Nikon Capture NX 2 Full Version

January 28th, 2010

Nikon

Customer Rating: Rating 4.0 out of 5

(70 Reviews)

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Product information Brand: Nikon
Publisher: Nikon
Category: Photography
Format: Dvd-rom
Model: NX 2 Full

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Features

Full-featured photo-editing software for quick and easy image editing
Color control points let you quickly change the colors of select images
Automatic retouch tool for removing blemishes, dust, and other distractions
Redesigned interface with customized workspaces and new image browser
Supports latest versions of Windows and Mac operating systems

Accessories

Editorial Reviews

Product Description: Nikon NX2 Software

Amazon.com: Nikon's Capture NX 2 software is a full-featured, nondestructive photo-editing program that gives photographers all the tools they need to quickly and easily edit their photographs. Also available in a reduced-price upgrade version (requires a valid serial number from v1.x), the software offers such editing features as color control points, selection control points, an auto-retouch brush, and shadow/highlight adjustment.

Enhancing the hue, brightness, and saturation of an image is as simple as placing a color control point on your image, then adjusting the length of the sliders. For example, color control points are a remarkably convenient way to change the color of flowers to look better against green surrounding foliage. As an alternative, editors can take a dull gray sky and add blue to change the mood of a captured scene. The selection control points, meanwhile, let you selectively edit photographs without manually outlining or masking the area for editing. Simply place a selection control point anywhere on the photograph, and then choose from almost any adjustment, including D-Lighting, Unsharp Mask, or Noise Reduction, while limiting the 'reach" of that adjustment to just the selected area.

Capture NX 2 also adds an automatic retouch tool to its image editing toolbox, allowing users to seamlessly remove blemishes, dust, and other distracting elements from photographs while maintaining the integrity of the image. And thanks to the shadow/highlight adjustment, you can easily open up shadows or recover blown-out highlights. Highlight recovery is most effective for RAW (NEF) files; however, it will work with JPEG and TIFF files as well.

The software's redesigned v2 interface includes such features as customized workspaces, an improved toolbar function and layout, improved edit list functionality, a redesigned image browser with a favorites folder, and improved image resolution adjustments. The software's holdover features from v1.x range include black/white/neutral control points, color management control, color aberration control, distortion control, a color booster, contrast/brightness adjustment, a saturation/warmth adjustment, black-and-white conversion, straighten and crop tools, and much more.

Finally, Capture NX 2 features award-winning U Point technology for precision selection and application of enhancements without complicated selections or layer masks. Designed to closely match the way photographers work with their images, Capture NX2 is easy to learn and creates the highest-quality results. Note that the software fully integrated with all Nikon software, including Camera Control Pro 2, Image Authentication Software, Transfer, and ViewNX.

Capture NX 2 System Requirements

Windows

Preinstalled version of 32-bit Windows Vista Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Enterprise/Ultimate (Service Pack 1) editions or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) editions
Pentium 4 processor or better
768 MB RAM minimum (1 GB or more recommended)
200 MB free hard disk space for installation
1,024 x 768 or higher monitor resolution (1,280 x 1,024 recommended) with 16-bit color (32-bit color recommended)
CD-ROM drive; Internet connection; approved memory cards for importing/exporting custom picture controls

Macintosh

OS Macintosh OS X v10.4.11 or 10.5.2
PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon, or better processor
768 MB RAM minimum (1 GB or more recommended)
200 MB free hard disk space for installation
1,024 x 768 or higher monitor resolution (1,280 x 1,024 recommended) with 64,000 colors (16.7 million colors recommended)
CD-ROM drive; Internet connection; approved memory cards for importing/exporting custom picture controls

Customer Reviews

Very impressed with the colors and auto-retouching

by S. Kim 2008-10-23, 110 people found this review helpful

As a long-time user of Photoshop, I was frequently disappointed with the colors in my digitally-manipulated photos. It's possible that it's because I'm not savvy at creating masks in Photoshop. After looking at demos on the Nikon website, I decided to give Capture NX2 a try and was very impressed with the color controls like D-lighting (simply shadows/highlights in Photoshop), and the ability to easily make local changes. One of the best features of Nikon Capture NX2 is the auto-retouch tool, which replaces a selection with something else in the picture with similar surroundings. I can't tell you how this has saved many wedding photos. To me, this feature alone is worth the purchase price.

