If your camera is on this list it should work in the adobe dng converter. You have to use the right dropdown in the compatibility box. Those instructions are in the second link, which has been posted already.
Converting NEF to DNG
- Thread starter Howard5252
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I just downloaded the current version of Adobe DNG Converter, pointed it to a folder full of Z9 NEF files and converted them to DNG files. I'm not sure what problem you're running into but the DNG Converter works just fine with NEF files from modern cameras on my PC.
One thing that some might find confusing, when you select the folder for raw files to convert you are only selecting a file folder and in the pop up browser you don't see any of the individual NEF files you just see what looks like a blank folder. But that's correct, the DNG Converter points to an entire folder and converts all raw files (including Nikon NEF files) into DNG files and stores them in the selected output folder or the same folder where the original raw files were stored if you stick with the default output folder.
Also there is a pull down for file compatibility in the DNG Converter Preferences. I did my first test using the default, most recent version(Camera Raw 15.3 and later) and then did a test run setting file compatibility to Camera Raw 7.1 and later and that worked just fine with the Z9 NEF files as well but would be compatible with much older versions of LR or PS including LR v6.
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I have just tried it again. Adobe claims that it will convert NEF files to DNG files. I have tried several times. I have the camera set to RAW and have tried all 3 RAW Recording settings. I have tried after copying the files from the memory card to a folder on my computer. I have tried simply by going directly from the memory card to the converter. Has anyone used the Adobe converter successfully? Tell me the camera settings, I don't know what else to try to get it to work.
Yes, as posted above I just converted a couple of batches of Z9 NEF files into DNGs this afternoon.
What exactly are you seeing when you try to convert? Are you seeing error messages or does it just not appear to do anything?
I am using a Z8
Note:
(*) Nikon High-Efficiency raw compression modes are currently not supported on:
- Windows ARM64 I am shooting: Image Quality =RAW Raw Recording = Lossless Compression In the Adobe window I Select Folder I push Convert button and get an error message "The source folder does not contain any supported camera raw files" I am running Windows 64bit and don't know what ARM64 is.
Yeah, that's very strange.
I'm shooting a Z9 but also in Lossless Compressed RAW format.
I guess the things I might check are:
- Use your system browser (either Windows explorer in Windows or the Finder in a Mac OS) to look into the selected folder and double check that the .NEF files are actually in that location and not in some sub folder or somewhere else.
- Make sure you're using the latest version of the DNG Converter V16.0.1.1683 just on the off chance that you somehow downloaded an older version.
- If neither of those yields any clues I might remove, download a new copy and reinstall the DNG Converter as it shouldn't have any trouble with Lossless Compressed Z8 files.
Up till now I've shot JPG. All of my standalone Topaz programs eccept JPG; ON1 accepts JPG (altho some sliders are only available in RAW). JPG is not my problem; this conversion from NEF is giving me problems. Eventually I will work it out and if I give up I'll go back to JPG. No one has ever said to me "You know, RAW would have given you a better photo"
PhotoLover
Well-known member
I understand that many people dislike software subscriptions, but I truly believe your photography life would be much better (faster, simpler, better post-processing) if you broke down and got the Adobe subscription. The latest versions of LR and PS produce excellent editing capabilities plus the organizational power of LR.
I think the subscription is a great value. As GnpToday says, we are talking the price of a (fast food ...) meal per MONTH. I mean, that is nothing and the software is providing very good value.
By the time you buy a program to convert from RAW to DNG you could just as easily have paid the $10 a month to get LrC, PS, and some other software. You've paid to get a high-end digital camera and might as well pay to get a high-end software program to make your images really shine. LrC these days has gone way beyond version 6, so many new options to use to process images. A RAW image does have the possibility of giving you a "better photo." With the subscription to Adobe for the current version of LrC you simply link up to LrC then process away. It's funny, as I was typing this others were also saying the same thing!
Image Quality is RAW / Lossless Compression / The Adobe program was just downloaded. I just checked, its ver. 16.0.0.1677 ... Let us pray that is the problem
Yeah, chase that down for sure. Hopefully that solves your conversion issues.
[edit] my version is on a Windows PC, if yours is a Mac that could be the correct version, I'll download a copy for my MacBook and see what the version is and whether it works on that machine
[edit2] the Mac version is the same version number so it looks like you have an older version:
FWIW, I downloaded both the PC and Mac copy from this site: https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-converter.html
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100% agree with this comment as it will solve problems you didn’t no you had or may have down the road. This product is very well supported, and is constantly updated for the price of the subscription!
aolander
Well-known member
$10/month for Adobe Photographers Plan (LR and PS). Problem solved. No need to convert.
Would you believe? I downloaded the Adobe converter On 11-7 / again earlier today / and yet again after reading your last message / and got 3 different versions!!
I now have 16.0.1.1683 and it works! I can't believe Adobe updates these things almost daily. Yes, all were downloaded from the Adobe website EXCEPT for this last download I signed in to my account (I use other Adobe products). Thank you again Dave.
I now have 16.0.1.1683 and it works! I can't believe Adobe updates these things almost daily. Yes, all were downloaded from the Adobe website EXCEPT for this last download I signed in to my account (I use other Adobe products). Thank you again Dave.
Awesome, glad you worked it out.
Calson
Well-known member
Why downgrade the data in the NEF file to what remains after conversion to a DNG file? I understand why Adobe introduced this file format as they wanted to reduce the effort needed to create Raw file conversions for each new camera and hoped that all the camera manufacturers would switch to DNG instead of a proprietary Raw file format. That has not occurred and so Adobe continues to release new updates for ACR.
Shutterbug fan 1
Active member
I do not convert to DNG but recently heard that converting to DNG when loading reduces the file size because things like XMP and metadata (the article I read did not Mention metadata) were left out. I am not sure how much smaller the files are but if it is significant enough it is worth thinking about when considering hard drive space.
pmb
New member
Since you are just getting started with raw files, and using a Nikon camera, I would suggest downloading two free Nikon programs: Nikon Transfer 2 and NX Studio. Transfer 2 will move your images from the camera's card to a hard drive in your computer (or to an external drive). NX Studio is a fairly simple and very effective program for making adjustments to your NEF files. You can use sidecar files to store the changes, or imbed them in the NEF file. When you have finished, it's easy to export the final version as a JPG or a TIFF.