> Posted by Rafael Zalman (Rafael) > > [Thank you all for your replys, The problem is that I do not have a > D70 but a coolpix 8800. I have read before that with the D70 it will > work. My problem is with the coolpix 8800. I have downloaded the adobe > plug-in in which 8800 is not listed (there is only 8700). However I am > not able to edit the nefs with any other software and the previews are > really bad. I think there is a small preview in the nef file itself > and I somehow see only this. > > Any idea about the coolpix 8800?
I just took delivery of the sister camera, the CP8400. They share most of each other's DNA. I too was a bit worried about the lack of mention of these cameras by Adobe. However, I have the most up-to-date RAW loader and it works just as well as with my old camera.
Nikon has always supplied semi-brain dead software with their cameras, NikonView and now PictureProject. Which can be used in a limited way with RAW. So far, I have not been impressed by it, so exclusively use Photoshop CS.
RAW is a 12-bit per channel (Red, Green & Blue) while most software is only capable of handling 8-bits per channel. Photoshop CS has 16-bit per channel workspace where RAW comfortably fits with four bits to spare. With CS, almost all basic operations - color balancing, dynamic range adjustment and even layering can be carried out without every having to drop down to 8-bits per channel. Very nice!
If viewed in a program that is only 8-bit per channel aware, you see an embedded thumbnail 160x120 pixels, which naturally looks lousy if enlarged to screen size.
More software is becoming available with extended bit depth. IfranView will allow viewing of CP5x00 files, but not CP8400 files in the current version. I have heard that ACDSee 7.0 also supports RAW now. However, it is Photoshop CS that has finally made RAW a completely viable format here.
RAW offers little or no visible advantage when shooting under ideal light. I doubt that one would see a difference in a print from RAW and Extra quality, all else being equal. However, with mixed light or light of uncertain spectrum, Photoshop CS allows one to open several copies of the image, balancing each area optimally and using layers and layer masks to assemble a beautifully corrected image. One can also open several instances at a variety of exposure settings to gain considerable shadow detail when shooting under extremely contrasty lighting conditions.
Of course, a bit of skill is involved in doing so.
larry!
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