Feedback on NX-D

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brucet

New member
Hi. New to this forum so excuse me if this has been covered before. I've done a search and have come up blank.
I'm a happy NX-D user. Yup there's one of me. :)

The thing is I see so much negative feedback on NX-D I'm wondering if I'm missing something.
As I see it NX-D is a basic nef converter. No more no less. It's not a full blown editor. It seems that many folks are expecting more from a free piece of software.

For me NX-D does a fantastic job of giving me a high quality 16 bit tiff. Basic correction is available in NX-D. Albeit some features such as noise reduction is a bit of a mystery. Slow? Yes it's also slow. But anyone who goes past 'basic' editing has other software in their tool box. (The more tools the better!!!). For me a tiff out of NX-D is s great starting point in any software. (I use Photoline and PSPx7. Along with other plugins and specialty software).

So tell me what I'm doing wrong? Why does it seem that no one accepts NX-D for what it is? Just a high quality basic converter. Is it realistic to expect much more for the price you pay for NX-D?

And before anyone questions my 'experience'. :) I've been taking photos since the early 60's. Had many photos published. Licensed/printed and sold over 4 million prints. Tried almost everything not made by Adobe.

Looking forward to hearing other folks pros and cons of NX-D.

regards
 
J

J-see

Senior Member
I used it in the beginning and it's a good basic RAW converter if you accept the limitations. Lens corrections as an example are a huge PITA. Unless you only use Nikon lenses.

There's better out there (RAW editors) which are also freely available.
 
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aroy

Senior Member
Ever since I bought the D3300 in March '14, I have been using NX-D. I am well past 55,000 images and have yet not felt like using anything else.

Yes NX-D is no Photoshop, but then if you want Image Processing Software there are other better offerings. So if you are using only Nikon gear this is a great converter and basic editor.
 
J

J-see

Senior Member
I never got the impression Nikon took NX-D serious. It's a RAW converter they distribute because you're supposed to have one when you allow people to shoot in a RAW format. But they never wasted a penny too much at it.

That said, it does good enough what it is supposed to do. But nothing more.
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I use NX-D and like it (FREE). :encouragement: I use NX-i for transfer and then NX-D for initial processing. For the final process of tweaking or "maneuvering" I use GIMP (FREE). :encouragement: You probably see a pattern here. Ha! The new version of NX-i and NX-D seem to work a little better (less crashing and a little faster processing). The only thing I don't like is that NX-D gives the indication that I have already edited a NEF file when I first transfer from NX-i. I don't want to see the indication of editing until I have manually done something to the photo. It is easy to change, only just one of those little annoyances. After I get them into NX-D, I highlight all of them and then click on Revert to original and the indicator disappears until I then manually change something.

OK after all of that, NX-D is fine for conversion in my opinion.

DISCLAIMER: I have not used PS or LR so I can't compare.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
brucet said:
Hi. New to this forum so excuse me if this has been covered before. I've done a search and have come up blank.
I'm a happy NX-D user. Yup there's one of me. :)

The thing is I see so much negative feedback on NX-D I'm wondering if I'm missing something.
As I see it NX-D is a basic nef converter. No more no less. It's not a full blown editor. It seems that many folks are expecting more from a free piece of software.

For me NX-D does a fantastic job of giving me a high quality 16 bit tiff. Basic correction is available in NX-D. Albeit some features such as noise reduction is a bit of a mystery. Slow? Yes it's also slow. But anyone who goes past 'basic' editing has other software in their tool box. (The more tools the better!!!). For me a tiff out of NX-D is s great starting point in any software. (I use Photoline and PSPx7. Along with other plugins and specialty software).

So tell me what I'm doing wrong? Why does it seem that no one accepts NX-D for what it is? Just a high quality basic converter. Is it realistic to expect much more for the price you pay for NX-D?

And before anyone questions my 'experience'. :) I've been taking photos since the early 60's. Had many photos published. Licensed/printed and sold over 4 million prints. Tried almost everything not made by Adobe.

Looking forward to hearing other folks pros and cons of NX-D.

regards
Click to expand...
NX-D is fine for what it is, I guess, and I think most people DO accept it for what it is, that doesn't mean they have to like it for what it is or can't hope for it to be more since it's already free. But speaking for myself there are better options for how I post-process. I don't want *more* tools crowding my toolbox, I want *better* tools. I don't want a "basic editor" and an "advanced editor" I want something that does it all and does it quickly and easily. I don't mind saving money, but I also don't mind saving time and effort and for me that means being able to do everything, from start to finish, in as few applications/plug-ins as possible. Since I also like working in layers and being able to mask and so forth, the solution for me is Photoshop.

It sounds to me like you simply don't like Adobe products and don't use them; which is fine. You've found a workflow that works for you and it includes NX-D; more power to ya.
 
B

brucet

New member
Thanks everyone for the welcome.

I just see NX-D for what it is. Just one tool in my tool box. I have tried many other converters. Many loaded with features and options I would never use. NX-D gives great results albeit with limited features. If need be I then move on to a more capable program with the features and tools I need or want. I simply don't want a bloated program that falls short but offers a lot. Imagine folks with Topaz DeNoise waving their arms around in frustration because it doesn't have their favorite features. Tools are tools and I think some folks just expect too much for the money they paid for NX-D!!!!

I just get frustrated when some folks can a piece of software for something it was never meant to be.

Nikon, if your are listening, Speed the darn thing up and I'll be happier.

Rant over!

regards
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
No rants from me - love NX-D.....I'm old school tho including ownership of my own BW darkroom so many software tweaks and playthings others like I have no interest in.

I also have zero interest in 3rd party gear / lenses.

The emulation of Nikon in camera JPEG settings is perfect for me.....

Still working on dialing in NX-i to my workflow.


tutorials on YouTube have been slow to appear in English
 
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