NIkon .NEF raw file converter

[Jay Sheinfield]

I currently use Nikon Capture NX2 for RAW conversion, does anyone have positive experience
with other RAW converters, including the ACR 6.1?

[Harshad Barve]

I have used capture NX2 and can say is the BEST software to convert Nikon RAW files , Nothing can beat NX2

[Nancy A Elwood]

Jay I agree with Harshad!! NX2, IMHO, does the best. And I like that it recognizes my in camera presets where as the others would not.

[James Shadle]

Capture NX2 gives me the best image quality period, however can I get decent quality from ACR.

[Harold Davis]

what james said!

[David Thomasson]

I have a lot of experience with ACR 6.1 and use it exclusively. The CS5 version has some nice improvements over CS4.

[arash_hazeghi]

+ 1

NX2 has the best conversion quality for NEF files. Nikon use proprietary encoding for their white balance data, Adobe often struggles to get the WB and colors right, even the newest version. its output it also relatively grainy (that is true for Canon files as well).

What is it that you don't like about NX2?

[Jay Sheinfield]

Arash,

It's not that I don't like NX2, it's just another step in the work flow. Just trying to keep current on what folks are using. I will stick with it, thanks.

jay

[Lance Peters]

NX2 - nothing else comes remotely close - It is slow - does crash - but would not consider anything else.

[James Shadle]

NX2 - nothing else comes remotely close - It is slow - does crash - but would not consider anything else.

Lance,
With widows 7 I haven't had NX2 crash at all!
I find NX2 as fast as ACR, however my computer is a little faster than average(Quad Core, 4Ghz, 12GB Memory and SLI video);).

[Harshad Barve]

- It is slow - does crash - but would not consider anything else.

Never crashed on my Window-XP and gives me reasonable speed at 8GB RAM

[arash_hazeghi]

Lance,
With widows 7 I haven't had NX2 crash at all!
I find NX2 as fast as ACR, however my computer is a little faster than average(Quad Core, 4Ghz, 12GB Memory and SLI video);).

lol, James it is slow on anything less than our supercharged racers, I was trying to help someone the other day and he had a new iMac, it was hopeless and we gave up. it doesn't like Macs at all.

[Paul Zappala]

Arash,
I just purchased an IMac i7 w/8gigs. Are you saying NX2 will not work very well with this setup? This is my first Mac and am currently running CS5.
Thanks.

Paul
www.paul.zappala.com

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash,
I just purchased an IMac i7 w/8gigs. Are you saying NX2 will not work very well with this setup? This is my first Mac and am currently running CS5.
Thanks.

Paul
www.paul.zappala.com

I don't have a mac but I have tried on two of my friend's imacs and unfortunately it was very slow, the code is just not optimized for mac OS I think, hope it runs faster on yours.

[allanrube]

From all I have heard NX2 does not run as fast on a Mac. It doesn't take advantage of the latest processors, 64 bit, and multiple processors.

After having said that I still use it on my 4 year old Mac Pro.

[Bill Jobes]

I have been using NX2 on my two-year old Mac Pro with excellent results.

[allanrube]

Thom Hogan changed his mind. After many years he no longer recommends NX. He is using ACR.
Here is his main page. The article appeared there on 7/28. It will be moved to another page when new info is posted.

http://www.bythom.com/

[Walker Golder]

I like features of both NX2 and ACR, so what is the result when you use both to process a RAW file?

[Robert Park]

I have not had great luck at all with ACR and Nikon.
NX ranks 1 with Aperture3 in second place for me.
I also felt the Hasselblad Photon did a great job getting that realistic tonal curve that
NX and Aperture get.
I also have C1 4.8 and it can be good but not as consistently looking right like NX or Aperture 3.
Aperture gets this 3d look that can be stunning however it doesn't recognize custom in camera settings.

I use LR for my catalogue and Canon image raws. LR seems to work better with Canon.

[Robert Park]

I have not had great luck at all with ACR.
NX ranks 1 with Aperture3 in second place for me.
I also felt the Hasselblad Photon did a great job getting that realistic tonal curve that
NX and Aperture get.
I also have C1 4.8 and it can be good but not as consistently looking right like NX or Aperture 3.
Aperture gets this 3d look that can be stunning however it doesn't recognize custom in camera settings.

I use LR for my catalogue and Canon image raws. LR seems to work better with Canon.