calibration/profiles, D7000 Raws -> LR3

[merg 0]

hi, a bit new to color profiles/camera calibration. I've been using LR for a while but with D70 nefs, now using D7000. Noticing that the LR interpretation of D7000 nefs can differ quite a bit more than before. (as compared to the incamera jpeg/preview). Before with D70 there was definitely a difference but not nearly as big, I think..

 

Tried selecting "camera neutral/camera vivid etc.." in LR camera profiles but never came close to the incamera jpeg, which on some shots looked a lot better.

 

1) any general recommendations for workflow/setup for raws out there? again I'm pretty noob when it comes to calibration/profiles...

 

2) also is it possible to fix photos already imported in lightroom? ie is there a way the camera profile function in LR3 works to be able to very closely approximate in camera D7000 jpeg? This way i can avoid resorting/cataloging/rating my last two d7000 trips etc...

 

i saw some similar earlier posts but didn't quite get a clear answer so apologies if its something obvious i'm missing here. Will definitely investigate more on my own but I figure with the appeal of D7000 perhaps some experienced users here have a concise suggestion?

[loftus 42]

I am not a LR user, but if you are importing (NEFS) and not JPEG's then LR camera settings will almost certainly not match Nikon in camera settings. If you want Nikon settings to transfer, import into Nikon software like NX2.

You can then manipulate them in RAW in NX2 then transfer as JPEGs to LR.

Alternatively shoot JPEG and RAW. Then your JPEGs should look the same as in camra when you import into LR. The RAWS will not as they will not convert to equivalent settings from camera to LR

[Steve Williams 0]

Sorry Jeff, but that doesn't make must sense to me. Most of the power of LR is thrown away if you don't import and work off the RAW files. I don't understand why one would have to use the NX2 software first. I don't use a lot of Nikon files but when I do the camera profiles had the option of the different Nikon settings to choose from, and those seemed to work out OK for me. I wasn't using the D7000 though.

 

Is this typical behavior of Nikon users? One thought Merg, have you upgraded to the newest version of LR, which may have modified the D7000 settings?

 

Steve

[loftus 42]

Hey Steve,

I was not implying that he should do it that way, just that it's an option. I see little point in worrying about camera settings if one is importing RAW. Might as well just import RAW and apply settings or presets in Lightroom. It's pretty well accepted amongst the Nikon afficionados like Versace, that NX2 is the RAW converor by which the others are judged. Also the best way to guarantee identical settings if one is using in camera picture settings. Occasionally I still import in NX2 if I find a colour problem in Aperture. No harm done to then import to Lightroom or Aperure as a database. If one is using picture settings in camera then one is asking the camera to effectively adjust the image in camera. My thought is that one is anticipating that the image is pretty much baked, so very little to lose importing a JPEG, particularly if you shoot and import RAW as well. I know it may sound sacreligious but i think there are many situations where a well captured JPEG is hardly distinguishable from what one gets from RAW.

Even though you may have found that Lightroom's camera settings were adequate for you, I think you would still have found them different from NX2 if you compared them. There's still a place for other software besides Lightroom or Aperture in my opinion.

Edited May 1, 2011 by loftus

[Steve Williams 0]

There's still a place for other software besides Lightroom or Aperture in my opinion.

 

Hey partner,

You're right of course, that other stuff is on my hard drive some place.

Cheers.

Steve