Nikon Z9 "high efficiency*" raw files

[Pcool]

Hi,

I need help and advice on how to open/edit a Nikon Z9 "high efficiency*" raw NEF file. Thank you.

Regards

Peter

[walt.farrell]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums, @Pcool.

You didn't mention which version of Affinity Photo you use, but V2 will have better camera support than V1. For the Z9 the V2 FAQ on supported cameras indicates that only images using "standard compression" are supported, if you're using the Serif Labs RAW Engine. So if "high efficiency" means some other format, then you won't be able to Open it using Serif's engine.  If you're on a Mac or iPad perhaps the Apple Engine would support other formats (the FAQ has pointers to the Apple information). You can configure the engine in the Assistant Options. 

Or you might need to use a different program, but I'm not sure what to recommend,

 

[firstdefence]

Affinity Photo 2 opens the Z9 raw NEF files, Affinity didn't have the lens profile for the lens used in this image though

[David in Яuislip]

Abridged Exiftool dump from two Z-9 files, high effiency doesn't currently work

Source			dpreview	unknown
APhoto2			works		fails
File Size		50 MiB		33 MiB
Image Width		8280		8280
Image Height		5520		5520
NEF Compression		Lossless	High Efficiency

 

[David in Яuislip]

1 hour ago, firstdefence said:

Affinity didn't have the lens profile for the lens used in this image though

Here's one

NIKKOR_Z_24-120.xml

[Calsun]

Currently if one wants to use Nikon's High Efficiency raw file format one needs to use Photoshop, Capture One, or Nikon's Studio application to be able to open and edit them. Switching to the Z9 HE format meant going back to using Photoshop for my image editing.

 

[v_kyr]

According to "Thom Hogan" the Nikon Z9 "high efficiency*" raw files can be edited with APh V2 under MacOS Ventura (when switching over to using the Apple RAW engine). - See therefor ...

• "What raw converters support the Z9 High Efficiency formats?”

[Calsun]

So all I need to do is buy an Apple computer and install Affinity V2 on it and all will be OK. That is hardly a solution for Windows users. For now I will be using Photoshop to process my image files from my Z9 cameras. Reducing file size by 40% provides more short and long term value in terms of workflow performance (even with dual drives as RAID1 in my Windows workstation). I also have zero desire to spend $9,000 on an Apple workstation.