I'm having trouble opening NEF files from a Nikon Z8 on a Windows ARM machine in Lightroom. I've verified the same file opens just fine on a Windows Intel machine. Z8 with up-to-date firmware, taking photos with "raw only" Lightroom v7.4.1 (most up to date according to the creative cloud updater) by-hand insta;led Adobe Camera RAW (v16.4 from AdobeCameraRaw_arm64_16_4.exe) Downloaded and installed Nikon's RAW plugins, though I do not think those are ARM (and I can't tell if they are working). I see: In lightroom's review for import window a warning icon for each NEF file with a mouse-over message "this file does not contain a supported format (or it might be damaged). The icons in windows show up with the complete picture Opening the pictures in windows at first shows the proper image but then goes all technicolor lines on me. I see same error in Adobe's DNG converter and photoshop (both of which have ARM versions) I suspect the windows and LightRoom issues are distinct, but thought I'd post them here. This is a new machine, fresh install. So it is possible I've forgotten to install something. And this workflow does work on my large AMD based computer. It could be not all the software is in place for the RAW format for lightroom, but it would be nice if something gave me a clue of what to look at to find that!

Participating Frequently

Question

P: Win Arm (Snapdragon) reports NEF as an invalid file in Add Photos

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
July 29, 2024
13 replies
4056 views

I'm having trouble opening NEF files from a Nikon Z8 on a Windows ARM machine in Lightroom. I've verified the same file opens just fine on a Windows Intel machine.

Z8 with up-to-date firmware, taking photos with "raw only"
Lightroom v7.4.1 (most up to date according to the creative cloud updater)
by-hand insta;led Adobe Camera RAW (v16.4 from AdobeCameraRaw_arm64_16_4.exe)
Downloaded and installed Nikon's RAW plugins, though I do not think those are ARM (and I can't tell if they are working).

I see:

In lightroom's review for import window a warning icon for each NEF file with a mouse-over message "this file does not contain a supported format (or it might be damaged).
The icons in windows show up with the complete picture
Opening the pictures in windows at first shows the proper image but then goes all technicolor lines on me.
I see same error in Adobe's DNG converter and photoshop (both of which have ARM versions)

I suspect the windows and LightRoom issues are distinct, but thought I'd post them here. This is a new machine, fresh install. So it is possible I've forgotten to install something. And this workflow does work on my large AMD based computer.

It could be not all the software is in place for the RAW format for lightroom, but it would be nice if something gave me a clue of what to look at to find that!

Windows

Rikk Flohr_Photography

@Matthias_Illi84 See:

Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

Matthias_Illi84

Participant

Hi @Sameer K ,

Thanks for your feedback and the link.

In the web version of Lightroom, I can view and edit Nikon High-Efficiency files. It works.

However, I'd like to be able to use the desktop version of Lightroom for my regular photo editing workflow.

Have there been any other reports of this issue?

Best regards,
Matthias

Sameer K

Community Manager

Hey, @Matthias_Illi84. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I'll help you figure this out.

Could you include a few sample images? As a test, try importing the image into Lightroom Web (https://adobe.ly/4utZNGL).

Let me know how it goes.
Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

Matthias_Illi84

Participant

Ich kann aktuell in Adobe Lightroom auf meinem ARM-System (Micorsoft Surface 11Pro) die “high efficiency” Bilddateien leider nicht bearbeiten, wenn ich sie direkt mit meinem Surface Pro importiere. Wird es in naher Zukunft die vollumfängliche Unterstützung für diese Bilddateien von Nikon geben?

C

Crossrunner32

Participant

hi All,

About two months ago, I installed the latest Lightroom CC update. Since then, including some subsequent updates, I have experienced no issues with my Nikon Z6III and NEF files on a Surface Pro running Windows 11 Pro. My device is equipped with an 11th generation Snapdragon X 12-core processor, clocked at 3.4GHz, and a Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU.

I hope this information is helpful. Prior to this, I spent countless hours over six months working with Adobe Support. They were friendly and tried their best to assist, and ultimately, their efforts led to a successful resolution by pushing the issue to the developer team.

peter

M

Markus31074345r7to

Participating Frequently

I have installed today the latest update but the compressed NEF files with high efficency* are not coverd. Only, and this was also before the case, the losless compressed files work. So im forced to shoot raw + jpg to have something when I travel and back home edit the RAWs as usual.

A

AndiKunar

Participating Frequently

Same for me - it's really disappointing after this much time.

Also Nikon's own tools don't work on Windows for Arm at all. I had to get DxO PhotoLab for my Snapdragon X Elite machine in order to view/edit Nikon compressed NEFs - it still runs emulated, but at least it works with compressed NEFs.

M

Manhal_Albasry

Participant

I am having the same problem here. Snapdragon on Surface Pro 11. Any updates from Adobe?

M

Manhal_Albasry

Participant

My workaround: Upload to lightroom web and open afterwords in the lightroom app. I am not happy though with this side way! I am working on lightroom 8.4 and this issue is older than 1 year now.

C

Crossrunner32

Participant

I have a similar issue with a Z6iii, after Update (Nikon and LIghtroom), installed latest ARM based converter 17.0. After several talks to Adobe Chat Support, it is known, but unknown, when we will get a update. Nasty thing - to work, it is necessary to used an intel based or Browser or 3rd Party DNG converter (DNG works)

M

Markus31074345r7to

Participating Frequently

What converter can you use? I have tried Adobe DNG convert but on snapdragon this also dint work. Is there a converter that works on snapdragon?

S

Sooks Media

Known Participant

Any update on this issue? Is this something that Adobe can fix or is this a Nikon issue?

Rikk Flohr_Photography

From: https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html

(*) Nikon High-Efficiency raw compression modes are currently not supported on:

Windows ARM64
ARMv7 and x86 for Android

Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

M

Markus31074345r7to

Participating Frequently

Is it planed to support this files in the near future?

J

Joshua31679663nnp1

Participant

It's now June 2025 and it's still not supported. Seems like ARM support on Windows is still second thought for most developers since I'm sure the install base is very low.

G

Gordon5C52Author

Participating Frequently

The new version of LightRoom out today - 7.5 - seems to have fixed this. I've not had a chance for a careful test, but the import window can open these files, which is better than it could before!

G

Gordon5C52Author

Participating Frequently

I spoke too soon - I must have tested with a different compression on the NEF - new files off the Z8 are not working at all. Same problem as before, unfortunately.

M

Markus31074345r7to

Participating Frequently

I have the same issues with my ARM Windows machine and Version 7.5.

Hope this will be fixed soon....

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