Numpty RAW data question for the camera-isti

Usually shoot on hi-res JPEG but this time have taken some RAW pix.
iPhoto saves them a .NEF files (not a designation I'm familiar with).
They come out as very pixelly in iPhoto, and opened in preview as tiny
images.

What's the best way to view them? I'm guessing Photoshop or similar,
which will have to wait until I get home.

 

Normally, Nikon cameras come with some sort of raw processor software,
which is what I tend to use when shooting RAW.

 

Have you got one you can email over to me, so I can have a look for you?

 

Oh, it appears that it's the Nikon RAW format - iPhoto only reads
thumbnail data from those files, so, yes, you'll need Photoshop or
Graphic Converter.

 

http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-shooter-essentials.php
It does Canon raw, don't know about Nikon raw.

 

Um, no, because they're seriously big files (like 15-odd MB)

 

Blimey, I would have thought iPhoto should work with those. It does use
the global Raw processor, which is the same as used by Aperture and
Preview.

I use Olympus Raw files, and they look just fine here. Unless of course
you have a very new model of Nikon, then they may not yet have updated
the Raw processor. Check Software Update, there were some new updates
over the last few days.

Otherwise, the other option is to shoot Raw+JPEG.

(Note: it's Raw, not RAW - it's not an acronym).

You could try GraphicConverter, or GIMP - they use the 'dcraw' engine,
which is usually better with supporting the Raw format.

 

He uses a Mac! But there are quite a lot of options just the same.

 

Ah, cool, thought so, ta.

Hm: I had GC back in the OS9 years. I assume it's around for OSX. Wonder
if it's still free?

<Googles>

Ah. No. Cheap, mind. Oh, and 10.4.4 or higher. This old laptop runs 10.3

 

Doesn't do Mac.

Oh well, I've got Photoshop on one of my other old Macs.

Anyone else recommend anything?

 

That's the Intel only version.

There's a universal version which runs on PPC Macs, so works under
10.3.x

 

Nikon Capture NX is the 'nads for manipulating RAW files.

 

There is? Hm. Ah yes, so there is.

<Downloads>

 

Not a recommendation as such since I have never used it
however:-

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16370/session/L2F2LzEvc2lkL25EMl9wU3Rq

ViewNX 1.3.0 Full version download - Macintosh
58M download
Systems: Mac OS X version 10.3.9; 10.4.11, 10.5.6

Would seem worth a look. Looks to be free and
looks to ship with the camera too

 

Sorry - main software page -
http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/61#Anchor-1
Current Versions of Nikon Software

 

Ta. I've probably got some discs in the camera box - never installed
'em.

 

As a D-SLR newbie, I might know this!

Apparently, each manufacturer uses a different raw format. But
consequently, they usually supply some of their own software with the
camera that can process. For instance, my Pentax came with a branded
version of SilkyPix to process its raw output (.PEF files, which, as
you say are big - typically around 10Meg).

However, I've found that Picasa can also process these files, and it's
really very useable (for a newbie like me).

As the raw file contains a fair bit more information than the Jpeg
(hence the increased size), it's sensible to use it (according to my
photo-guru mate H).

 

Apple support a great many of them out of the box. Unfortunately TOG,
unsurprisingly, is running a fairly ancient version of OS-X that
doesn't have support.

 

One of the best (IMHO) RAW editing pieces of software out there.

http://bibblelabs.com/

Version 5 is in beta and gives a nicer interface, but the current
Version 4 should do it.

 

Nah, this is my old laptop, running 10.3.9, so maybe not. I'll transfer
the pix to my Leopard desktop when I get home.