Do I Have RAW File OCD?

[BekahAura]

I have been shooting RAW for quite awhile now and I've been converting my NEF (nikon file extension) files to Adobe DNG files. I did this because I was never able to view the Nikon RAW file in Bridge and ACR for whatever reason. So now when I back up my files I save both copies of the RAW files... I think I started doing this because I didn't want to have to convert the images again if I have a need to revisit them... and I have no idea why I insist on saving my NEFs... because it's the real original I guess.

Really I'm here to find out if I'm being ridiculous... is there any reason I should save the NEF files? Because I'm using up twice the space on my hard drive and that would be silly if there's no reason to be doing it.

 

[MTVision]

I have been shooting RAW for quite awhile now and I've been converting my NEF (nikon file extension) files to Adobe DNG files. I did this because I was never able to view the Nikon RAW file in Bridge and ACR for whatever reason. So now when I back up my files I save both copies of the RAW files... I think I started doing this because I didn't want to have to convert the images again if I have a need to revisit them... and I have no idea why I insist on saving my NEFs... because it's the real original I guess.

Really I'm here to find out if I'm being ridiculous... is there any reason I should save the NEF files? Because I'm using up twice the space on my hard drive and that would be silly if there's no reason to be doing it.

You can convert to DNG with the NEF embedded in the file (I think). Might save a little room and you'd still have the original.

Can you update your camera raw or is your photoshop an older version?

 

[480sparky39 38]

I'd say you need to find out if the NEF-to-DNG conversion creates any data loss. If there's any, I'd say keep the NEFs.

 

[STM]

To the best of my knowledge Bridge is not designed to look at and sort images in any RAW format. They must be processed first.

I use PS CS5's NEF converter because I like it better than Nikon's NX2 program and I don't like having to use two programs back to back just to get the workflow started. I then save all the files in TIFF, saving the layers. Bridge handles TIFF just fine, though the file can be pretty large after a long photoshoot! When all the editing is done, I save them to uncompressed JPEG.

 

[MTVision]

To the best of my knowledge Bridge is not designed to look at and sort images in any RAW format. They must be processed first.

I use PS CS5's NEF converter because I like it better than Nikon's NX2 program and I don't like having to use two programs back to back just to get the workflow started. I then save all the files in TIFF, saving the layers. Bridge handles TIFF just fine, though the file can be pretty large after a long photoshoot! When all the editing is done, I save them to uncompressed JPEG.

You can view/sort raw files in Bridge. Bridge even has its own version of ACR that's separate from Photoshop's.

You can also apply presets to raw files in bridge without having to go into ACR.

 

[Derrel]

A software update would probably solve your problems, and allow you to view the NEF images. Do you have the most-current Adobe Camera RAW module for your software??? Or are you pretty far behind, and left out in the cold with an old version of Photoshop and a "newish" Nikon with a NEF format specification that is not supported by your version of ACR??? At times, one can update the ACR module to work with one's camera files; at other times, due to deliberate obsolescence, Adobe refuses to update ACR as a way to leverage its loyal customers, and to force them to buy a new copy of Photoshop. Keeps people on the endless Adobe upgrade treadmill, and keeps the money flowing from customer bank accounts and into Adobe's coffers.

 

[bhop]

My bridge sees Nikon raw files just fine (cs4 at home, cs5 at work)

 

[JClishe]

You can convert to DNG with the NEF embedded in the file (I think). Might save a little room and you'd still have the original.

If you insist on saving both a DNG and a NEF, this ^ is what I'd do. Marginal space savings, if any, but at least you wouldn't have a ton of duplicates.

 

[Judobreaker]

Whether your Bridge can read RAW files depends on both Bridge and the camera.
Older versions of Bridge can't always read RAW files shot with newer camera models.
Upgrading bridge will solve your problem definitely.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

quit using old versions of photoshop.

 

[BullockPhoto]

The DNG format was Adobe's hope (and probably still is) that all camera manufacturers would settle on a universal, agreed-upon RAW format. Thus far it is still proprietary file formats across the board. This being the case, I see no reason to do anything but back up my NEFs. If the unification day arrives at some point in the future, I will probably convert my crucial, portfolio/travel images to whatever that new format is. If you can't see NEFs in Bridge, search Adobe's site for a recent update to Bridge ACR which should support whatever model of Nikon you are using. I just discovered to my dismay that Lightroom 3 will not view my D800 Nefs... looks like I'm updating to 4... It never ends...

 

[GnipGnop]

My Pentax gives me the option of saving RAW files as either .PEF (Pentax's RAW format) or as a .DNG.

There is no loss in quality or gain in quality in saving under one format over the other. If Nikon gives you this option, start saving your files as .DNG. I personally would also convert your Nikon files to .DNG's and delete the Nikon RAW files to get ride of the clutter.

 

[KenC]

Hard disk storage is cheap - save everything and don't worry about it.

 

[jaomul]

As said above, keeping one format of raw should be enough. Sounds like you have lots of NEFs on your drive that you don't or can't use.

 

[480sparky39 38]

My Pentax gives me the option of saving RAW files as either .PEF (Pentax's RAW format) or as a .DNG.

There is no loss in quality or gain in quality in saving under one format over the other. If Nikon gives you this option, start saving your files as .DNG. I personally would also convert your Nikon files to .DNG's and delete the Nikon RAW files to get ride of the clutter.

Saving 'in the camera' is a different story than converting from one format to the other in post. Nikon currently does not support the .DNG format.

Personally, I think all the talk about proprietary formats being unusable in coming years is a bunch of hooey. Even IF (and that's one helluvan IF) all the major players went to DNG today, that will not prevent 1. All computers to suddenly quit recognizing .NEFs and .PEFs and .CR2s and 2. third-party software from being produced.