Importing Z8 RAW files adds grey screen

Question

I've been working with Nikon support on an issue with "high" ISO noise in my RAW images from the Nikon Z8 camera.

They had me import these images using their NX Studio and standard MacOS file copy to a local drive. WHen viewing the unedited RAW images in NX Studio or directly from the memory card using MacOS Finder, the images look as shot.

When importing into LightRoom Classic or Lightroom (current versions auto-updated via creative cloud) the images are initially rendored in the Library multi-image view as expected, but then each one starts to get covered in a 30% "screen" or dark overlay as if they were shot in darkness. This introduces a lot of luminous noise into every image.

For images shot at ISO 64 or 100 I don't notice this as much if at all, but as soon as I hit 400+ (typicaly ISO 800) I start to see it, and above ISO 1000 it is killer.

This has bee going on since day one of my Z8 and I thought it was my camera, but then we tested wtih NX Studio and no problem.

I know others have reported a similar issue but we never thought it might be lightroom. But now I'm pretty confident it is lightroom because even the non-Classic version adds this screen or darkness over the images one imported.

Jao vdL · Accepted Answer

You need to change the raw defaults in your Classic preferences to "Camera Settings". You are likely shooting with some sort of dynamic lighting mode turned on that results in the camera slightly underexposing the image. Nikon software by default reads those settings and corrects for the underexposure. Lightroom by default doesn't but will when you select "camera settings". The setting will only apply to newly imported images. For already imported images just hit reset after changing the setting. This will also apply settings mimicing the in-camera sharpening and noise reduction settings as Nikon applies EXTREMELY aggressive noise reduction in camera that glosses over major detail and the default noise reduction in Lightroom is very light. You will still need to optimize noise reduction a bit even when using camera settings. In general there is no need to use the AI noise reduction but you simply on almost all images use the built in tools that unfortunately Adobe now hides by default but you can get back by just hitting the disclosure triangle in the detail panel.

Lastly, you really should avoid using Nikon's tools to import images. They have a history of corrupting the nef files to a degree that they become unusable in non-Nikon programs. That hasn't been the case lately but Nikon's software quality is not the best and they often have incompatibilities with the most up-to-date system software resulting in file corruption so best to completely avoid. Lightroom works perfectly with Z series files and importing directly from camera or through card readers. The big difference between jpeg preview and raw rendering will be minimized if you default to "camera settings"

Jao vdL · Answer

Also note that what Lightroom shows you is the actual noise in the image. The nikon software and the in-camera jpeg preview that you see on the back is heavily processed and heavy noise reduction and sharpening is applied. Lightroom's display by default is much closer to the actual raw data but as said if you prefer the initial preview to be closer to the jpeg preview (what Nikons View application shows), just use the camera settings raw default.

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