free raw converter

[Horace]

Can anyone recommend a free raw converter.I fired off a few shots on my D50 with it set on raw (silly boy).
I am still trying to decide between Nikon nx and PS Elements to dip my toe in the world of raw.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
many thanks
Stephen

[wolfie]

SilkyPix is vey good http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/download/

[Gidders]

You could download Elements from the Adobe website for a free trial - I think from memory you get 30 days

[wolfie]

One of the best freeware converters is still available Rawshooter Essentials.

Not sure if it will convert raw files of the D50 http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-sh...essentials.php

[Birdsnapper]

RawTherapee is a good freebie, but it eats memory and is slow.

[yelvertoft]

Stephen,

Your camera will have been supplied bundled with a free raw convertor software package, Nikon Picture Project. Although it may not be the most powerful of tools, it will be enough to allow you to convert your raw files to jpegs on the PC just as though you'd been shooting in-camera jpegs.

Photoshop Elements is cheap, surprisingly powerful, supports Adobe Camera Raw (as a separate plugin) and offers a whole lot more than just raw conversion. I have to say, I'm not that impressed by Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) as a raw converter, but I haven't used the latest versions - which are apparently much improved. ACR is however, a good package for a beginner, with an intuitive interface which allows you to get the hang of tweaking the various settings before you get yourself something better

A couple of threads below yours, you'll find a thread dedicated to Nikon NX, this really does seem to be the converter of choice for Nikon users. Personally I use Phase One's Capture One, more information for how to get a copy here:
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=3011
though I don't know if Sandisk/pic-stop are still doing the free licence.

Whichever package you decide on, once you've got the hang of raw, you'll never go back. I used to be a die-hard jpeg shooter unitl I discovered that the software that came bundled with my camera allowed me to do a raw-jpeg conversion on the PC just as though I'd been shooting jpegs in the camera. From this point, I shot exclusively raw and started slowly learning how to tweak the raw files rather than a straight conversion.

Hope this helps.

Duncan

[Horace]

thankyou all for your help.What a great site this is I ask a question lunchtime and by the evening I have several replies.
Duncan thankyou for reminding me of the nikon software,I had forgotten all about it.I always use the microsoft image suite.I have now performed my first raw conversions.Now all I have to do is decide between nikon nx or PS elements.I have also found out that picasa will convert raw.
thanks again
Stephen

[Birdsnapper]

FastStone is free and converts RAW. It comes with some reasonable basic adjustments - all quite quick and easy and good as a quick check to see how an image adjusts.

[Snowyowl]

FastStone is a very useful tool.

Stephen, Nikon View NX is also free and includes both conversion from NEF and basic corrections and quite a good pre-viewer.

Capture NX is also available for 30 day free trial (make sure you use the Nikon EU site, see NX thread in digital darkroom).

I know it is not a popular view, but I find Capture NX is brilliant (for a naturalistic approach) and have not opened PSE since I got it last December. Turn your starying into RAW into a positive advantage!