Nikon has released version 1.9.0 of the NEF Codec. The new version (release note) added the support for the new D3s DSLR and Windows 7, but only 32 bit versions. For people who wants 64 bit support, please check out the following posts for more information.
Posted in Software on November 29th, 2009. No Comments.
Many people have been frustrated by the lack of Nikon’s support for 64-bit Windows operating systems. Nikon Capture NX 2 works in 64bit Vista but it is not officially supported. Their NEF Codec doesn’t work on 64-bit OS so people who need the functionality have to use a commercial third party codec.
Axel Rietschin Software Developments, the company behind the FastPictureViewer software has release a codec pack that supports 19 raw image formats from more than 12 camera manufacturers, covering about 300 camera models. All formats and features are supported for both 32 and 64-bit editions of Windows. The package also ships with a Windows XP thumbnail provider, enabling thumbnail view support in Windows XP SP3 Explorer for all image formats handled by the codecs included in pack and any other existing WIC-enabled codecs. In addition, the codec pack also supports the TGA raster image format. Read More…
According to Nikon, NEF Codec is a module that makes Nikon RAW (.NEF) image files as easy to work with as JPEG and TIFF images. In a less nebulous explanation, it allows users to view the thumbnails of NEF raw photos and embedded metadata and preview raw images from within Windows Explorer and Windows Photo Gallery. There is no official 64bit support yet. The demand for official 64 bit support has grown louder and louder but Nikon is still slow to respond. That has caused some grief among certain Nikon RAW shooters.
Well, if you really want NEF raw codec with 64 bit support, there is a third party codec offered by Ardfry Imaging, LLC. It is not free, unlike the official Nikon codec, but it is not very expensive either: $19.95. Some even reported that it works in the upcoming Windows 7.
On NikonCafe forum, a visitor called Greg_B mentioned the following:
FYI…I was playing around with Windows Photo Gallery on my Vista 64-bit system today and discovered a way to view NEF photos using the available Nikon codec.
How I did it? I just ran the 32-bit version of Windows Photo Gallery which is located in the ‘\Program Files (x86)\Windows Photo Gallery\’ directory. When using this 32-bit version of Windows Photo Gallery the Nikon codec works fine and you can see NEF files properly. I then just created a shortcut to the 32-bit version on my desktop, so that I could access it easily.
I know this isn’t an ideal solution, but I don’t think it’s too bad until they release a proper 64-bit version.
Greg
I haven’t tried it because I don’t have a 64-bit system. Please let us know if it does work this way.
Personally I found raw codecs little useful even on the supported 32bit system. It seems to be able to display thumbnails only for unedited NEF photos in Windows Explorer. NEF photos edited in Capture NX show up as not thumbnails but only small part of the photo. If you don’t want to spend the extra money, you can get by with the Capture NX 2 that is not officially supported on 64-bit vista but actually works fine.
Some people are reporting a weird bug in Nikon Capture NX software. Enter a small value for the exposure compensation (e.g. 0.01) and the photo becomes less sharp. I had trouble reproducing this bug on my own using Capture NX 1.3 and NEF from my D200. So it appeared to be related to specific circumstances.
I then downloaded a D300 NEF file and to my surprise, it happened! I also found that if you change the exposure compensation in Raw Adjustment, you will no longer be able to change the sharpening setting in the Picture Control: dragging the sharpening slider will have no effect. If you do not perform the exposure compensation adjustment, you can adjust the sharpening level using the sharpening slider in Picture Control. As soon as you do any exposure adjustment, the sharpening will disappear. You can get the sharpening back by unchecking the Apply checkbox next to Exposure Compensation.
I think this is related to the Picture Control system in the D300. According to Nikon, the unique Picture Control system makes it possible to share image processing settings among compatible devices and software. It is likely that there is a bug in Capture NX related to the Picture Control. Nikon D200 does not have Picture Control system and is therefore not typically affected. However if you turn on the Picture Control on a NEF file from D200, you can experience the same bug! It doesn’t seem possible to turn off the Picture Control for NEF files from a D300.
Nikon has released the update to its ViewNX photo viewer and browser software. It has a long list of fixes and improvements to its glaring weaknesses in the previous versions, mostly related to user interface usability. Finally I can delete a photo in full screen mode! Read more and find the download links after the jump. Read More…
Posted in Software on December 5th, 2007. No Comments.
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