Nikon Z9 Files Seem "Off"

[Jbear5]

Hi All,

Windows 11/64GB DDR6/i9/RTX4070 12GVRAM  LRC 14.2

   I recently acquired a Nikon Z9, and it's my intial foray into ML cameras...very impressive to be sure.  Here's my issue/question.  When I import into LR Classic, the files look quite different than all of my DSLR files (D5, D850, D750, D500).  I shoot raw exclusively, and use Camera Neutral as my picture control setting for all bodies.  When I import the Z9 files, they render as soft and lacking in detail, as opposed to the other cameras which render cripsly with good detail (example...bird feathers) and eyes.  I can't imagine that this is a camera issue.  I know that as a raw file I can "fix" this, but I can't understand why it's happening and until I can, I cannot rule out the camera either.  I have seen some other posts elsewhere about this, but none more recent than a year ago, and I haven't seen any real explanation.  One individual (in a YouTube vid) mentioned that Adobe support helped him with a reinstall and other "things," but he didn't elaborate.  I'm hoping someone here can help.   Full disclosure, I have not had the opportunity to thoroughly explore these file, but my initial experience hasn't yielded any insight on my end.

Thanks so much in advance everyone. 

[Per Berntsen]

The Z9 should produce files with excellent quality.

I have the Z7 which I'm very pleased with, and the Z9 should perform even better.

Would you mind sharing some sample raw files, so we could examine them?

They will probably be too large to attach (max size is 47 MB), so use Dropbox or some other file sharing service and post the link here.

[Jbear5]

I agree...the files should be very good.  I'm not going to be able to get to that computer for a day or so, but I'll try to share a file when I can.  Thanks for responding.

[KR Seals]

Try using the "Camera Standard" profile in Lightroom Classic/ACR. Many Z 9 users are finding that works best. That will closely honor the picture control item you have chosen in the camera.

You can lock that in in LrC in the Preferences -> Presets -> Raw Default -> Global -> choose Camera Settings from the short dropdown list.

Also, in the Develop module -> Basic Panel -> at the top, Adaptive Color works fine.

[Jbear5]

Thank you...here's what I found earlier this evening...and I will try your suggestion.  I posted this on another forum...

Problem solved...part 1.
Went into the Develop Module and saw that the NR was ridiculously high for all images (like 60-70 +/-)...also, sharpening was 20-ish, half of what it normally is (40...or that's has what it has been). I set that straight and now everything is razor sharp again like the other bodies. Now my question is...how can I set things to avoid having to go in and zero out NR and set sharpening higher for each individual image? Very happy to know what was actually causing this and to verify that it wasn't camera function related.
Thanks folks!

[drtonyb]

@Jbear5 

I have a Nikon Z8 and the first thing I found was that the Z9/Z8 cameras have default Camera Raw settings in their NEF file which Lightroom Classic reads and sets on Import if you have Camera Settings set in the Presets Preferences. In particular, as you have found, Noise Reduction is set way too high and kills sharpness. Prior to getting a Z8, I used a Nikon D750 and had Picture Control set to Standard, but I found the colour not good, especially in blue sky - too purple. In LrC Preferences, on the Presets tab under Raw Defaults, I now have Adobe Default set for Global rather than Camera Settings. This uses sets the Adobe Color Profile, which I now prefer, and sets all the Develop settings to their normal defaults, not those from the camera.

Here is a list of Camera Raw Defaults my Nikon Z8 has:

Note the LuminanceSmoothing, LuminanceNoiseReductionDetail, Sharpness and SharpenRadius. It also sets Texture and Clarity.

You can also create a custom Preset to set all the Develop settings to normal defaults, or whatever you want, and use that for your default settings on Import.

I'm happy just using Abode Default for my Z8/D750 Imports.

[Jbear5]

Thank you for that!

[Jbear5]

Problem solved...part 1.

Went into the Develop Module and saw that the NR was ridiculously high for all images (like 60-70 +/-)...also, sharpening was 20-ish, half of what it normally is (40...or that's has what it has been). I set that straight and now everything is razor sharp again like the other bodies. Now my question is...how can I set things to avoid having to go in and zero out NR and set sharpening higher for each individual image? Very happy to know what was actually causing this and to verify that it wasn't camera function related.

[Per Berntsen]

The noise reduction and sharpening are settings from the camera.

Digital cameras have always written camera settings to raw files, using proprietary code that only the camera manufacturers' own raw converters could understand – like Nikon's NX Studio. LrC does not understand this code and ignores it.

The Nikon Z cameras were the first to write camera settings in XMP, which LrC understands and honors.

You can stop this from happening by going to Edit > Preferences > Presets, and set the Raw default for the Z9 to Adobe Default. This will use Adobe's default sharpening, and no other sliders will be touched.

You can also create your own Develop preset with settings of your choice, and have it applied on import.

See https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/raw-defaults.html

Another approach is to zero out / neutralize all settings in the camera (you might have to create a custom Picture style), and set the Raw default in LrC to Camera settings.