D2x test: JPG vs TIFF vs RAW

[Igor]

A quick test at ISO400:

2 to the left NEF's: upper processed in PS CS, defaults. Lower in PictureProject, defaults.

2 to the right: upper JPG from camera, lower TIFF from camera.

What'd you say?
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[Tom Nolle]

Not a lot of difference to my eye, Igor. I've been doing my own stuff with Nikon Capture so far.

Tom

[HulaMike]

The full image looks pretty nice Igor. Don't fixate on tiny 1:1 detail items, it will drive you crazy. As to the test shots, they all look pretty similar to me also.

[Igor]

Well, I did this test (plus a few more) to finally decide which way should I shoot with this thing :confused:
In other words, how much more detail (without extra noise) I get shooting RAW and TIFF.
My conclusion is RAW does have more detail (as expected) but unfortunately both PictureProject and PS CS add weird artifacts (can't be compression, probably something else), see the reeds.
JPG doesn't have this problem, but also doesn't have all detail the RAW has.

So I wonder how other D2x owner shoot mostly? And what's the best program for processing NEF's so far?

[HulaMike]

I didn't think CS was capable of decoding D2x NEFs yet Igor. Isn't that what some of the uproar is all about? How are you processing NEF in CS?

[Igor]

I installed the enclosed Nikon P/Project, and (I guess) it automatically installed a lil' plug-in into CS which neatly previews all NEF's before opening (you can adjust exposure and white balance at this stage), then opens them in 8-bit color.

[jknights]

Igor,
I still think that there is more information to extract from the NEF.
Bibble and Nikon Capture comparison might be useful.
Can you do this ?

[Igor]

Jonathan, now I'm shooting almost exclusively RAW. RAW Shooter is a great converter and it handles D2x' NEF's wonderfully.

[dartz]

I installed the enclosed Nikon P/Project, and (I guess) it automatically installed a lil' plug-in into CS which neatly previews all NEF's before opening (you can adjust exposure and white balance at this stage), then opens them in 8-bit color.

picture project sucks a big time igot, just erase the plugins in the adobe plugins directory.
i had problem wih d70 with picture project, the adobe raw wont open properly at that time :)

cheers!

[High ISO!]

Hi Igor,
Sorry I haven't been around much lately....That D2X has made me a very busy shooter these days! :rockon:

I have RAW Shooter, and like the way it converts better than that little Nikon capture thing you are speaking of. I have CS2 with the CR version to process D2X RAW images, I like it the best.

I prefer shooting RAW, but the amount of shooting I do, kind of makes me shoot fine jpg format right now. So for now, I only shoot RAW for personal & very special jobs/images where I must have complete control and great detail. For my usual dogs in action shots, I try to remember to go back to jpg. :troutsmac I for got to switch from RAW to jpg on Sat, and my husband (who mans the computers, while I'm out shooting and running my dogs) got really mad at me, cause he had to spend a lot of time batch converting over 100 images form RAW to jpg...... :monalisa: RAW images also take FOREVER to transmit to the computer.

Alissa
my D2X has rolled over 10,000 captures already! :eek:

[RacerX]

Well, I use to shoot in jpg mode but I learned that shooting in RAW gives you the ability to do anything you want with the pic afterward. Now, I only shoot in RAW format. It took me awhile to come around but I'm very happy that I did. (Need to thank Swampy for pushing me in this direction, thanks!)

High ISO, WOW! 10K pics already. I bet your shooting finger
is in need of replacing. ;)

[High ISO!]

For the most part....The D2X has pretty nice fine jpg files to work with. Yes, RAW is MUCH better, but when time is of the essence, RAW can kind of bog things down, when transmitting and shooting LOTS of images at a time. It's not that bad when I am processing them, for printing. Maybe once I get a few 4 or 8gig cards I can go back to shooting trials in RAW again!!!

Yep, over 10,000, last Sunday I hit it. I have been one busy little shutterbug these days! My shooting finger is getting quite the workout, but my left eye is REALLY the one who gets the worst of it!

I met up with Tom Nolle last week I only shot a few hundred with him. But it was a great time! What a great man! :righton: But that's for another thread! :D

[Glasseye]

Hi Igor I've been shooting RAW + fine JPG for the past month or so because I can always dump what I don't need when I get back to base and with the Raw NEFs you can reserect & tweek the images that or not quite spot on - :righton: but the JPGs don't have to be processed and can be used instantly. the trade off is card space I get 78ish RAW + FINE JPG or 250-300 fine JPG when using a 2gig card. I have 2x 2gig, 2x 1gig Lexar pro 80x at present but use a Flashtrax 40gigwhen away from home. As you know I've been using Raw Rssentials since I've had the D2x (have not even opend the Nikon CDs yet) sadley it won't work with S2 S3s Andy Rouse told me it is 'cause of the unusual Fuji chip shape. :(

Andy