Importing in Lightroom

[minnnt]

Hi all, quick question, do any of you use an import preset or at least one you add when importing in LR? Reason i ask is that the way LR interprets the RAW data from my camera is a lot different to the JPEG preview i see on the camera screen (which is usually realistic to the shot i wanted) and the preview in LR. It's usually much darker than what i want it to be and wondered if anyone has created their own preset to compensate for this?

All my in camera JPEG settings are set to normal or off and i tend to go by what is shown on the back of the camera rather than the histogram. Maybe that is where i am going wrong and should pay attention to what that is telling me?

Would using the Nikon software make a difference?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Many thanks,
David.

 

[sep9001]

David,

I had the same issue when I started using my D90 and yes I had an import preset setup.

However, since I have bought the Tamron 17 - 50 and the xf1 I have not setup one up on LR5. I have just been lazy and need to get one done as yesterday when editing my son's sports day photos I had to setup the lens profile for each one.

 

[minnnt]

I have the lens profile set so it recognises my 17-50 and although it usually improves things it's a right PITA that i'm lifting the exposure and shadows more than i should be doing.

 

[Ozei]

Would using the Nikon software make a difference?

Which Nikon software - NX2 or NX-D?

PS.

• Lightroom stores its .dcp files here - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (version number)\Resources\CameraProfiles.
• There's one .dcp per camera model in the sub-folder called 'Adobe Standard' - and several per camera model in the other sub-folder called 'Camera'.
• To change which one LR uses, there's a dropdown called 'Profile' in the Camera Calibration section of the interface (bottom right when in Develop module).
• Which one is LR using at the moment?

 

[minnnt]

Erm, whichever is in the box?? I think it would be NX-2 that came with a D7000?

Noticed that when I import a picture that has been took with the Tamron 70-300vc on the D7k that no apparent changes happen but with the 17-50vc Tamron and the 35mm f1.8 nikkor it darkens considerably.

Weird?

 

[Ozei]

Erm, whichever is in the box?? I think it would be NX-2 that came with a D7000?

Noticed that when I import a picture that has been took with the Tamron 70-300vc on the D7k that no apparent changes happen but with the 17-50vc Tamron and the 35mm f1.8 nikkor it darkens considerably.

Weird?

I doubt it was Capture NX2 - it's probably ViewNX2. Using Nikon software is unlikely to help since LR can't even read the edits done to a NEF by ViewNX2.

I have no idea what's going on with LR and the lenses - I'd try the same shots in another programme (Photoshop or CNX2) to see if it's a problem with LR.

 

[minnnt]

Ok thanks.

 

[redhed17]

You seem to be talking about two different things, how LR reads/displays the RAW file, and the Lens Calibration. Only the Nikon software will read the settings that were set in camera, for Jpegs, and apply them to the RAW files as a starting point for processing. LR can't read the data Nikon embeds for their software to read.

LR does have the Camera Calibration section, which by default applies settings to render the colours of the RAW file. It applies the Adobe Standard calibration, but you can change it to some of the other presets, Camera Standard, Camera Landscape, Camera Neutral and Camera Portrait if you want to possibly closer match the Picture Control that was set in camera. I think they are Adobe's attempts to match the Picture Controls used in camera. I don't know whether they take into account the camera being used, or are just a generic Portrait, Landscape etc Picture Control/Style in most camera.

You could try to making your own Camera Calibration. Take a pic, using whichever Picture Control you usually use, as a Jpeg + RAW, and then using the sliders in the Camera Calibration section try to and make the RAW file match the Jpeg as close as you can for colur. If you are in the habit of changing Picture Control, do the same for each Picture Control. You could try an internet search to see if anyone has done this for your camera, and has shared them.

Of course, this only applies to colour, the Picture Control also adjusts Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Sharpness, Hue Tone and Monochrome/Filter effects, and/or whatever else each manufacturer adjusts for the Jpeg.

I use the Adobe Standard to have a consistent starting point for processing RAW files. I have a memory of how the scene looked, and I also have an idea of what I want the image to end up like. I set my Picture Control to Neutral to try and give a more accurate Histogram, and take no notice of how the Jpeg review image looks like except for Exposure and Focus.

The Lens Calibration adjusts and, if the specific Camera and Lens combination has been measured, corrects for any distortion and vignetting. Some cameras do this in camera, but possibly only with the manufacturers own lenses. It will only do this with the Jpegs, but again, if the RAW file is opened in the manufacturers own software, it will apply the Lens settings as well as the Picture Control settings used, but if the RAW file is opened in LR, or ACR or any RAW processing software it will not.

 

[Ozei]

... I think they are Adobe's attempts to match the Picture Controls used in camera. I don't know whether they take into account the camera being used .......

They must do, otherwise why would Lightroom have so many of them. For instance, the folder below contains 152 sub-folders, one for each camera. The Nikon D4s folder has five .dcp files but the D700 folder has no less than sixteen. The D700 has so many because it could imitate the earlier D2x camera by using Nikon's D2x Mode 1, 2 & 3 Picture Controls - that's responsible for an extra six .dcp files. The latest Nikons (e.g. D4s) don't have the D2x mode as an option, hence there are less .dcp files in their folders.

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (version number)\Resources\CameraProfiles\Camera

 

[redhed17]

They must do, otherwise why would Lightroom have so many of them. For instance, the folder below contains 152 sub-folders, one for each camera.

There you go then they must do.

They are Adobe attempts to replicate the Picture Controls/Styles though because most manufacturers don't share their information, otherwise the RAW files would open up in LR looking as they did as a Jpeg would, or how they looked in camera.

 

[minnnt]

How am i talking about two different things?

If i take a picture with the D7000 and either the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or the 35mm f1.8 then the imported RAW file is vastly different to what is previewed. If i take a picture with the 70-300 it is pretty much the same as the preview.

Lens correction is turned off in camera as are most things and it is set to 'standard' picture control. I always use Adobe Standard in Lr and also apply the lens correction there too.

BUT....

Now I've just tried to replicate it and take screenshots etc to demonstrate the issue and it has stopped doing it.

 

[Brian G]

Lens correction is turned off in camera as are most things and it is set to 'standard' picture control. I always use Adobe Standard in Lr and also apply the lens correction there too.

In-camera lens correction is only applied to jpg files, not to raw.

 

[minnnt]

I know.