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J
JPOC
Known Participant
May 29, 2020
Question

Unable to import a SELECTION from ViewNX to Lightroom anymore.

  • May 29, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 1712 views

It was my preferred workflow. As a Nikon shooter shooting RAW, the NEFs that it produces are easier to preview, sort, and label in Nikon's ViewNX 2 software. I would always preview the NEFs and sort and label (pick/flag) them for import to LR.  I would always be able to make a selection of 1-100+ NEFs in ViewNX and then right-click > Open with > Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic. And once the Import window loads BOOM all my selections that were made in ViewNX are PRE SELECTED for import into LR. 

 

However...

Something happened a few days ago where that 'communication' between software is now not happening. I don't know if its due to an update or just a bug... I'm currently trying to reinstall both LR and ViewNX to see if it fixes the issue, or installing a previous version of LR to see if that was the issue. 

5 replies

ManiacJoe
ManiacJoe
Inspiring
June 5, 2020

I completely understand your desire to do the initial triage of your images outside of Lightroom due to speed issues. I do the same thing using ACDSee.

 

What surprises us is that you ever got Nikon ViewNX to do the selection thing with Lightroom. It also does not surprise us that a recent update to Lightroom no longer works the same way.

 

As a workaround, try using ViewNX to move your "keepers" into a separate folder -- I call mine "A" and "B" for grade A and grade B photos -- and then use Lightroom to import the photos in the "keepers" folder.

 

    J
    JPOCAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 28, 2020

    Its the way I was taugh when I was with The Army Imaging Techs,

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 31, 2020

    I respectfully suggest to change your habits, adopt a new workflow!

    1) Import with Lightroom-Classic

    2) Rate & Flag in Lightroom

    3) Edit in Lightroom

    "Boom"- Done! 

    No more fussing with ViewNX.

    And update to v9.2.1

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    J
    JPOCAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 3, 2020

    In Lightroom Classic previewing NEF files on the import screen is slow AF and If I hold down the right arrow to skip a few shot it lags out and skips more than a few dozen. I shoot primarily as a photojournalist so I shoot hundreds of shots of a scene and usually only pick less than 30 to 'edit' The workflow of using ViewNX is much much faster and less frustrating to me than having LR lag. I use to use that old workflow but prefer the ViewNX workflow. 

    Thanks but No Thanks. 

    Untill LR Classic's preview isn't laggy ill continue to sort thru photos with View NX

    J
    JPOCAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 3, 2020

    Oh and my setup is this:
    CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K @ 4.8Ghz
    GPU: ASUS ROG - RTX 2060 OC
    Mobo: MSI Z370 A-Pro
    RAM: Corsair Vengeance 4x8GB 3200
    Boot-drive: Kingston A400 480GB SSD
    Storage: Samsung 480 SSD
    Cooler: CoolerMaster Hyper 612 V2
    PSU: EVGA 650 B3

    ManiacJoe
    ManiacJoe
    Inspiring
    May 30, 2020

    Nikon ViewNX2 is very old software. This is not necessarily a problem if your cameras are similarly old. However, Nikon Transfer has a habit of slightly corrupting NEF files when the Transfer software is older than the camera.

     

    Never tried any communication between ViewNX2 or the newer ViewNXi and Lightroom Classic. Interesting that it worked like you wanted it to.

     

    I, too, do a bunch of sorting and triage of my NEF files before importing them into Lightroom. I use ACDSee to sort the files into grade A and grade B using file folders. The grade A files are imported for further triage, the grade B get deleted.

     

    J
    JPOCAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 31, 2020

    I use ViewNX 2 because that's what I'm used to and it works, never had an issue with it.

    Its the workflow that we used on base as an Image Technicians and I find it better than my old workflow. (pre 2016)

    Its worked with everything from a D2X up to a D5 and everything in between (D750, D800, D7000)

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    May 29, 2020

    I have never considered nor heard of that method of using ViewNX as preparatory software for importing to Lightroom. In fact, in the past that Nikon software has been known to render NEF files such that Lightroom was not able to import them until they were repaired. I use Nikon cameras, but I don't use ViewNX as any part of workflow. It isn't necessary, and doesn't add any benefit to the workflow, in my opinion.

    J
    JPOCAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 31, 2020

    It speeds up my workflow and is how we did it on base in the CAF. I make all my selections 

     

    Workflow:

    • Copy ALL photos from card to Folder on Drive. (i don't use LR to import from a card)
    • Use ViewNX to preview all the photos on my PC and assign a rating/colour. (also could add Meta / IPTC data)
    • Sort photos by rating/colour, Select all, Open using PS LR CC
    • LR automatically launches, opens Import window and checks all photos that i had selected in ViewNX
    • Develop only the raw files I need in LR
      J
      JPOCAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 29, 2020

      Aha! after steps backwards it appears that the FEATURE was accidentally removed when there was an update from 9.1 to 9.1 
      ( I before 2 days ago I had not updated LR since probably Oct or Nov 2019 )

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