Although I like this program a lot, the interface is extremely clunky. It's hard to browse the edit list on the right-hand side as the list gets longer. Capture NX2 is slow, even on a powerful desktop. I can't see it becoming part of a regular workflow unless performance is improved. One of the nice things that it allows you to do is copy the edit list from one file and apply it to another, but this is also painfully slow.

If you're looking to give this program a try, download the 60-day trial from Nikon before making a purchase decision since it won't appeal to everyone.

Great switch from Photoshop

by Emily C. Kief 2008-10-30, 66 people found this review helpful

I have always been a hardcore Photoshop user and Canon shooter so I never even bothered to check out Nikon's software. After a recent photography expo in NYC, I picked up a 60 day trial of NX2. This was probably the best thing I could have ever done for my photography! The interface is easy to use and appealing to the eyes. Every tool is right in front of you and can be combined with key strokes. Plus, every edit you do is nondestructive and you can easily go back steps or even all the way to the bottom without compromising your images (this is especially important when working with JPEGs)

NX2 is a lot easier to use than Photoshop and the price is definitely significantly less. I think I have found my new favorite software!

Wake Up!

by S. L. Miller 2008-07-26, 69 people found this review helpful

Those who don't use NX simply won't get the same quality out of better DSLRs, such as the D300 or D700. Compared against lightroom or Photoshop, NX will always do a better job, especially with RAW conversions. Almost every complaint about it's slowness is from people with slow computers. It's quite fast on my system, quicker even than the old Elements. For batch handling, NX is clumsy, but it's still the best way to work on Nikon files bar none. If you have doubts do some research in forums like DPreview. Good luck!

So long Photoshop! Hello Capture NX 2!!

by mickster 2008-08-15, 43 people found this review helpful

While I was a big fan of Capture NX, it had its shortcomings.

Long live Capture NX 2! This is far and away the easiest software I've ever used.

I can put a color control point on any area of the image to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation and color.

Now I can do the same thing for any effect. When I want to sharpen the eyes in a portrait, I can select them with 2 selection control points.

The auto-retouch brush helps me remove dust and other problems with my images.

The highlight and shadow recovery makes toning my images a snap.

The new browser allows me to rate and filter my images and the shortcuts let me get to my images fast.

This is the one tool I use more than any other whether I shoot RAW with my D80 or JPEGs with my other cameras.

I strongly suggest it for anyone-not just Nikon users and not just RAW shooters of Nikon.

Didnt think much of it untill.....

by Paul O 2008-09-27, 30 people found this review helpful

Came with my D700. Does a very good job with raw pictures from the camera, but I didnt think much of it until I hit the color control point and then WOW..... incredible control without manually creating masks.
Pretty slick. I'm bumping it down to 4 stars because the interface is a little clunky, but I think if you take time to explore its features (which may not be entirely intuitive) then you will find it very capable.

Good for all digitized photos

by T. Gabriel 2009-01-10, 39 people found this review helpful

First let me warn you folks. This is NOT Photoshop. For those who are interested in post processing digitized photographs whether they originated from a digital point and shoot or slr or they were scanned in from film prints or slides, this product is well worth the money. It is even worth the price Nikon charges at their web site.

I have been using GIMP and ACDSee for the last eight or so years and after using Capture NX for a month in the trial period I am convinced if you want to have a program for post processing you cannot do better. If you are rolling in money and have lots of time for the learning curve, go get the newest Photoshop and Lightroom CS4. I will check back in a year or so to see how you are doing.

If you are a professional (read: you make your living taking pictures and selling them, you are not someones Uncle Freddy who shoots birthdays and weddings because you own a "professional" camera) photographer Capture NX will probably not meet your needs but it would be worth the trial period to see. In these days of tight budgets, upgrading to CS4 is still twice the price of this software for not a whole lot more functionality.

My main reason for buying this is so that I can do selected areas of photos that have too much exposure or not enough exposure and not have to mess around with layers. I am old and tired and not even remotely interested in manipulating layers in a program that costs more than some very, very good digital SLRs.

