Nikon Z8 high compressed raw files

[minni-goofy]

Hi,

I cant open high compressed raw files from the Nikon Z8 - only a black screen is visible. When will be an update for that topic available?

Thanks in advance

Axel

[Hangman]

Hi @minni-goofy,

Nikon Z8 (HE/HE* formats are not supported) are not yet supported by LibRaw the library Affinity Photo uses to process RAW images which is why you are seeing a black screen.

[minni-goofy]

Hi Hangman

any idea how long it might take?

 

 

 

 

•  

[Hangman]

Hi @minni-goofy,

I'm afraid I don't, it all depends on when support is added for the format in the LibRaw library which isn't something that Serif controls.

[GreenSWOhio]

This is a poor comment on Affinity Photo. I read that they are adding enhancements to AF2 but they can not support the basic functionality of reading a major manufacturers' raw file? I further read that they can't do it because they are using something called LibRAW, a free open-source software library. It is irresponsible of them to not at least provide a patch for the functionality until they can get the code for free from someone else; they are charging...

 

[R C-R]

15 minutes ago, GreenSWOhio said:

I read that they are adding enhancements to AF2 but they can not support the basic functionality of reading a major manufacturers' raw file?

The problem is it isn't just one RAW format for Nikon (or any other major camera maker's) RAW files: there are dozens of different ones, many if not most of them including proprietary, encrypted data the maker tries to keep secret for competitive reasons. So most of them need to be carefully reverse engineered one at a time before an appropriate 'development' process can be included in apps that process RAW files.

[GreenSWOhio]

Be that as it may, FastStone Image Viewer, a freeware app, handles the raw files just fine. I do not understand why a freeware app would be in front of a paid app. And I have no idea how to contact anyone at AF2 & get a response.

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, GreenSWOhio said:

FastStone Image Viewer, a freeware app, handles the raw files just fine. I do not understand why a freeware app would be in front of a paid app.

I doubt that it processes high compression NEFs here, instead it will probably only showup the embeded JPG preview file inside of NEFs.

• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4641766

[GreenSWOhio]

v_kyr: Excellent response, Thanks for taking the time. I did not know there was an embedded jpg in nef files. But following the link you provided I am able to conclude that is probably what is happening.

FS allows me to adjust the image! When I save the adjusted jpg image from FS, the saved image is 4MB instead of 45 (I expect jpg to be smaller than nef, but not that much smaller). I had never used FS as an image processor before, now I see why that would be a questionable choice.

However when I do the same operation in NXStudio and save the image, the saved jpg from NXS is 30MB.

So FS is allowing me to process the embedded jpg, and AF2 is not.

 

 

 

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, GreenSWOhio said:

I did not know there was an embedded jpg in nef files.

In that case, you may find https://affinityspotlight.com/article/raw-actually/ of interest, not just for Nikon but for RAW files in general.

[v_kyr]

8 hours ago, GreenSWOhio said:

However when I do the same operation in NXStudio and save the image, the saved jpg from NXS is 30MB.

So FS is allowing me to process the embedded jpg, and AF2 is not.

Well Nikon NX Studio of course does know best how to deal the right way with the TicoRAW codec technology (see also TicoRAW) used in Nikon Z9 + Z8 cams NEF HE*.

• intoPIX TicoRAW Technology Added with High-Efficiency RAW Recording of Nikon Z 9 Flagship Mirrorless Camera

Beside Nikon's NX Studio, AFAIK only the big RAW converter guys in business (Lightroom/CameraRaw, CaptureOne, DxO ...) in the meantime can handle Nikon's high effency NEFs too.

As APh 2 mainly developes RAWs (via it's Develop Persona) and isn't a general RAW image viewer per se here, it doesn't extract the embedded JPGs for further development, instead it tries to develop an image out of the RAW files.

[GreenSWOhio]

Affinity Photo 2.4 claims to finally supports the RAW format Nikon introduced in 2021.

Now instead of incorrectly showing a black image the following is displayed:

 

 

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, GreenSWOhio said:

Affinity Photo 2.4 claims to finally supports the RAW format Nikon introduced in 2021.

But only if you don't use the High Efficiency Compression option. 

 

[GreenSWOhio]

All they did was add an error msg, that is not the support For which I was looking.

[walt.farrell]

25 minutes ago, GreenSWOhio said:

All they did was add an error msg, that is not the support For which I was looking.

The High Efficiency compression will not be supported until LibRaw supports it, if ever.

What Serif added was basic support for that camera's Raw format (as documented in the Supported Cameras list).

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

What Serif added was basic support for that camera's Raw format (as documented in the Supported Cameras list).

Indeed, it is very clearly documented in the the newly supported RAW camera list at https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/167741-list-of-supported-raw-formats-cameras-for-lens-correction-list-in-affinity-2x/&do=findComment&comment=1178835, where for Nikon it shows this:

• Nikon:
  • Z 8 (standard compression formats only)
  • Z 30
  • Z f (standard compression formats only) 

If or when the Nikon High Efficiency format is supported by LibRaw (or Serif creates an extension for that, like it has done for certain Canon cameras), I am sure they will publish a new version of the newly supported RAW camera list with that info in it.

 

[GreenSWOhio]

Apparently Affinity Photo not supporting all of Nikon's RAW formats is not an issue for everyone.

If Affinity Photo wants to be a full featured Photo Editor, that claims to support Nikon RAW formats then it should support all Nikon RAW formats. 

I am reporting my concern with this issue as it will be a decision point when I decide whether to purchase the next version upgrade, or get a license to a product that supports the camera formats I use. 

I am concerned that Serif is so casual about supporting the new Nikon features. I understand they blame their lack of support on their 3rd party developer. That is Serif's problem to solve. Other, non-Nikon, editor vendors have solved it. 

And there are concerns about other problems reported to Affinity Photo and acknowledged by them that don't get fixed.

I don't want new features, I don't care what other platforms AP runs on, I do care about solid base functionality.