Nikon Z8 raw files

[Tr48]

I read in another thread that Serif had resolved the issue of Z8 raw files not being recognised in Affinity Photo - by issuing 2.4 beta.  I installed this beta but it gave an error message that this file type is not supported.  Confusing!  Mac OS Sonoma 14.3, M1 chip.  

[walt.farrell]

If you're using the beta, and commenting on beta functions, you need to post in the Beta section of the forums. Also, for an issue related to a specific Beta function, you should post in the topic for that function.

[walt.farrell]

A moderator may move this for you, or you could repost in https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/197799-additional-raw-format-support/

 and then hide this topic.

[Tr48]

Thanks

 

[Chris B]

Hey @Tr48 can you share one of the raw samples, please?

I did quite a bit of raw testing for this update and the Z8 raw samples I tried all worked fine. Can you also tell me if you're using Serif Labs or Apple Core from the Develop Assistant?

[Tr48]

issue resolved by me switching camera to raw uncompressed. 

37 minutes ago, Chris B said:

Hey @Tr48 can you share one of the raw samples, please?

I did quite a bit of raw testing for this update and the Z8 raw samples I tried all worked fine. Can you also tell me if you're using Serif Labs or Apple Core from the Develop Assistant?

 

[Chris B]

Ah, that makes sense! 

During testing, we did notice that some raw files with compression were not opening. 

Would it be possible to send one of the raws over anyway? We ought to be investigating this and ensure that even raw files with compression are opening.

[Tr48]

Ok...

_DSC1760.NEF

[Chris B]

Thanks! I'll ask the developers to investigate why we do not support the compression

[Tr48]

Thank you

That raw was High Efficiency* compressed in Z8's menu.  

[Affinity Info Bot]

An issue raised in this thread ("Nikon Z8 with compression fails to open") has now been reported to the developers by the testing team (Ref: AF-1950). Thank you very much for reporting this issue to us.

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, Chris B said:

Thanks! I'll ask the developers to investigate why we do not support the compression

I've already often mentioned in similar Z8/Z9/(Zf) related threads here in the forum, that Nikon uses a dedicated third party (TicoRAW) compression SDK therefor. - See related ...

• TicoRAW (from intoPIX)
• TicoRAW SDK
• Nikon SDK

So in order to support high efficiency compressed NEFs from Nikon Z8/Z9/(Zf) cams, one has to either use the TicoRAW SDK for uncompressing these RAWs, or to decripple their RAW compression algorithm in some way without that SDK.

[Chris B]

Thanks. I was not aware Nikon used a third-party SDK.

I checked a few other apps to see how they handled it and had success with each of them so I do feel like we need to investigate improving this.

[v_kyr]

2 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I checked a few other apps to see how they handled it and had success with each of them so I do feel like we need to investigate improving this.

I know that some of the big guys in the RAW converter tools field do in the meantime support to deal with Nikon high efficiency compressed NEFs. Thus I assume these (re)use the above mentioned TicoRAW SDK or instead Nikon's own SDK therefor.

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, Chris B said:

I'll ask the developers to investigate why we do not support the compression

As far as I know, LibRaw doesn't support it.

[Tr48]

4 hours ago, Chris B said:

Hey @Tr48 can you share one of the raw samples, please?

I did quite a bit of raw testing for this update and the Z8 raw samples I tried all worked fine. Can you also tell me if you're using Serif Labs or Apple Core from the Develop Assistant?

Default Serif.