Yesterday I took four shots with my D700 with the Quality setting at NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal.This was the first time I shot NEFs with this camera. When I attempted to download the photos into my iMac iPhoto Library the JPEGs downloaded OK, but the RAW images did not. The following message appeared on my monitor:

"Unreadable Files: 4

The following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file type or the files may not contain valid data)."

(What followed was a description of the four NEF images).

I repeated this exercise a second time with the same result. Then I repeated it a third time using a different memory card. Same result: the JPEGs downloaded, but the NEF files wouldn't.

I never had this problem with my D200.

Can anybody help me solve this mystery?

Bob

Can you be more specific? What version of iPhoto are you using? I'm using iPhoto '09 and it imports NEF's from our D700 without issue.

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Mitchman,

Thanks for responding.

I have iPhoto 6 version 6.0.6. As indicated in my post I have never had an issue in downloading NEFs from my D200, but it's no-go with the D700.

Bob

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As the sensor in the D200 is much different than the D700, the RAW data has to be different as well. Sounds like you need to upgrade to a newer version of iLife. Luckily that's not very expensive (compared to the cost of the camera, lenses, etc...)

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Bob, I see this problem as an opportunity for you. Instead of buying the latest version of iLife ($79) get yourself a copy of Nikon Capture NX2 ($150). If you're a Nikon NEF shooter, NX2 does the best conversion by far from RAW to tiff and also corrects many aberration problems automatically. And you'll learn to love editing with NX2's U-Points. Nikon Transfer and View NX are free companion programs. You can download NX2 on a 60-day free trail.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Imaging-Software/index.page

Edo

Thanks again for your replies.

I went to the online Apple support forums and found out that it is an OS problem. I am currently using OS X 10.4.11 Tiger, and I have to have OS X 10.5.5 or later for support of D700 RAW files. I am always leery about OS upgrades, but it looks like I will have to upgrade to the current OS X 10.5.6 Leopard.

I normally shoot only JPEGs, but thought I would shoot a few RAW photos with my D700 and process them in ACR in Elements 6 for Mac to see how it went. It looks like I will have to keep shooting only JPEGs until I can do the upgrade.

Lately I have been hanging out in the Nikonians Digital postprocessing & workflow forum where RAW reigns supreme. (Ken Rockwell of JPEG-uber-alles fame would instantly vaporize if he wandered into that forum!). Bob Baldassano over there preaches eloquently about the virtues of NX2. I'm not yet persuaded that RAW is the way to go. I don't like the way those huge RAW files fill up a hard drive in record time. We'll see what develops. Maybe I'll decide to shoot RAW in certain selected instances.

Bob

>
>I normally shoot only JPEGs, but thought I would shoot a few
>RAW photos with my D700 and process them in ACR in Elements 6
>for Mac to see how it went.
>

Then why download them to iPhoto? Copy the NEF files from your memory card to the hard drive of your computer (via a card reader) and open them directly in ACR. You may have to update ACR and Elements 6 (I did when I installed E6 about a month ago), but the downloads are free.)

Alternately, open the NEF files in Nikon Transfer -- it's on the disk that came with your D700, then use ACR and E6 for post processing.

If you want to catalog the pictures in iPhoto, save your post-processing results as JPEGs and import these into iPhoto.

John
"One should photograph objects not only for what they are but for what else they are." -- Minor White

John,

Thanks for your suggestions, but since this is an operating system issue I doubt that what you suggest would work. As indicated in my last post D700 RAW files are not supported by my OS X 10.4.11 operating system. I need OS X 10.5.5 or later.

Bob

Bob,

I think John is right. I believe the issue regarding support of D700 NEF files only applies to Apple's software such as iPhoto and Aperture. You should have no trouble copying any file if you avoid such software.

Enjoy!

Randy

I'm pretty sure that Adobe supplies it's own set of Camera Raw plug-in's with their software (both Photoshop and/or Elements). This would run independently of the Apple software. I think the suggestion above is a good one. You already have Elements 6, which the poster confirms that it's compatible with the D700 NEF's. Since you already own it, you might as well use it.

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Found this on the Adobe site:
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The latest version of the Nikon camera software (Nikon View, Nikon Capture) installs the Nikon NEF plug-in. If this plug-in is in the Photoshop Plug-ins folder, it starts instead of Adobe Camera Raw when you import an NEF file. Photoshop will still recognize Nikon NEF files if you rename the Nikon NEF plug-in, and open the files in Camera Raw instead. However, if you rename the Nikon NEF plug-in and the Photoshop Camera Raw dialog box still doesn't appear, then delete the Nikon NEF plug-in, and make sure that the Camera Raw plug-in is installed to the correct location.
------------------------------
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/326/326616.html

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Hi,

I believe Bob Johnson has instructions regarding this on his Earthbound Light web site. I don't have a link to it, but I'm sure a search will find it.

