Why cannot Adobe products open .NEF files from Nikon D300? Bad answers in the past. New updates don't work.

Question

Four months ago someone asked this question, in particular in regard to Photoshop Elements 6.0 and CS2. and the issue was "resolved" when folks told him/her to download updates.

Today I downloaded the latest trial version of Elements 6.0 and the RAW converter and it does not open Nikon D300 raw images. I also talked with a local newspaper reporter who said their computers running CS2 could not open D300 raw files with Adobe so now they have CS3 but mostly use another editing program. So the previously posted platonic answers about getting updates seem worthless.

Anyone know what gives? Is relatively small Nikon trying to compete with Adobe and force Nikon users to buy its photo editing software?

A "professional level" (as Nikon describes the 300) camera that does not produce easily editable raw images is disappointing ... makes me wonder if I should have started with a different manufacturer.

Or is there actually an easy specific solution that no one has yet mentioned?

Answer 1

Right answer-but I don't think you want to just view the images only.

The version you're using doesn't support the newest cameras. Thus you have to upgrade it--or what you can do is convert the file to DNG (Adobe Digital Negative) with the free converter here

http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/

That is the work around. It works in batch mode-so start the program and walk away. Later, all the files will be in DNG format and can be opened in CS2.

Or you can get CS3 or Adobe Lightroom.

Answer 2

Nikon RAW Codec is a software module that enables you to handle RAW image files (*.NEF: Nikon Electronic Format) under Microsoft® Windows XP SP2 and Microsoft® Windows Vista® with the same ease as JPEG or TIFF images. Go to either the microsoft Vista site or the Nikon USA site to download the software or get Nikon Capture software thats designed for the NEF file.