I was premature in thinking that Irfanview couldn't view NEF files with
the latest plugin package. The problem is that when opening a file in
Irfanview, the default file type "Common Graphic Files" and "All Graphic
Files" in the file type drop-down menu doesn't display either NEF or RAW
files in the window showing files that may be opened. One must select
specifically "DCR/DNG/EFF/MRW/NEF/ORF/ .../X3F" as a file type for these
files to appear in the open window.
The second problem is that Windows XP does not have a link to open
Irfanview when a NEF file is double-clicked in a Windows file list.
Clicking on a NEF file transfers to a browser pointed at Microsoft which
says that the file type is unknown. I haven't worked yet to see if I
can associate the NEF file with Irfanview.
Contrary to information posted about RAW, or NEF, not having advantages
over jpeg, this is not true if one post-processes a digital image in a
photo program such as Adobe Photoshop. (And all digital images except
snapshots need post processing.) There are quite a few operations that
can be done in Photoshop to the image only if it is in RAW (or similar)
format.
Bottom line: snapshots from simple digital cameras ought to be in jpeg
format. For high-quality photography, RAW may be preferred unless there
is a specific reason for choosing jpeg.
chad evans wyatt wrote:
Should have added that I suspect the impulse toward "raw" and "NEF" comes mostly from
those of us who came to photography in the film era. We remember that stepping up filmstock quality led to
greater adjacency, overall sharpness, evenness of gradation. "raw" does not answer that quest in
digital, especially when using puny DX sensors (let alone the even smaller sensors in point-and-shoots and
mobil phones). The real answer for those of us seeking the qualitative result of film is to graduate to FX
sensors, or simply to capture in rollfilm or 4x5, or even 35mm, as Ken Rockwell demonstrates convincingly on
his website http://www.kenrockwell.com/ . If digital end result is desired, then high-end scanning gets us
there; there are several labs that process film with scans.
--- On Mon, 4/12/10, Robert Carroll <carrollcompu...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Robert Carroll <carrollcompu...@gmail.com>
Subject: [CGUYS] NEF plugin for Irfanview
To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Date: Monday, April 12, 2010, 10:22 PM
I want to be able to view the "NEF" files that are stored on my PC. According
to Irfanview, there is a plugin for NEF files (these are similar to RAW files), but I
downloaded the plugin executable from the Irfanview web site and, after installing,
Windows still does not recognize NEF nor does Irfanview.
The list of plugins: http://www.irfanview.com/main_formats.htm
My Irfanview version: 4.23
My plugin version: 4.25
Question 1: Where to obtain the plugin for NEF?
Question 2: If plugin not available, what free program will let me view NEF
files?
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