I just started using Nikon Capture NX2 to manipulate Nikon RAW images from the camera. It is much easier and more intuitive to use that PhotoShop. I downloaded the newest trial version and so far I am very impressed with the program. It is $135 on Amazon, and was wondering if any others had experience with the program and whether they were satisfied. What programs are others using?
Full Version: Good Photo Software for Nikon RAW Images?
If you are just doing basic tasks, Irfanview is a free, and great, all purpose image program that supports RAW. You cannot save the image as RAW though, you have to save it in another format.
Some other options might be Adobe Lightroom (not free), or GIMP (free)
Some other options might be Adobe Lightroom (not free), or GIMP (free)
QUOTE (NARC @ 4-7-09, 6:05pm) 
If you are just doing basic tasks, Irfanview is a free, and great, all purpose image program that supports RAW. You cannot save the image as RAW though, you have to save it in another format.
Some other options might be Adobe Lightroom (not free), or GIMP (free)
Some other options might be Adobe Lightroom (not free), or GIMP (free)
I am not opposed to paying for software. PhotoShop is way overkill, and the "mass market" software is not enough. I have used Adobe Lightroom, and there are things I like about it, but I was still looking for something easy to use for quick and easy cleanups of images. Especially when shooting RAW, you can easily "redo" the image by making changes through the software. In looking at the demos online, Nikon Capture NX2 looks like it will fit the bill. I will be having a long period of down time in the near future, and I thought I would start to process a lot of my photos that I have not had the time to work on in the past.
Here are some lessons that show what it can do. Some of the technology used in the software is very intuitive to use.
how about google picasa?
just throwing that out there....don't know much about working with RAW images
just throwing that out there....don't know much about working with RAW images
I really like Picasa too. I didn't realize that it supported raw images, but evidently it does. I'm not sure how good the support is though.
Isn't dboy a pro photographer? You should PM him to this thread....
I did a bit more reading about how Picasa handles RAW: it basically looks like it is near worthless. 
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Picasa handles raws by doing an immediate default conversion to JPEG. Any edits you do are done against this converted JPEG. This makes it very easy to share these photos - you have no "extra" work to do to create JPEGs from the raws. But it eliminates the main reason you'd shoot raw in the first place - that is, you want to be in control of the conversion from raw to JPEG. So you might want to look at using a "raw processing" program that lets you get involved - e.g, the Canon Digital Professional (included with your camera) or one of the commercial "raw processing" programs.
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(note: canon shooter here, so I've never used capture nx, but I have heard that it's good... just depends on what you need)
Picasa will read raw, but it's not very good at it like mydeal said.
We now use lightroom - does very nice overall editing (WB, exposure, etc). Also organizes well. Easy to batch edit stuff (for example, we have a preset for our studio lighting that tweaks the WB to get it accurate, and then we can adjust there for effect as desired). For detail work it's photoshop.
I have heard that PS elements is good, so might try that. Cheaper than capture nx too.
Are you wanting just overall work, or retouching?
Picasa will read raw, but it's not very good at it like mydeal said.
We now use lightroom - does very nice overall editing (WB, exposure, etc). Also organizes well. Easy to batch edit stuff (for example, we have a preset for our studio lighting that tweaks the WB to get it accurate, and then we can adjust there for effect as desired). For detail work it's photoshop.
I have heard that PS elements is good, so might try that. Cheaper than capture nx too.
Are you wanting just overall work, or retouching?
QUOTE (dboy @ 4-8-09, 6:57am)
(note: canon shooter here, so I've never used capture nx, but I have heard that it's good... just depends on what you need)
Picasa will read raw, but it's not very good at it like mydeal said.
We now use lightroom - does very nice overall editing (WB, exposure, etc). Also organizes well. Easy to batch edit stuff (for example, we have a preset for our studio lighting that tweaks the WB to get it accurate, and then we can adjust there for effect as desired). For detail work it's photoshop.
I have heard that PS elements is good, so might try that. Cheaper than capture nx too.
Are you wanting just overall work, or retouching?
Picasa will read raw, but it's not very good at it like mydeal said.
We now use lightroom - does very nice overall editing (WB, exposure, etc). Also organizes well. Easy to batch edit stuff (for example, we have a preset for our studio lighting that tweaks the WB to get it accurate, and then we can adjust there for effect as desired). For detail work it's photoshop.
I have heard that PS elements is good, so might try that. Cheaper than capture nx too.
Are you wanting just overall work, or retouching?
I have tried Picassa and it was not enough for what I was looking for. I had a copy of Lightroom, and was using that for a while, it is very strong in some areas - database functions, but it does not do as much with the Nikon RAW files. I am doing editing and processing of lots of photos I have taken over that past couple of years. Capture NX2 also has the ability to use presets across multiple pictures like LightRoom.
I am also looking for some challenge to keep my mind focused by allowing myself to engage and learning the program in detail. I will be undergoing a treatment for about a year, and this seems like a great activity for me to focus on. The cost of the program is not an issue. It is more the activity. I also picked up on of the Nikon D200 bodies and plan on "learning" that camera also, at the same time. Thanks for your input.
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