Nikon Z8 Raw files photos not being recognizes

[Bruce Shipyor]

I need hope with Affinity Photo V2, Nikon Z8 Raw (NEF) files is not being recognized. All I get is a black square, see picture.

Is this a bug or do we need an update to the program?

[Hangman]

Hi @Bruce Shipyor and welcome to the forums,

Affinity Photo uses the LibRaw library for extracting RAW files generated by digital cameras and looking at the list of their currently supported cameras the Z8 has yet to be added, though I'm sure it will be in the not to distant future...

https://www.libraw.org/supported-cameras

[Gurinder Punn]

I've did some astrophotography with my new Z8 last night only to find that when I try and open the RAW files in Affinity P 2.1.0 this morning, I too get black screens. I know its dark at night but not that dark as to produce a black screen  

[Hangman]

Hi @Gurinder Punn and welcome to the forums,

As mentioned above the Z8 is not yet supported by the LibRaw library used by Affinity Photo but I'm sure as soon as support is added, Z8 RAW file support will also be added to Affinity Photo...

 

[carl123]

1 hour ago, Gurinder Punn said:

I've did some astrophotography with my new Z8 last night only to find that when I try and open the RAW files in Affinity P 2.1.0 this morning, I too get black screens. I know its dark at night but not that dark as to produce a black screen  

Can you load one of your Z8 Raw files to the forum please?

[v_kyr]

23 minutes ago, carl123 said:

Can you load one of your Z8 Raw files to the forum please?

There's no need for that, you can download Nikon Z8 sample NEF files from various photo review sites, as for example ...

• DPreview - Nikon Z8 sample gallery
• Nikon Z8 Sample Images & RAWs
• Libraw - Support for Nikon Z8?
• ... etc.

[Hangman]

I may have spoken too soon as I can open standard Z8 RAW files so I'm unsure whether this is down to lack of support for High efficiency mode on the Z8? @Bruce Shipyor, could you confirm the RAW settings you're using on your Z8?

• Lossless compression
• High efficiency (high)
• High efficiency

Sample attached...

nikon-z8-raw-00004.nef

 

[carl123]

12 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

There's no need for that, you can download Nikon Z8 sample NEF files from various photo review sites, as for example ...

I already did that and I can open them which is why I wanted one from @Gurinder Punn 

[v_kyr]

7 minutes ago, carl123 said:

I already did that and I can open them which is why I wanted one from @Gurinder Punn 

If you can open Z8 NEFs in APh 2.1 (...also with all Exif data preserved, maker notes etc.), then Z8 NEFs will be pretty much like Z9 NEFs here, though AFAIK Libraw doesn't yet at this point can handle high effency (he) compressed NEFs.

[Bruce Shipyor]

My raw file from the Nikon Z8, still a black screen in Affinity Phone 2.1.0DSC_1164.NEF

[walt.farrell]

7 minutes ago, Bruce Shipyor said:

My raw file from the Nikon Z8, still a black screen in Affinity Phone 2.1.0DSC_1164.NEF

What form of compression do you have set in your camera settings?

[Bruce Shipyor]

In Photo Shooting Menu, RAW recording set for High efficiency with the star. Image quality is RAW + JPG/HEIF fine with the star.

I hope this helps. I'm new to this forum and to the Nikon Z8 camera, I do have a Z6ii and a D7500.

 

Edited June 10, 2023 by Bruce Shipyor

[walt.farrell]

13 minutes ago, Bruce Shipyor said:

RAW recording set for High efficiency with the star.

Switch it to standard compression, or no compression. High Efficiency is not supported.

[Bruce Shipyor]

I set it to Lossless compression, it does work on V2.1.0, I hope that they will support High Efficiency files.

[BlaineL]

Thank you for isolating this. It's been frustrating not being able to open the RAW files. I've been using High Efficiency as well and had to switch to Capture One for the time being.

 

[djl22]

Have they fixed this yet? I've just updated mine and still getting black images when importing from Nikon Z8

[v_kyr]

See theme related ...

Affinity Photo's used Libraw library doesn't support yet Nikon high efficiency compressed NEFs from Nikon Z8/Z9/(Zf) cams. And it probably never will when depending only on Libraw here, as Nikon high efficiency compressed NEFs do use a third-party RAW encoder/decoder from intoPIX called TicoRaw. This in turn means, that a software RAW converter vendor has to use Nikon's own SDK or alternatively the TicoRaw SDK in order to be able to decode high efficiency compressed Nikon NEF files.

Actually, Nikon Z8/Z9/Zf cam users will have to shoot RAW in lossless (uncompressed) NEF/RAW mode, in order to be able to make any use out of their NEFs in APh.

[Ldina]

djl22...As a workaround, download the Free Adobe DNG Converter and convert your Nikon Z8 or Z9 files (compressed or uncompressed) to DNG format. You should then be able to open the DNG files in AP in the Develop Persona. 

[v_kyr]

9 hours ago, Ldina said:

djl22...As a workaround, download the Free Adobe DNG Converter and convert your Nikon Z8 or Z9 files (compressed or uncompressed) to DNG format. You should then be able to open the DNG files in AP in the Develop Persona. 

