least half of my images I make small adjustments (less than half a stop usually).

The RAW file contains data in the highlights and shadows that is lost in the conversion to JPG but NX2 can get it back. Having done that I often have to modify curves or apply D-lighting to make the result look natural.

[Bluesman1952]

You don't even have to get the exposure right. With NX2 I can adjust the exposure by plus or minus 2 stops (though plus or minus 1 stop is best). The metering on modern cameras is very good but on at least half of my images I make small adjustments (less than half a stop usually).

The RAW file contains data in the highlights and shadows that is lost in the conversion to JPG but NX2 can get it back. Having done that I often have to modify curves or apply D-lighting to make the result look natural.

I have a question...I want to download NX2, and I see there is View NX2, and Capture NX2.
Are these both one and the same? Which is the one I need for my 300s. I currently have View NX.

[Singletracklovr]

I have a question...I want to download NX2, and I see there is View NX2, and Capture NX2.
Are these both one and the same? Which is the one I need for my 300s. I currently have View NX.

I believe Capture NX2 is the editing program that Nikon sells for ~$179US Best price I've seen lately is $124. ViewNX is free from nikon. It also is an editing program. Much slower and a few less features. I've not seen ViewNX2.

From our other discussion, if you plan to mostly shoot jpeg I would recommend checking out Photoshop Elements. To me NX2 is more of a RAW editor. I believe you could do more with Elements. IMO

[Franglais]

I believe Capture NX2 is the editing program that Nikon sells for ~$179US Best price I've seen lately is $124. ViewNX is free from nikon. It also is an editing program. Much slower and a few less features. I've not seen ViewNX2.

From our other discussion, if you plan to mostly shoot jpeg I would recommend checking out Photoshop Elements. To me NX2 is more of a RAW editor. I believe you could do more with Elements. IMO

I agree. I use Capture NX2 to do adjustments to the RAW file and get the original image just the way I want it. If the original image is what I want then I just convert the adjusted RAW file to JPG in NX2 and that's the finished product.

However if I want to modify the original image - smooth skin, make parts of the image lighter or darker, remove unecessary details, combine two images etc. - I use NX2 to convert the adjusted RAW file to TIFF and use an image editing program to make the changes (Paint Shop Pro in my case but Elements would do as well).

I've never tried Elements with a RAW file. I tried Paint Shop Pro with a RAW file a long time ago - it managed to read the file and make changes but the result was far below what NX2 could do.

[OldClicker]

I agree. I use Capture NX2 to do adjustments to the RAW file and get the original image just the way I want it. If the original image is what I want then I just convert the adjusted RAW file to JPG in NX2 and that's the finished product.

However if I want to modify the original image - smooth skin, make parts of the image lighter or darker, remove unecessary details, combine two images etc. - I use NX2 to convert the adjusted RAW file to TIFF and use an image editing program to make the changes (Paint Shop Pro in my case but Elements would do as well).

I've never tried Elements with a RAW file. I tried Paint Shop Pro with a RAW file a long time ago - it managed to read the file and make changes but the result was far below what NX2 could do.

For RAW with Elements, you would be using Adobe Camera Raw as a 'separate' program just like with Photoshop. Same editing functionality as Lightroom. - TF

[Bluesman1952]

For RAW with Elements, you would be using Adobe Camera Raw as a 'separate' program just like with Photoshop. Same editing functionality as Lightroom. - TF

Thanks everyone.
There is an update for View NX to version 1.5 but it doesn't do anything like capture. I downloaded the trial version of Capture and it is awesome. For some reason, the trial version said 60 days, then when I reopened the program, it said zero days left and wouldn't run. It won't let you download it again. Now I am stuck with some nice photos that I played around with changing curves and they were saved as .NTC files and I cannot open them :-)

[Singletracklovr]

For some reason, the trial version said 60 days, then when I reopened the program, it said zero days left and wouldn't run. It won't let you download it again. Now I am stuck with some nice photos that I played around with changing curves and they were saved as .NTC files and I cannot open them :-)

I've never heard of a NTC file.
I wonder if the issues is windows7 not playing well with CaptureNX2
DO you have your original jpeg you know the master copy?

[Bluesman1952]

I've never heard of a NTC file.
I wonder if the issues is windows7 not playing well with CaptureNX2
DO you have your original jpeg you know the master copy?

I shot it Raw and saved it as a jpeg, then after I fooled with the curves, the only way it would let me save the file was .ntc. It didn't keep it as a .NEF...is that the right extension? .NEF for RAW?? Yes, I still have the jpeg.
Then I tried to reopen the file and Capture did open the NTC file, but after a second time, Capture all of a sudden said "zero days left in your trial". I called support and they said it is fully compatible with windows 7, and I would have to actually purchase the software since it won't let me re-download the trial. It would have been $99.00 for a license key, now it will be a ton for the software. For as much as I will use it, I'll pass.
View NX, if you mess with the curves it still saves the file as jpeg, nef or tiff.
I am not into all that stuff anyway, although fooling with the curves gave the clouds and blue sky a very strange effect!

[Singletracklovr]

I shot it Raw and saved it as a jpeg, then after I fooled with the curves, the only way it would let me save the file was .ntc. It didn't keep it as a .NEF...is that the right extension? .NEF for RAW?? Yes, I still have the jpeg.
Then I tried to reopen the file and Capture did open the NTC file, but after a second time, Capture all of a sudden said "zero days left in your trial". I called support and they said it is fully compatible with windows 7, and I would have to actually purchase the software since it won't let me re-download the trial. It would have been $99.00 for a license key, now it will be a ton for the software. For as much as I will use it, I'll pass.
View NX, if you mess with the curves it still saves the file as jpeg, nef or tiff.
I am not into all that stuff anyway, although fooling with the curves gave the clouds and blue sky a very strange effect!

Hi Joe,
Good to know NX2 is is compatible with Windows7.

Yep, .NEF is the nikon RAW file. NTC must be some in-between format for the curves application within NX2.

I have been using the NX2 trial version for the last couple weeks. I don't think I'll be buying it at this time either. Between the two, NX2 applies the adjustment faster than ViewNX.
However, my trial version has bugs. I don't think it likes my 22" monitor with a screen res of 1680x1050. The Browser keeps jump out of the frame and when I select the maximize button on the photo the picture disappear all together. No bugs in ViewNX.

Good to hear you still have your master jpeg pictures. It's sucks when you loose them.
I always play with copies even when I'm playing with RAW files.

[Franglais]

I have no idea about .NTC files, trial period running out, etc.

But I do know that NX2 is not bug-free.From time to time it freezes for no reason and you just have to restart it. That doesn't stop me using it.

$99 is a good deal for NX2.

[Bluesman1952]

I have no idea about .NTC files, trial period running out, etc.

But I do know that NX2 is not bug-free.From time to time it freezes for no reason and you just have to restart it. That doesn't stop me using it.

$99 is a good deal for NX2.

Thanks! Maybe it is a windows 7 glitch?
All I know is when I altered the RAW file, I had no option to save it anything else but an .NTC file. Being a former computer tech, that caught my interest and googled it, and came up with all kinds of freeware to open NTC files but I don't trust these websites.
Well, my birthday is coming and I will ask the wife for the software :-)

[Bluesman1952]

I heard many times about the raw shooting but don't know clearly about it.

David, to me, RAW is the best format to shoot in. I was just having difficulty when I re-touched the photo and went to save it.
The software would save the file in a format that I couldn't open. Something called .NEF???

I no longer use that software and the issue is resolved.
To me, shooting RAW captures the finest possible photo and you can make certain changes to RAW files that you cannot make to a JPEG or TIFF.