Nikon custom optimizations ... Can we emulate our favorite films ?

[spystyle]

Can we emulate our favorite films using Nikon custom optimizations ?

I don't know how many Nikon dSLRs have custom optimizations or how long it's been around, but it seems like people would use it to emulate their favorite films.

So tell me about custom optimizations

[ve6raj]

Craig:
I downloaded mine from here:
Index of /~khuon/photography/NIKON/CUSTOMPC
You can use them within Cature NX and you can also load them onto a CF card and load them into your camera. I haven't played with them all yet and I haven't done enough comparisons between these settings and the standard ones that Nikon supplies to be able to give you a definitive answer one way or another. I think it is the kind of thing you need to experiment with and decide for your self.
If you shoot RAW then you can also use them from within Capture NX.
Regards
Raj

[spystyle]

That looks interesting .. though I don't see how to load that into a D40. What camera are you loading those into? And how are you doing it?

[ve6raj]

i think they only work on D3, D700 and D300 and I am sure the D3X.
I have them in a folder \NIKON\CUSTOMPC on my CF card. The following files are in there:

PICCON02.NCP
PICCON03.NCP
PICCON04.NCP
PICCON05.NCP
PICCON06.NCP
sReala2.NCP
sReala.NCP
Agfa_Optima.NCP
Fuji_Superia_Reala.NCP
Fuji_Velvia.NCP
Kodak_Portra_NC.NCP
PICCON01.NCP
PICCON07.NCP
PICCON08.NCP
PICCON09.NCP

You can install them on your PC as well so if you shoot RAW then you can call them up from within Capture NX
All the best
Raj

[spystyle]

I see, I will try that Nikon Capture NX

[ve6raj]

Good show... and if that doesn't work, just rush out and buy a D3X.
Raj

[Jeff Perry]

Raj, it was my understanding that those picture controls were set up specifically for the D300. I have loaded them and played a bit with them. If you find out otherwise, that they work on a D3, please let me know. I guess there would be no harm in trying them, I can always delete them later.

I also downloaded the D2x (I,II, III) picture control files provided by Nikon for the D3 and D300. I really like the III over the stock picture control provided. Here is the link if you don't have it.

Nikon Imaging | Global Site | Optional Picture Control Download


Jeff

[ve6raj]

Hi Jeff:
To be honest with you I never even thought about that. I have a D300 so I just loaded them up in that camera. On my D50 I used the pic controls in Capoture NX. I figured a RAW image is a RAW image. I posted a picture in one of the other threads.
Sensor Cleaning
It was shot with my D50 in RAW and the only processing done was to change the pic control to Fuji Velvia. The colour of the shirt, skin and siding are spot on. So it does work with other cameras I think.

I think I have that link to Nikon's site for the controls. I will check it out. I do use the D2x Mode 3 control a lot on my D300. I find the basic pictures out of the D300 a bit too "hot", if that is the right term, Big clour saturation and a bit too contrasty for me. These extra controls really help. Thanks for the link I will check it out.
Regards
Raj

[Jeff Perry]

Raj, since the Nikon-provided picture control files were in separate downloads for the D300, D3, etc., I just assumed they were crafted specifically for those cameras. As I recall, the D3 (or maybe the D300) D/L had the Portrait and Landscape picture controls that were provided by default in the other body. That could be why there were different D/L files for the different bodies.

I'll do bit more research before I try those custom controls in the D3. they do work great in the D300, I have always been a fan of Fuji Velvia.

Jeff

[ve6raj]

Hi Jeff:
Looking at that site you showed, I think yes you have to load the appropriate control for your camera. But if you are using another camera like Craig's D40 or my D50 you can fool around in Capture NX.

Another interesting thing I discovered in Capyture NX is. Load up a NEF file then click on Base Adjustments - Camera Adjustments and then Picture Control. Now if you click on the rectangle with the gear in it just to the left of the Reset button, you can load/save/edit the picture controls. You can actually make your own new ones if you want. That's all I know about that at this time - I have to play with it some more before I can give you any more info. So much to play with....
Regards
Raj

[JimH]

Originally Posted by spystyle

Can we emulate our favorite films using Nikon custom optimizations ?

Not trying to be a smart ass ... but why not just do it in post? Commercial offerings from the likes of Nik, OnOne and AlienSkin or even PS actions you can find free on the net that simulate color and b&w negative film.

Just really curious.

[spystyle]

Jim

Starting any post with "I'm not trying to be a smart ass" makes you look like a smart ass doubly

Nikon D40 has "custom" image optimizations. This is like ingredients so I figured there would sprout up all kinds of recipes as a result, eventually evolving into emulating of out favorite old films.

Now that I asked I see that it can be done in post processing, I didn't know that before.

Thanks for the specific tips,
Craig

[roglo]

Why not just buy a nice used 35mm that matches your lenses and some film and do it the right way? Wouldn't that be a whole lot easier and truer to the film you're trying to emulate? Just sayin.....

[spystyle]

That would be fun

[JimH]

Originally Posted by spystyle

Starting any post with "I'm not trying to be a smart ass" makes you look like a smart ass doubly

If you have seen my other posts here - you would know that this is simply not the case. It was indeed a very valid statement. Making the assumption that EVERYONE knows how to work images in post sets the tone - like a slap in the face. If you remove the offending prefix and read my post without it, it should be apparent.