Enjoy!

Randy

Thanks, guys, for your efforts to help. Today I ordered from Apple the software that will enable me to accomplish the following:

1. Upgrade my OS from OS X 10.4.11 Tiger to OS X 10.5.6 Leopard
2. Upgrade my iPhoto '06 program to iPhoto '09

This will not only enable me to import my D700 RAW images into iPhoto, but will also update my iMac, said update being long overdue.

Bob

You probably already know this, but....

You realize that iLife comes bundled with Leopard, right? You don't need to buy it separately.

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Mitchman,

I bought the Mac Box Set which includes OS X v.10.5.6 Leopard, iLife '09, and iWork '09. Hopefully this will keep me up to date until it's time for a new iMac circa 2011. I definitely like that 24" iMac. I would have bought one in 2007 instead of the 20" model, but at that time Apple wanted $600 more for the 24" model.

I don't know which I love more: my iMac or my D700, but it's a torrid romance I'm having with both! I'm also passionate about my Toyota Camry XLE, the best car I ever owned. We boys must have our toys!

Bob

Sounds good Bob! I share your same passions! (except for the Toyota.....I'm partial to Mazda Miata's)

Mitch

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Mitch,

At least you saw the wisdom of investing in a non-Detroit vehicle! My Camry purchase marked a radical departure from the trouble-prone GM cars that I suffered with for far too many years. I bought the Camry used with 51,000 miles on it. I'm now at 114,000 miles, having had only one significant problem with it in the ensuing six years, and when that occurred Toyota offered to pick up the tab for the repair parts! My Detroit products never came close to providing that kind of reliability and customer satisfaction.

In summary it looks like we are in agreement that for the ultimate in user satisfaction buy Nikon cameras, Mac computers, and Japanese automobiles.

Anybody want to add to the list?

Bob

I, too, have a 24-inch iMac, a D700 and a Toyota, except my ride is a 1989 Celica that used to be red.

John

"One should photograph objects not only for what they are but for what else they are." -- Minor White

I like Mazda, but we also own a 2006 Mini Cooper S and a 2005 Ford F-150. Guess which one we're having problems with?

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Mitch,

How many guesses do I get?

John,

Your Celica definitely qualifies. Welcome to the club!

Bob

One.

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Mitch,

Without having to exercise much brain power I am guessing that it is the F-150 that is giving you problems at the moment.

Now that I have upgraded my iMac software I shot some RAW + JPEG photos and found that I can import RAW images as well as the JPEGs into iPhoto '09 with no problems. One thing that surprised me is that after turning on the D700 the photos showed up on my monitor before I clicked the Import button! That was never the case previously with iPhoto '06.

Bob

That was fast! I'm glad you're happy with your upgrade Bob! Interesting about plugging the D700 directly into the computer. I haven't tried that yet. I've been removing the CF card and transferring using a card reader. Actually I should confess.....when we bought the camera, we also bought a Lexar 8GB UDMA CF card and Lexar FW800 UDMA CF card reader. When comparing with our old FW400 Lexar reader, the new reader is 3 times faster. Impressive. I wonder how that compares to downloading from the camera via USB?

You're right about the F-150. The paint has begun falling off the roof. It's obviously a defect (the body shop agrees about that)...but it's 1 month out of warranty. We're crossing our fingers that Ford is still going to take care of it. Should find out next week.

Mitch

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Mitch,

I don't own a card reader so could not give you an estimate as to how much faster it would download the photos from the camera to the computer. No doubt somebody else online could answer the question.

I had a 1985 Olds 98 where the paint commenced peeling from the hood at around 70,000 miles. Much to my surprise GM agreed to repaint it at no cost to me. Best wishes to you for a similar outcome, but in today's auto climate I would not make a large bet that it will happen! However, Ford is at least solvent, so that fact is in your favor.

Bob

Thanks Bob! We're crossing our fingers that either Ford or our local dealer (or both) will step up and at least split the cost between the three of us.

Anyway, enough off topic stuff. Back to D700 stuff! hehehehehehe

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Nikon D700 | 17-35mm f/2.8 | 50mm f/1.4 | 80-200mm f/2.8 (mainly a videographer but am dabbling into professional photography)

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Bob,
Glad to see you are enjoying your D700. I included a card reader in the box. Not a great one, but it worked fine for me.

www.AlanSlabaugh.com

My Nikonians Gallery

I had the same problem and it only corrected after upgrading Iphoto.