I use a Nikon digital SLR and digital Point-and-Shoot and I use an old almost worn out Nikon FE film camera. This software does not care where the images came from. You can import from your camera if it is digital or you can import from a CD/DVD if you have your slides scanned during processing.

My only caveat regarding scanning slides is to tell your lab to scan the images at 16-bit and in TIFFs. You can accept 8-bit if 16-bit is not available or too costly. You need to have the scans done in TIFF though because it is lossless and Capture NX processes them perfectly. For post processing TIFFs do not get smaller and worse looking as you save and change and save again because there is no compression and no loss of data. JPEGs lose data with every save. You will have banding and unusable images if you have your images scanned in as JPEGs.

The best Photo tweaking software I have ever used

by Nancy J. Curran 2008-11-04, 24 people found this review helpful

NX2 is intuitive with very little instruction needed to publish. The other software I have used were the cream of the crop. Many photo labs have done away with many of the tools it took months to discover and learn to use with precision so that my prints looked perfect at 4x6 or 16x12.
Having A Nikon DSL I didn't usually use raw, because there wasn't much difference in the outcome. Now I only use raw. The difference was so obvious when I downloaded my pics to my computer. I knew I was really missing out.
Capture was designed to be used with Nikon DSL RAW. photos Best I have ever used.

Valuable addition to my toolchest

by NC Photographer 2009-04-16, 17 people found this review helpful

I had always resisted shooting in the Nikon raw format (.nef files) since 1) the files saved were very large, and 2) I didn't understand the advantages that would be gained by using this format. While this software doesn't address item 1 it certainly made me gain an appreciation for item 2.

The quick example changes that the package walks you through give an immediate understanding of what sort of manipulations can be made non-destructively to the image file - and for me, thaat is a key point. Rather than changing the image file itself, the software records a script of each edit made and then applies those when the image is opened later. Once a desired result is obtained, the image can be saved as either jpeg or tiff format for use in other programs or printing.

The manual provided is sometimes a little obtuse in explaining how the effects work but there is an excellent book that gives a better explanation of how to use the software in a consistent workflow mode to achieve the desired results. I would highly recommend buying "Real World Nikon Capture NX2" by Ben Long at the same time you purchase the software.

A Must Have for NEF Shooters

by Ricardo 2009-02-23, 21 people found this review helpful

I've been a Nikon shooter for the past 30 years and have been using their digital gear for a little over two.

If you shoot NEF (and you really should if you're serious) Capture NX2 can save you a lot of grief. I downloaded the trial version a few weeks ago after not being satisfied with the NEF conversions that I was getting from Bibble and ACR.

I didn't even wait for the trial period to expire and I ordered the software today. No, I didn't activiate the trial download as I want the actual disk. Call if my security blanket, if you will, but that's just my preference.

Not only did I order the software, I have been reading Real World Capture NX2 (highly recommended) which is a lot more understandable than the manual supplied by Nikon. I also ordered a new PC last week just so that I would be able to make the most efficient use of this software.

Yes, I think that it's that good. No more fooling around with what other software publishers "think" Nikon has in mind. Capture NX2 is designed to merge seamlessly with Nikon NEF files and it does just that. No backwards engineering and guesswork. Just the cleanest files possible from NEFs.

OK, if I love it so much, why not the fifth star? Simple. Nobody seems to be able to print from the damn thing. After I convert from the original NEF, I open Photoshop and print from there. It's a PITA and something that should have been fixed in beta.

Clunky Interface but FANTASTIC results

by Nathan Beauchamp 2009-04-07, 13 people found this review helpful

Once you get past the fact that CaptureNX2's interface is inferior to Adobe products, you'll discover that the ability to modify .NEF files is superior to those better laid out programs. Working with .NEF files creates superior results, especially if you are editing colors. NX2 will allow you to do it without creating a bunch of masks or layers, and the results are really good.

For the record I have a fast computer (E8500 oc to 3.6ghz, 8gb ram, Raptor 10k 320gb hard drives, Vista 64-bit) and have ZERO lag issues with this program. Those complaining of speed likely have slower computers (and many claiming fast computers actually have slow hard drives, meaning their write/read speeds of large files is poor).

This is a great program that might not immediately strike a LR2 or Photoshop fan, but it's worth learning to use as the native support of .NEF files is superior to either of those previously mentioned programs.