Updating Camera Raw for Photoshop v12

[windsurfer65]

I have an OLD version of photoshop (v12) that doesn't support my .NEF (raw) files from my new Nikon Z6ii. The Camera Raw plug-in is v6.7. I downloaded the latest camera raw plugins from the Adobe site and installed them, but i'm still getting an error.
--> Is my version of Photoshop to old to ingest the newest Camera Raw plug-ins?

I'm using Windows 10. Here's some of the system info. from Photoshop:

Adobe Photoshop Version: 12.1 (12.1x20110328 [20110328.r.145 2011/03/28:10:30:00 cutoff; r branch]) x32
Operating System: Windows NT
Version: 6.2

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

Yes Photoshop CS5.1 (ps ver 12.1) can only use up to Camera Raw 6.7

You can use the free Adobe DNG Converter to convert your Nikon Z6ii nefs to dng copies, which then Photoshop CS5 and Camera raw 6.7 should open.

https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/using/adobe-dng-converter.html

[Per Berntsen · Accepted solution]

Version 6.7 is the latest version compatible with Photoshop CS 5.

The Nikon Z 6 II requires Camera Raw version 13.1 (the current version is 16.5).

You can either subscribe to the 20 GB Photography plan (10 US Dollars a month), which includes Photoshop, Lightroom and LIghtroom Classic, or use the free Adobe DNG Converter to convert the NEF files to DNG files that can be read by Camera Raw 6.7.  Read the instructions carefully. You will need to set Compatibility to Camera Raw 6.6. and later in the converter preferences.

[windsurfer65]

Thanks Jeff and Per. This was a last ditch effort to not have to move to the subscription model and increase the ever-growing drip/stream of money outlays every month (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc...). I'm in tech so I know it was a long shot. Time to suck it up.