NEFs in LR4

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mercurius

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I've been looking at LR for PP work, but am concerned about the way it handles NEF files. I shoot with a Nikon D90 in NEF format.

I think NEFs look best in the native Nikon software and don't seem to look the same when you open them up in LR. I am aware that Nikon doesn't release its code to Adobe, but is there any way to get a high quality Nikon RAW conversion when importing into LR?

LR seems to have so many advantages over the Nikon software for PP, but am wondering if it's worth it if you actually start out with a lower quality image.
 
What exactly do you feel is wrong with it when using LR? Seems fine to me.
 
As a fellow NEF user, the only things I can suggest are:

1) Enable Lightroom's built-in Lens Correction profiles in the Develop module. If LR recognises the lenses you're using then at least it can compensate for barrelling and pincushioning.

2) I think that any changes made in Nikon's ViewNX software are saved in .XMP sidecar files. So you should be able to pre-process them in ViewNX then import them with changes intact. I haven't tried this so I could be wrong. It will also take substantially more time.

3) You could try fiddling with the Camera Calibration section in the Develop Module and have the result applied automatically (or manually) on import.

4) You could try creating presets by experimentation that give similar results to the Nikon Picture Controls on your camera.

5) Do what I do and either create presets for certain types of photography, e.g. landscape, candid portrait, formal portrait, still life, etc; or practise a fast style of post-processing where you get the temperature and exposure correct, preserve highlights where needed, set black and white clipping points, then add contrast and vibrance to suit. This can take quite a bit less than a minute, and if you find that you're doing the same adjustments more times than not, you can set up a Basic Adjustment preset.
 
Pookeyhead said:
What exactly do you feel is wrong with it when using LR? Seems fine to me.
Click to expand...

If you compare the image in ViewNX for example to how it appears in LR, it seems to me there is a quite a big difference in quality.
 
garryknight said:
As a fellow NEF user, the only things I can suggest are:

1) Enable Lightroom's built-in Lens Correction profiles in the Develop module. If LR recognises the lenses you're using then at least it can compensate for barrelling and pincushioning.

2) I think that any changes made in Nikon's ViewNX software are saved in .XMP sidecar files. So you should be able to pre-process them in ViewNX then import them with changes intact. I haven't tried this so I could be wrong. It will also take substantially more time.

3) You could try fiddling with the Camera Calibration section in the Develop Module and have the result applied automatically (or manually) on import.

4) You could try creating presets by experimentation that give similar results to the Nikon Picture Controls on your camera.

5) Do what I do and either create presets for certain types of photography, e.g. landscape, candid portrait, formal portrait, still life, etc; or practise a fast style of post-processing where you get the temperature and exposure correct, preserve highlights where needed, set black and white clipping points, then add contrast and vibrance to suit. This can take quite a bit less than a minute, and if you find that you're doing the same adjustments more times than not, you can set up a Basic Adjustment preset.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your detailed and helpful response. Sounds as if your point 5) is the way to go on this one. Can you recommend any videos online that talk you through the following steps you mention: the temperature and exposure correct, preserve highlights where needed, set black and white clipping points?
 
Id be interested to see some images devved from LR and the Nikon software side by side. I've not noticed any quality differenced between the two.
 
mercurius said:
If you compare the image in ViewNX for example to how it appears in LR, it seems to me there is a quite a big difference in quality.
Click to expand...

ViewNX applies the image settings you use in camera by default, so the RAW file is processed by default. LR doesn't do this, and you need to develop yourself.

I wonder if this is why you perceive ViewNX as doing a better job
 
garryknight said:
There was a great set of tutorial videos that were free to view back in January that describe the Develop module in depth, including all of those features. It now costs $50 to watch the whole series.

If you search YouTube, you can find a lot of tutorials for the Develop module.

I learnt how to do it from various tutorials and webinars. I don't know of any that specifically focus on these particular features, but any tutorial on the Lightroom 4 Develop module should cover them.
Click to expand...

Great advice, Garry. Many thanks.
 
boyfalldown said:
ViewNX applies the image settings you use in camera by default, so the RAW file is processed by default. LR doesn't do this, and you need to develop yourself.

I wonder if this is why you perceive ViewNX as doing a better job
Click to expand...

Yes, that could be it, I hadn't realised that this is how ViewNX processes the pics.

I'm now trying to get my head round LR4 and starting to get some pleasing results.
 
mercurius said:
I've been looking at LR for PP work, but am concerned about the way it handles NEF files. I shoot with a Nikon D90 in NEF format.

I think NEFs look best in the native Nikon software and don't seem to look the same when you open them up in LR. I am aware that Nikon doesn't release its code to Adobe, but is there any way to get a high quality Nikon RAW conversion when importing into LR?

LR seems to have so many advantages over the Nikon software for PP, but am wondering if it's worth it if you actually start out with a lower quality image.
Click to expand...

Hi
I noticed the same thing especially with nikon d7000 so now in develop module i change the camera cailbration profile from adobe standard to camera neutral which give similar starting point to viewNX.
Hope that helps
cheers
Gulam
 
mercurius said:
LR seems to have so many advantages over the Nikon software for PP, but am wondering if it's worth it if you actually start out with a lower quality image.
Click to expand...


Its worth it - you don't start with a lower quality image - its the same one ;).....spend some time getting to know how it works - it'll be worth it
 
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