If i shoot raw+jpg the camera will use the raw data and then apply the picture control file to produce the jpg. I can open the raw file at home using View nx and then save as a jpg.View Nx will use the same attached picture control file. Is there any difference between these two methods to produce jpgs. I can easily produce the jpgs at home and not have to shoot raw+jpg which uses up more space on memory cards.

Mike

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If you make no modifications to the image in View NX, the resulting JPG will be identical to what the camera would produce, for all practical purposes. The same would apply to Capture NX. It would not apply to ACR or other non-Nikon convertors.

Mick
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The Picture Control settings are not really in a separate file they are simply in the metadata of the NEF. Essentially you are right, whether you convert the NEF to jpg in a Nikon editing program or use the jpg from the camera they should be the same. The reason people shoot NEF+JPEG is either to have a safety net (the increased editing latitude in the NEF file) or because their targeted output requires a jpg straight out of the camera, or something similar.

Ernesto Santos

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Thanks for the help. Most of the pictures that I have taken are of pots that my wife and I have produced. (see www.creekclayworks.ca) These are taken in raw and then tweeked in PS. In spring of 2010 we spent 6 weeks in Turkey and I shot Raw+jpg but most of the jpg's were so good straight out of the camera that I didn't in the end spend much time working with the raw files except a few. This coming spring we are off to Nepal for a 30 day trek to Dolpo and was wondering if one could stretch ones memory cards by shooting just raw and then at home just generate the jpgs using View NX and then decide which files one wants to use.

Mike

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<....was wondering if one could stretch ones memory cards by shooting just raw and then at home just generate the jpgs using View NX and then decide which files one wants to use.>

Mike

That's exactly what most of us are doing today. We simply shoot RAW and then produce JPEG's for the images needed.

For large volumes of images I use Nikon View for rating images and any preliminary edits. I use the "filter" function in view to quickly see selected files. My approach is to use the star rating for image quality and the color codes to identify my choice or best images ( this is important if you have 5-8 good images of a particular scene or item and you want to publish just one). If you need advanced editing, you can always use another product like Capture NX2.


Eric Bowles
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