Nikon Capture NX 2

[Johan Smidt]

Hi All,

It may be sacrilage to ask for this opinionon on this forum as DC World appears to be totally commited to Photoshop, but do any of you have an opinion about Nikon Capture NX2 ? It makes some sense to me, but I'm not sure how it will impact on eg. the application of HDR photography. I can't find the product having been discussed on this forum, but am perhaps still to ginger to explore it more.

Have just spent two months in Canada, taken about 1200 NEF-RAW images and want to start on its editing. Presently use Paint Shop Pro 3 (cost consideration) and just hope that will also not make me a persona non-grata.

Thanks for any responses,

Johan.

[OldBoy]

Doesn't matter which software you use and NX 2 has had great reviews. I've got NX but tend to use Photoshop as I have more experience with it, as I use to use it at work.

[olympusid]

I use NX2 and am really pleased with it, great for Raw images. I use it along with Photoshop Elements 3. My only complaint is NX2 is really slow. I am looking to buy a Mac or new PC and see if this speeds it up.

[jinky]

I love NX2 and think it gives me my best raw conversions. The control points within it enabling you to alter light, colours, saturation and hue are brillian and simple. All pretty intuitive. I don`t know if you use picture settings in your camera for portraits, landscapesm vivid etc but if you download them to NX2 as well if you happen to have shot a portrait in vivid mode you can change the setting with a press of the button. I know there are other ways and not all use settings - I don`t a lot of the time - but when I do I forget to change them sometimes. NX2 cannot do everything though and still use PS and other programmes. You mention HDR. If using photomatix I prefer to do the hdrs direct from the raw files rather than conert in NX2 first as you can alter white balance etc in photomatix anyway and it works well. Quicker with jpegs but better using raws especially for doign pseudo hdrs.

As for speed my NX2 used to be slow but since getting a new PC it is very quick - quicker to load programme and images than my PS

[dhdove]

John

I like taking photos but unlike most people (apparently) I am not really keen on PP, I've had PS Elements 4 previously but bought Capture NX2 earlier this year. I prefer it to PS4, you can make quick, in depth but easy adjustments that really improve your images without feeling that you've done a great deal - just point and process! No layers etc. to bother with. It's great for Nikon users as it interfaces with your camera, ViewNX and MyPicturetown and allows alterations to in-camera settings that you made at the time of the shoot.
It's also non-destructive, the image and your adjustments are stored as separate files so you can always go back and start again if you wish.
The main downside is that pretty much every book and magazine is Adobe PS orientated so theres not much training material available, tho Nikon do run in house courses in the UK which are about £150.00 for a day......... there are a couple of books available thru Amazon etc.
Re speed, I think it's very much related to the number crunching capacity of your computer- my new machine (I5, 6Gb) like that of Paul's above makes it a breeze.
It's expensive at approx. £130.00 but you can download a free trial from Nikon UK to see if you like it :-)

Good Luck
DH Dove

[ian clark]

I to started using the Nikon programme and was ok with it (D3100) but found there was little out there ref books tutorials etc so have just bought elements 9 and find there is much more aftersales info speed issues seem very similar so will perservere with both and see what happens