Yes that should work, as the latest Adobe DNG Converter versions do support to deal with high efficiency compressed NEFs from Nikon Z8/Z9/Zf cams. - Though that's then of course always an extra step to make/take in order to get files reused in APh and one has to see how APh then interprets those DNGs. Meaning here, that one has to setup the Adobe DNG Converter conversion settings in a manner, that the resulting DNGs then look initially as default nearly Ok when reopening in APh afterwards.

[Ldina]

@v_kyr 

6 hours ago, v_kyr said:

one has to see how APh then interprets those DNGs. Meaning here, that one has to setup the Adobe DNG Converter conversion settings in a manner, that the resulting DNGs then look initially as default nearly Ok when reopening in APh afterwards.

I was curious about your statement, so I opened a Canon CR2 file, and the same exact file converted to DNG using the free Adobe DNG Converter. I noticed two differences. The DNG converted file opened up brighter. I reduced the exposure by 0.4 stops in the Develop Persona so it was a close match to the unconverted CR2 file. Also, the DNG and CR2 files show a different Native WB in the Develop Persona, but I left them alone in both files. I developed the CR2 file with ZERO adjustments in the Develop Persona. I developed the DNG with only a single adjustment...reducing the Exposure to -0.4 stops.

In Affinity Photo, I pasted the DNG version on top of the CR2 version, and set the DNG Layer to Difference Blend mode. The image turned solid black, indicating little or no differences between the two. Running the cursor over the resulting "black" image showed VERY minor differences, but only in the deepest shadow areas, mostly at RGB levels 1-5. These are inconsequential, and I attribute any differences to me not adjusting the Exposure Slider in the Develop Persona so the exposures were exact. I've been using DNG Converter for all my digital files and have never had any issue. As an aside, comparing the CR2 to the DNG file (with -0.4 Exposure), the images look exactly the same to my eyes. I also use DNG Converter to rename the file when importing, adding the date before the filename. 

As for conversion settings in DNG Converter, there are very few. I'm using DNG Converter v15.3.0.1451, and the only setting I saw that might be an issue was the "Use Lossy Compression" option, which I leave unchecked. If desired, there is the option to embed the original RAW file inside the Converted DNG file, though this will essentially double the file size of the DNG.

Since I always adjust tonality in the Develop Persona anyway, I see no downside to using DNG files. If you see something I missed, I'd appreciate knowing what that might be.

Thanks..

[v_kyr]

16 minutes ago, Ldina said:

If you see something I missed, I'd appreciate knowing what that might be.

Well I can't tell for Canon RAWs as I'm more a Nikonian and no Canonista. But one probably better test this with some theme related Nikon Z8 he* NEFs then here (maybe from here).

BTW Nikon NEFs can be also taken in HLG, aka "Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)" technology which is a High Dynamic Range (HDR) standard that allows photographs with a wider range of tones, minimizing loss of detail in highlights and shadows. And AFAI recall, an HLG-powered NEF uses BT.2020 Color Space and different tone curves, which I'm not sure if it's all then treaded correctly by the DNG Converter. - Thus I said that one has to generally check/test here, if Z8 he* NEFs with certain applied settings will also result (in)to appropriate converted DNGs.

[Ldina]

@v_kyr Thanks.

With my Canon 5DMk2, DNGs work perfectly. Agreed, it's worth comparing native RAW to converted DNG files, camera by camera, to be sure.

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, Ldina said:

With my Canon 5DMk2, DNGs work perfectly.

Well a 5DMk2 is an older model, so it should be nowadays long time supported everywhere. - I recall having once shooting with that Canon model (a long time ago) in a studio portrait session, got quite good & pleasing results. Had to use then that cam since the studios lighting system and flash trigger were explicitely synced to/on that cam.

[Ldina]

@v_kyr

I downloaded a few Nikon Z8 RAW files from the dpreview link you provided. I believe they were probably compressed fil formats, so I couldn't open the NEF files in AP. They opened and processed fine after converting them to DNG format using Adobe DNG Converter. However, since I can't open the NEF files in AP, I have no way of seeing how the DNG and NEF files compare.

If nothing else, it's a good workaround for those who can't open their proprietary RAW files using Affinity Photo.

[v_kyr]

39 minutes ago, Ldina said:

I downloaded a few Nikon Z8 RAW files from the dpreview link you provided. I believe they were probably compressed fil formats, so I couldn't open the NEF files in AP. They opened and processed fine after converting them to DNG format using Adobe DNG Converter. However, since I can't open the NEF files in AP, I have no way of seeing how the DNG and NEF files compare.

I you downloaded both, the compressed NEFs and JPGs from dpreview, you can convert the NEF to DNG as you suggested and then open that in APh. Afterwards compare the downloaded JPG from dpreview with what APh shows and gives you as result.

41 minutes ago, Ldina said:

If nothing else, it's a good workaround for those who can't open their proprietary RAW files using Affinity Photo.

For those who insist to use APh for the job, probably. - For those looking to getting most out of their Z8 compressed NEFs using Nikon's own NX Studio is mandantory. Followed by C1, LG, DxO ... which all do support now Z9/Z8/Zf he* NEFs.