Lightroom Classic still can't handle Nikon Z9 raw files properly

@ nancycoste

Can you please provide more information? What happens when you try to use Nikon Z9 nef files in Lightroom Classic?

same problem on my side....does not import the raw at all..

I have analysed a number Z9 raw images because of other threads like this and have concluded that there is no difference between this camera and other Z series as well as other similar cameras from Sony and Canon with respect to the rendering in Lightroom. The noise is exactly how you expect it at higher ISOs and represents the actual noise in the image. However, if you compare with in-camera jpegs, the rendering is by default indeed much noisier. What is also abundently clear is that Nikon's noise reduction is extreme and is actually losing you a lot of detail. It is very objectionable (at least to me) . Optimizing the noise reduction in Lightroom (which takes seconds) gives far superior results. You can also make them look the same if you want but you'll lose just as much detail as Nikon's rendering obliterates so it really is a choice. I think what is happening here is that Nikon made their in-camera noise reduction even more aggressive and this is making people think Lightroom is doing something wrong when in fact it is just being honest. Of course running the files through Topaz blows both completely out of the water but that is no surprise as it is much slower to do that.

If you're seeing different results would love to see some examples but best to send them to Adobe as they will use them to fine tune the default settings.

Not sure what is going on with the importing. The files I got went in at the same speed as any other. 

Lightroom works slowly while processing Nikon Z9 images. I have not noticed the noise issue you are talking about but i have went though every trouble shoot possible. As a high volume shooter part of the year i am very concerned about this slowing my workflow down significantly. Prior to this if I had an issue with an update I would just set to a previous version of lightroom classic, however, this is not possible since earlier versions will not reconize the Z9 files. 

I believe that LR Classic 11.2 (with Camera RAW 14.2) treats my RAW files just fine -- but it will not show a decent clear sharp image on my monitor -- whereas when I edit in, say, Topaz Sharpen AI - I see a sharp image before I apply the sharpening model.

Zooming in to 100% in LR sometimes helps - LR "loads" the file and a clearer sharper image emerges. 

I build 1:1 previews and smart previews on all the files I work on -- and then discard them later. 

It is really frustraiting when checking sharpness has been a key part of my image sifting process. 

What is going on LR?

Actually, without detailed information, examples, and reproducible steps, I recommend not posting this in the "Bug" section. There is not enough information to determine that this is a bug. 

Better would be to provide examples of image #'s and exact time to import between 'other Nikon' camera model and the Z9. I suspect we are dealing with a file size issue. 

WRT Noise - examples of what you are seeing would help a great deal. 

We're not Adobe in this part of the forum, we are other Lightroom Classic users, we can't modify how the software behaves. You would be better off posting this in the BUGS portion of the forum, not in the DISCUSSIONS part of the forum.