Can't open Raw files from Nikon Z8

[JePed001]

all my older nef files work fine - but my new Z8 nef files will not open in Affinity Photo 1.10.6

[NotMyFault]

see 

 

This new Camera is not officially supported by the old Affinity Version. On Apple Devices, you can switch to Apple RAW and may have better luck.

 

[v_kyr]

3 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

On Apple Devices, you can switch to Apple RAW and may have better luck.

NO, as even macOS Ventura doesn't officially support Nikon Z8 NEFs yet, pretty much the same as the latest APh v2.2 (Libraw based).

[NotMyFault]

2 hours ago, v_kyr said:

NO, as even macOS Ventura doesn't officially support Nikon Z8 NEFs yet, pretty much the same as the latest APh v2.2 (Libraw based).

YES, Apple will add support for Z8 some time in future, but Affinity will never add Z8 support for V1. So hoping for Apple is the only option for users who don’t intend to upgrade to V2.

 

[NotMyFault]

8 hours ago, JePed001 said:

all my older nef files work fine - but my new Z8 nef files will not open in Affinity Photo 1.10.6

This tool can help to convert some unsupported RAW formats (by Apple and Serif):

https://helpx.adobe.com/de/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-converter.html

[firstdefence]

Ventura 3.6 and Affinity 2.2 support the Z8 NEF

Sample RAW from here: https://photographylife.com/nikon-z8-sample-images-raws

[NotMyFault]

2 minutes ago, firstdefence said:

Ventura 3.6 and Affinity 2.2 support the Z8 NEF

Sample RAW from here: https://photographylife.com/nikon-z8-sample-images-raws

Maybe depends on features used like RAW compression. 
 

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, firstdefence said:

Ventura 3.6 and Affinity 2.2 support the Z8 NEF

They support the Z9 (without any applied high effency compression) and so only those parts in Z8 NEF files which are kept indentical to the Z9 NEF format.

[Affinity Info Bot]

The issue "Nikon Z8" (REF: AF-1768) has been fixed by the developers in internal build "2.4.0.2256".
This fix should soon be available as a customer beta and is planned for inclusion in the next customer release.
Customer beta builds are announced here and you can participate by following these instructions.
If you still experience this problem once you are using that build version (or later) please reply to this thread including @Serif Info Bot to notify us.

[globetrotters1]

Hello,

I am using version 2.5.3 (latest) and the program CANNOT open my Nikon Z8 files... I attach a copy of a picture to check

Thanks, Martin

_Z8B2489.NEF

[Hangman]

Hi @globetrotters1 and welcome to the forums,

If your RAW file is shot using a Nikon High-efficiency setting, these are not supported in Affinity Photo v2.5.3, however, Nikon High-efficiency support should be coming to Affinity Photo 2 (LibRaw) in v2.6.0 using a Library supplied by Nikon.

A Beta release of Affinity Photo v2.6.0 should be available soon, hopefully in the next week or so...

[globetrotters1]

Hi Hangman,

thanks a lot for your info. Looking forward to that version.

Best, Martin

[CarlM]

I have a Z8 and am using standard RAW and not HEIF RAW. Affinity Photo throws up an error stating that the filetype isn't supported, so please, what's going on if people are stating Z( standard Raws are supported when v2.53 says otherwise?

[Hangman]

Hi @CarlM,

Could you upload a sample RAW file from your Z8 so we can take a look...

I've just downloaded a sample Z8 RAW file which opens without issue in Photo 2.5.3...

[R C-R]

5 hours ago, Hangman said:

I've just downloaded a sample Z8 RAW file which opens without issue in Photo 2.5.3...

Same here. I downloaded Photo #4 from https://photographylife.com/dl/raw/nikon-z8/nikon-z8-raw-00004.nef & it opened without problems for me.

[mopperle]

6 hours ago, CarlM said:

I have a Z8 and am using standard RAW and not HEIF RAW.

Just to make sure, there is no "HEIF RAW". There is a format called HEIF and there are RAW files. HEIF got nothing to do with RAW, it is a format introduced 2015 and was thought to replace the JPG format. In your Nikon you can choose to save RAW file plus a HEIF file. For RAW files Nikon offers a HE option  a new additional compression which is currently not supported.

[h_d]

Just to amplify @mopperle's post:

ExifTool says the file uploaded by @globetrotters1 uses High Efficiency NEF Compression. It is not editable on my machine (running macOS Sonoma 14.5) with Affinity Photo 2.5.3. (GraphicConverter 12 opens it but in an unusable format).

ExifTool says the file uploaded by @R C-R uses Lossless NEF Compression. It is editable on my machine.

The ExifTool command I used was 

exiftool /path/to/file.nef | grep -i compression

.

 

 

Edited June 26, 2024 by h_d
Corrected GraphicConverter version

[R C-R]

11 minutes ago, h_d said:

ExifTool says the file uploaded by @globetrotters1 uses High Efficiency NEF Compression. It is not editable on my machine (running macOS Sonoma 14.5) with Affinity Photo 2.5.3. (Graphic Converter 13 opens it but in an unusable format).

I had not noticed that file yesterday but I downloaded it today. On my Mac running Catalina, it opens in AP's Develop persona & the metadata shows it is a compressed image, but it just shows as an all black image, so no usable content.

[h_d]

Just a chunk from GraphicConverter:

 

[R C-R]

@h_d, I think your sig might need updating....

[CarlM]

On 6/26/2024 at 9:25 AM, Hangman said:

Hi @CarlM,

Could you upload a sample RAW file from your Z8 so we can take a look...

I've just downloaded a sample Z8 RAW file which opens without issue in Photo 2.5.3...

Cancel my last with apologies. Just discovered that Nikon reset my RAW settings when they returned my Z8 from sorting out the strap lug issue.

 

[CarlM]

On 6/26/2024 at 4:12 PM, mopperle said:

Just to make sure, there is no "HEIF RAW". There is a format called HEIF and there are RAW files. HEIF got nothing to do with RAW, it is a format introduced 2015 and was thought to replace the JPG format. In your Nikon you can choose to save RAW file plus a HEIF file. For RAW files Nikon offers a HE option  a new additional compression which is currently not supported.

I meant HE RAW not HEIF JPG

[Old Bruce]

21 hours ago, CarlM said:

Just discovered that Nikon reset my RAW settings when they returned my Z8 from sorting out the strap lug issue.

Then I would suggest you check all your settings on the camera.

Please note that this advice is coming from someone who is unsure if the date on his camera is anywhere close to the actual date. I think I have a bunch (two months worth) of raw files that were shot in 1901.

[R C-R]

53 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

I think I have a bunch (two months worth) of raw files that were shot in 1901.

Well ... you are Old Bruce! 🤣

[mopperle]

57 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

I think I have a bunch (two months worth) of raw files that were shot in 1901.

TBH, analog film is RAW format! 😉