P: Nikon Z6 RAW processing and Adobe WB

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Nikon Z6 bugs only. Interestingly Nikon Z7 raw files don't have these issues. Nikon SDK for both cameras was released and updated on the same date, 18/11/18. Is Adobe Lightroom perhaps using Z7 SDK for Z6?

1) Nikon Z6 raw files are rendered incorrectly. Unlike Z7 the Z6 RAW presets do not carry over.
2) Adobe WB for Z6 is broken. WB Auto has a huge magenta cast, other Adobe WB presets have huge color shifts rendering files useless.
3) None of the Nikon Z-series lens corrections are correct. If lens correction is enabled the lenses are recognized as incorrect lens models.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Thank you for the reports James.  I've forwarded on to the Camera Raw team for review. 

[Romain_Th]

2) I can confirm that. The WB coeffs seem badly calibrated. The WB is correctly read but the tint is usually between -60 and -30. As a result, the presets and the auto WB are useless.
3) Not sure what is meant by OP. Mine are shown as "Intégré" (French). The corrections are good and cannot be unapplied (OK for me).
4) The camera standard profile do not properly match the camera jpegs (standard mode). It shifts the skin tones towards yellow way too much. Adobe Color is actually closer to the jpegs!
I was considering moving to LR from DXO but I am not sure now. Hope this gets resolved.

[Jao vdL]

I see similar (but not quite as large) negative tints needed on my Z7

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Please see https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/white-balance-issue-color-cast-with-nikon-z-6-raw-file.html for a temporary workaround for this Z6 issue. 

[Romain_Th]

Thanks, this is much better. Tint is centered around 0.
However it doesn't fix the inaccuracies of camera standard which is slightly too yellow/green compared to the jpegs.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings

Updates to Lightroom Classic CC (8.2), Lightroom CC for desktop (2.2), Lightroom CC.Mobile (Android and iOS) were released on Monday, February 11, 2019. Please verify that your issue is fixed by the current update.

Thank you for your patience.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Dear Rikk,

Thanks for paying close attention, as a user of LR since version 1 (beta), at that time using a Nikon D200, i appreciate the constant improvement of image quality. I have also recently switched to a Nikon Z 6 and happily report that the pink tint is gone since the v2 workaround.
Two questions remain:
1. Are the v2 camera profiles in LR 8.2 the same as those posted for the workaround? Is there any action needed after updating to LR 8.2?
2. I noticed/i think that the built-in lens profiles are not up to the same high standard of quality i came to expect from the LR provided lens profiles for previous Nikon F-mount lenses. Has this been tested?

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Re Item 1 - The V2 Profiles shipping in 8.2 are the same profiles as released in the workaround.
Re Item 2 - The Lens profiles are part of the metadata for this camera and not an external profile we create.  We could review implementation of the embedded information if you have a sample file that demonstrates the deficiency.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Thanks Rikk, this is most appreciated. Will be back with a sample file. Very kind offer indeed.

[guidostefanelli77]

Using Camera Neutral Profile in Lightroom Classic CC 8.2.1 i still have the Magenta cast with the white balance presets different from "Original" when applied to outdoor landscapes NEF images of my Nikon Z6. I need a flat or neutral profile because i use a lot the highlights and shadows sliders to adjust high contrast scene images.

[guidostefanelli77]

With Camera Neutral Profile and my Nikon Z6 Nef files when i raise the whites slider (in Develop section) for example from 0 to +30 it happens that a cyan color cast appears in the sky of a landscape with blue sky. I found this problem in Lightroom Classic CC 8.2.1 as well as in older versions and also with older Nikon Cameras. The color of the sky looses its natural look.

[Todd Shaner]

I suggest uploading a file that exhibits the issue to Dropbox or other file sharing site and copy the share link in a reply here. The V2 profiles are supposed to have fixed this issue so a file exhibiting the issue will help.

[winterho1]

I am using two cameras (Nikon D750 and Z6) and had to delete all profiles from my presets. Otherwise my workflow does not work with Adobe Standard profiles. Isn't it possible to let Adobe Standard proper work with Z6 files?

[guidostefanelli77]

[guidostefanelli77]

This is the cyan cast with camera neutral v2 and whites raised to +70 (i exaggerated to make the issue visible)

[Todd Shaner]

Guido, we really need to see an actual file. Even better Export one of the files with your settings to DNG file format as shown below. It will have your settings embedded so we can see what you see!

[guidostefanelli77]

Sorry i don't have dropbox

[Todd Shaner]

You can get a free 2GB Dropbox account that requires no payments and no strings!

https://www.dropbox.com/basic

[guidostefanelli77]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n1tlfejds4wy97k/GUI_1379.dng?dl=0  I've just uploaded the file to dropbox

[Todd Shaner]

I can confirm what you are seeing. It appears that the original Camera Neutral profile and new Camera Neutral V2 profile are identical and exhibit the same issue, but their 'As Shot' WB Temp and Tint values are different. The intent of the V2 profiles is to better match the LR WB Temp an Tint values so this is expected.

Camera Neutral profile As Shot WB:  4150, -26

Camera Neutral V2 profile As Shot WB:  4450, +18

Adjusting WB to the below values makes the Camera Neutral profile and new Camera Neutral V2 profile renderings appear the same, but with the a slight cyan color shift in the sky. This may be reflecting the actual in-camera matching profile rendering. The WB value differences are probably due to the in-camera 'Auto' WB setting being influenced by the large yellow-green foliage area. You also have the in-camera Active D-Lighting set to Extra High, which LR cannot read and apply. That will change the image appearance when compared to an in-camera JPEG, the raw file's embedded preview, or using Nikon's raw editing software. I suggest leaving the Active D-Lighting in-camera setting OFF.




Camera Neutral profile WB:       5500, -47

Camera Neutral V2 profile WB:  5500, +10

[Jao vdL]

Just one comment. With the Z6 and Z7, Lightroom actually does understand the active D-lighting settings. They are automatically applied by dialing in exposure compensation and highlights and shadows. This is done by the camera by writing camera raw xmp settings into the NEF files that are read and applied by Lightroom. These are the only current cameras where in-camera settings do transfer into Lightroom so in general you are right but not when it pertains to these two.

[guidostefanelli77]

Thank you Todd for the explanation and support

[Todd Shaner]

Thanks for the correction Jao. The Nikon Z6 and Z7 are setting new ground when it comes to in-camera settings!

Guido, try using the Adobe Neutral or Adobe Standard V2 profile instead Camera Neutral V2. It doesn't appear to shift the sky color  toward cyan so may be a better choice for this image. You can also try using the Adjustment Brush to paint in some Dehaze in the distant mountain and sky areas. Use any of the other brush settings as needed to achieve the desired rendering.

This uses Adobe Neutral with an Adjustment Brush of Dehaze 35 in the sky and mountain area and your original settings. You can tweak the Basic panel controls to improve the overall rendering to your taste. The LR Dehaze control works miracles on pulling detail out of the haze!

[guidostefanelli77]

Ok i will try thank you Todd

[Venkatesh Penjuri]

Thank you for uploading the file, we will verify this behavior with the attached image.