P: Nikon Z7 RAW processing and White Balance

[bryanh72432487]

A couple of problems with the camera profiles for the Nikon Z7.

1. When changing the white balance from "As Shot" in Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW, the program creates a magenta cast on all Nikon Z7 images. This is true for all Adobe white balances and all the camera white balances. Returning the Tint slider to its original location removes almost all the magenta cast that was introduced. I believe this was an issue that was fixed for the Z6.

2. There's something wrong with the way that Adobe is reading or applying the Built-in Lens Profile. It seems to apply the corrections correctly for the Z lenses, but when using adapted F-mount lenses the profile isn't applied even though Lightroom claims that it is. If you manually apply the profile for the F-mount lens, it gets applied correctly. This also impacts stitching in panoramic photos. I can get a perfect stitch from a D850 with the same lens whereas using the same properly adjusted for the camera/lens RRS pano system and same lens with a Z7, the stitch is poor. It gets better after manually turning on the lens profile for each image in the stitch.

Running the 8/14/19 release of Lightroom Classic/Camera RAW.

[eris-portrait]

hey! i'm so glad you report those issues, i have exactly the same problems with my Z7 and LR. i had hours of chats with adobe tech support, but in fact they named me an idiot and no one in the world would have reportet such an error...
regarding 2) switching on lens profile correction does exactly nothing, i'm experiencing vignetting of about 1 stop in the corners that isn't corrected.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

I've asked the Camera Raw engineer to review this thread. Please stand by. 

I spoke to Chris on the Camera Raw team and we'd like to collect a couple of files that exhibit both the White Balance issue and the Lens Correction issue. Please include all information about your system and step-by-step instructions for inducing the behavior.\

You an email files or a link to 

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Would you like these files sent from anyone with the Z7 white balance issue?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Has anyone given Rik their files?

[bryanh72432487]

I will send him my files when I'm back in my office tomorrow. I've been teaching a photography workshop, so I haven't been to the office since Thursday.

[bryanh72432487]

I sent over the images. If you need more, let me know and I'll send of a bunch.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Thanks. I've received them and forwarded them to the engineers for review. Once they reach a determination we will post back on this thread. 

[Taipalus]

I have all of the above issues with the Z7, but in addition to the tint, the temp is also visually off by about +200K. I discovered this by comparing the same scene of a grey card shot with a Z7 and a Z6, using the same lens. It may be small enough to go unnoticed because of the magenta tint. Could you guys check your photos again and verify this?

Another thing to note is that in this grey card test both the Z7 and Z6 were set to 5000K in camera, but when importing to Lightroom, the As Shot values for the Z7 are 4600K and -13 tint, for the Z6 they are 4800K and +7 tint, a difference of 200K and 20 tint. The white balance is visually the same for both cameras in these differing As Shot values. When I set both to Daylight, they are visually different, the Z7 showing as warmer with a magenta tint. When I use the eyedropper tool to set the white balance from the same spot, I get visually correct white balance on both, but the Z7 values are approximately -200K and -20 tint compared to the Z6, varying slightly depending on where I click.

The issue is obvious with the Z7, but what I wonder is that is there still a problem with the Z6 as well even though it was supposed to be fixed, since the As Shot white balance value does not correspond with what is set in camera?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Another data point: a picture taken with "Daylight" White Balance on my Z7 shows up as 4800K / Tint -15 in Lightroom Classic 8.4.

And, taking a picture of a gray card in direct sunlight, then using the neutral gray picker sets the temperature to around 5200K / Tint to around -15.

[LLEDRITH]

Issue: Lightroom has incorrect WB values for Nikon Z7 camera when camera is set to "Direct Sunlight". The Z7 settings (WB settings and values) were verified using Nikon software, so issue is with Lightroom.  Lightroom handles the Nikon D850 properly with the same settings (WB set to "Direct Sunlight").

[LLEDRITH]

Lightroom problem with Z7 WB when camera set to "Direct Sunlight". When the camera is set to this mode, the values for kelvin temperature should remain constant. In Lightroom, for this camera, the values for WB (yellow, blue, magenta, green) vary when the camera is set to "direct sunlight". The Nikon software verifies that the values should remain constant across all photos based upon the camera settings.  The settings should remain at 5150 Kelvin.

[kevinc98152725]

Is there any update on this issue?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Is there any update?

[bryanh72432487]

From Rikk back on October 29th: Both requests remain unresolved but still open in our system. I have no other update I can provide at this time.

I can confirm that there is no issue with this in ON1 or Luminar. I've tried both and the white balance looks great. I'm digging Luminar.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Just try developing a raw file from z7 in Nikon in NX-D an Lightroom an choose Landscape Picture Profile and Daylight-WB.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

what's the latest on this problem/fix please? I've just got a Z7 and my LR experience has gone to mush?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Hi,
I have exactly the same problem. My "0" at the tint slider in LR is at -18. Since I am only shooting raw, I never set the white balance in camera or switch between picture profiles. Iam a professional Nikon shooter since many years and I never had this Problem before the Z7.
The problem is, that Iam very used to set my tint and WB in LR only by Numbers and not by my one eyes. After editing 1000s of pictures, it's kind of burned into my brain which number to choose for specific scenes. It kind of goes automatically.
But now I always have to calculate those -18 into my adjustments for each picture.
That is a huge problem for my workflow. I had to use gray cards and the eye dropper to trust my editing.
If I use a colour sheet to create a present in LR the "0" colours are completely different compare to the imported RAW files.

I tried capture one and I am actually very close to switch.
Lightroom needs to fix those problems fast.
And saying the reason for that is to match the results between jpeg and raw is just completely wrong.
If I would be interested in jpeg I would shoot with my phone and not with a 3000 dollar camera....

[bryanh72432487]

It's very frustrating that the fix hasn't happened, yet. I've tried and bought several other RAW processors and have started to recommend those programs over Lightroom to my photo workshop students over this issue.

This should be a priority fix.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I strongly agree that this should have priority. I don’t want to change my raw developer but this is a no-go. Shouldn’t be difficult to fix.

[bryanh72432487]

That's why the fix should be a high priority. It's inexcusable that Abode hasn't fixed this for everyone that owns a Z 7.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings,

To those of you on this thread with this issue, can you please respond to this comment indicating your willingness to test a solution to this issue?  After you respond, I will contact you directly via Email. Thank you. 

[eris-portrait]

yes, please, looking forward for that!

[bryanh72432487]

I'm willing to test the solution.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Hi Rikk,

I no longer have the Z7, but still have thousands of images I can use. If that works, I'm definitely willing to try something.

Cheers,

Jeffrey

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Hi, I'm willing to test the solution too, regards, Stephane.