Nikon Z6 & mirrorless lens support

[nigelj]

I was considering moving to Affinity Photo (for Windows, from Lightroom), but on scanning this forum it seems that support for new cameras is incredibly slow to arrive. In fact I didn't see any constructive Serif responses to requests, and the latest supported camera list is from 12-2016 - not a good advert for your product.

So I can make a decision, how long is it likely to be before support for Nikon Z6 and the new mirrorless lenses arrives in Affinity Photo?

[Dan C]

Hi nigelj,

Welcome to the forums

We're currently running a beta for version 1.7 of Affinity Photo, which includes a RAW support update. We use LibRAW in the Serif Labs engine for Windows, and the 1.7 beta has the latest version of LibRAW - 0.19. The supported list of cameras can be seen here - https://www.libraw.org/supported-cameras

Unfortunately however the Nikon Z6 is not in this list currently, so your camera is not supported.

We hope that for future versions we can build our own RAW support library, so that camera compatibility isn't restricted to third party support, but we don't have an eta for this currently so I couldn't state when your camera may be supported, either by LibRAW or by our own library, my apologies.

[nigelj]

Thanks Dan...shame as the application looks very good!

Is there any way I can get a notification either when the Z6 is added, or perhaps when the library is updated so I can check myself?

[Dan C]

You may be able to convert your Z6 images to DNG and open these correctly in Affinity currently, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Unfortunately we don't have such a notification system, I'd recommend keeping an eye on our beta section of the forums, as each beta we run will show a list of updates. This can be found here - https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/34-photo-beta-on-windows/

[nigelj]

I want to edit the RAW file...tbh I can't be bothered doing another step before I edit my photos, or have to think about how to store/manage the DNGs as well as the RAWs and other formats!

Thanks for that link, I will keep an eye on it.

BTW, the post that is linked from here is out of date (in the RAW IMage Processing section)...you may want to update the website... https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/desktop/full-feature-list/

[v_kyr]

Also AFAIK the lensfun database doesn't actually have added support for the new Z-line lenses.

[nigelj]

Thanks, but it's a bit irrelevant at this stage as the camera isn't in the database yet, so my NEF files can't even be read!

[v_kyr]

Well and if you have Z-lenses and those aren't corrected, even the NEF file could maybe read in, it's equally bad. - I assume it will take some time until third party RAW software will support the new Nikon mirrorless line here, so actually Nikon Capture NX-D might be your best choice now and yet.

[mru]

It would be helpful for Serif to identify when Nikon’s Z range will be supported please.Thank you. 

[nigelj]

It would be helpful, but they don't know or won't say...see the second post in the thread

[v_kyr]

The APh software relies on third party libraries here, namely LibRAW and Lensfun, so when these will offer support APh's next minor version will too.

[Matze]

I was able to open nefs from my Z6 with affinity but only if i use the  "raw compressed lossless" option of the camera.

Affinity also opens the uncompresed ones but not corectly so this is useless. So if you like to open the Nef Files with affinity just use the "nef compressed lossless option ;)

[Minus44]

I can understand the original poster's frustration. When your purchase a newly released camera, it’s typical for the image processing software to not be caught up yet. It likewise took some time for @dobe to update their own software to support the Nikon Z Series.

The suggestion to use DNG as a workaround is a very good one. The original poster said that he "can't be bothered doing another step before I edit my photos," and I empathize. But at least this approach is free, easy to implement, and quick, taking only a few short minutes after which you can continue with your normal workflow in the Affinity software you enjoy. More importantly, this approach actually works, and it’s only temporary. Worth giving a shot while waiting for Affinity Photo to catch up.

[Marcial]

Here’s a video link on how to convert the NEF files of the Z6 and other cameras to DNG files that can be edited on affinity photo: so you guys can get back to work on affinity photo, meanwile it gets updated. 

Z6 Nikon Problem with editing RAW files in Affinity Photo: Fix
https://youtu.be/X8FadyDS5Xc

 

[John Rostron]

If you have Affinity Photo set up as the default program to open DNG files and Nikon Capture the default for NEF files, then you double-click on the NEF file, make any adjustments and save as DNG. The DNG will then automatically open in Affinity Photo.

John

[v_kyr]

20 hours ago, Marcial said:

...

Z6 Nikon Problem with editing RAW files in Affinity Photo: Fix
https://youtu.be/X8FadyDS5Xc

Well that guy is on MacOS probably Mojave (which supports the Z6 & Z7) and converts to DNG for NEF RAW processing on APh? - He better should have tried first to switch the RAW Engine to Apple's for a more neatless overall workflow without unnecessary RAW format conversions.

[v_kyr]

27 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

...and Nikon Capture the default for NEF files, then you double-click on the NEF file, make any adjustments and save as DNG

Capture NX-D doesn't save as DNG, or did you meant instead the DNG Converter here?

[John Rostron]

2 hours ago, v_kyr said:

Capture NX-D doesn't save as DNG, or did you meant instead the DNG Converter here?

I got the impression from an earlier message that it did. Pease substitute any program that reads Z6 NEFs and output DNGs. Shows that I am not a Nikon user.

John

[v_kyr]

21 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

Shows that I am not a Nikon user.

Most enthusiast/pro Nikonians don't use an intermediate DNG format or have fallen back to NEFs here, since the quality of Nikon's own RAW software is still a notch better (which also is logical, since usually every cam vendor knows their own file format exactly and better than any third party). DNG as a more common standard would usually be fine, as far as the cam vendor would support it directly in cam (some vendors already do this). But when first converting from vendor proprietary formats (NEF, CR2 etc.) to DNG like the Adobe products do, then some finenesses and overall loading performance (due to conversion) are lost.

Nikon's software exports to TIFF/JPG but not DNG.