[spystyle]

Sorry if I ruffled your feathers

And I'm not trying to be a smart ass

[Jeff Perry]

With all due respect, I would never go back to film. Cost alone (consumables) for film and processing is just out of the question. I would speculate that most of us would have to alter the way you shoot (number of exposures in each outing). I could never afford to shoot so prolifically with film. It is in fact the reason I gave up photgraphy long ago (when feeding the family became a tad more imoprtant), only to pick up digtal photgraphy 20 years later, and frankly I love the creativity that digital allows, both in the camera and in post.

And why not try to emulate your favorite films in-camera, rather than having to post-process everything. We HAVE to post all our work whenwe shoot in RAW, but if you want to shoot JPG, and can get the tones and stauration (or B&W) you like in-camera, without having to invest hours in front of screen with levels and curves, or worse yet, with expensive post-processing apps and plug-ins, why not set up the camera that way?

The fact is, if you shoot JPG, the camera is going to process them with some set of instructions (picture controls), whether you use one of the default recipes provide by the manufacturer, or "cook" your own, you HAVE to give it some set of instructions to work with.

Camera makers go to great expense to give photographers the tools to do "special" things with their cameras. You can print directly from the camera, display on a TV, even post-process in side the camera. What's wrong with learning to use those features that you paid for.

Jeff

[AfricanButterflies]

My two pennorth:

I learned photography in a darkroom. Remember those? I used to print Cibachrome. Film is so 20th century. And I get so fed up with hearing ex-slide film users whinging about time consuming post processing, and seeing them allow their cameras' (yes even Nikon's) puny little processors mangle their images in JPEG processing. I see all these posts from people yearning to get from their digitals what Fuji Velvia used to give them etc. Get real guys! Any home computer has far more power than your camera. Use RAW (or NEF)! Be prepared to work on your images!

A good editing program like Capture NX allows you to have a 'digital darkroom'. I post process all my shots - see them in the Macro forum - and I choose what the images look like - not Fuji or Agfa. I used to shoot slides because they were easier for publication, but hated the way each manufacturer forced me to accept their colour casts, wildly exaggerated contrast etc. When I did my first book, which was all based on slides, I actually learned to drive a Mac whilst correcting all the colour casts etc to what the butterfly REALLY looks like!

Now I can manipulate the images so they look like what I saw in the wild. I love having my darkroom back, especially as now I don't get dermatitis from chemicals. I can also sit behind my iMac in the living room, whilst my wife watches TV. We can interact and chat from time to time. Darkrooms were serious marriage breakers!

With Capture NX, you decide what your pix look like - not some film manufacturer.

All the best

Steve

[Not4wood]

Originally Posted by AfricanButterflies

My two pennorth:

I learned photography in a darkroom. Remember those? I used to print Cibachrome. Film is so 20th century. And I get so fed up with hearing ex-slide film users whinging about time consuming post processing, and seeing them allow their cameras' (yes even Nikon's) puny little processors mangle their images in JPEG processing. I see all these posts from people yearning to get from their digitals what Fuji Velvia used to give them etc. Get real guys! Any home computer has far more power than your camera. Use RAW (or NEF)! Be prepared to work on your images!

A good editing program like Capture NX allows you to have a 'digital darkroom'. I post process all my shots - see them in the Macro forum - and I choose what the images look like - not Fuji or Agfa. I used to shoot slides because they were easier for publication, but hated the way each manufacturer forced me to accept their colour casts, wildly exaggerated contrast etc. When I did my first book, which was all based on slides, I actually learned to drive a Mac whilst correcting all the colour casts etc to what the butterfly REALLY looks like!

Now I can manipulate the images so they look like what I saw in the wild. I love having my darkroom back, especially as now I don't get dermatitis from chemicals. I can also sit behind my iMac in the living room, whilst my wife watches TV. We can interact and chat from time to time. Darkrooms were serious marriage breakers!

With Capture NX, you decide what your pix look like - not some film manufacturer.

All the best

Steve

True Steve,
I am going to kick in my pennies worth as well.

If you did like something about a certain type of film, whether it be the cast the contrast, great skin tones or whatever. If someone wants to try and emulate this classic look for a certain project or client demands why not do it and have the option instead of limiting yourself. This is what Digital Photography gives us, the choice to make it look like a classic film image from emulating all of those great film from yesteryear or something new and exciting for the 21st Century of Photography. If its available, and we do have a choice why not?
I personally would appreciate the chance to play, and also the choices to make my own decisions whether I want to make a portrait look like the old great Fuji film classics or not. Now, doing this in PP if you don't have the exacting skill but making it easier for us to do in camera or even making some kind of short cut so it can be used in PP just makes the job easier and if you have several images that need to be done it just makes it all worth while to batch process.

Now, I have a D80 (shoot exclusively in Raw Only) and I really doubt I can use these in camera but to be able to do this in CS2? Now, that would be great especailly if I can batch process this for a couple of images at a time like for a model shoot or even for a Wedding.

[AfricanButterflies]

Interesting take. Sure, I was always frustrated because no film ever produced images EXACTLY as I remember seeing them. Except maybe Kodachrome, which we couldn't get here in South Africa since the mid-80's. So I don't miss my 'favourite film' because I never really had one! But if you did like a certain effect, I can see nothing wrong with plug-ins that make your image look like it was shot on Velvia, etc.

I find that my post processing routine, largely gleaned from reading this site and dpreview, and Ron Bigelow, allows me to get as close to Kodachrome as I can. Ron's edge mask sharpening technique, adapted by me for macro work, is the key. And as each image has to be approached differently, no plug-in can really do the job IMHO.

All the best

Steve