Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Capture 4.4 is the ultimate post-processing program for processing NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) photos, also known as "RAW" format photos. For those not familiar with RAW format, essentially a RAW format photo file enables the photographer to make post-shot changes to a photo to a much greater extent than is possible when shooting conventional JPEG file shots. So, for example, if one wishes to adjust the exposure on a RAW photo, you can do so and the effect is essentially the same, within the range of a couple of F/stops, as though you had shot the picture that way in the first place (there are exceptions to this beyond the scope of this review). The same is true for many other settings, such as Color Mode (SRGB versus Adobe, for example), White Balance, Sharpening, etc. You can modify some of these to some extent on JPEGs, but when you do there is always a loss of data--while there is no such loss when modifying RAW files. The bottom line is that if you botch a setting shooting RAW files you are much more likely to be able to salvage the photo if you shot RAW, as compared to if you shot JPEG. If you are shooting a wedding or some other critical event where failure is not an option, only a VERY competent expert would not opt to shoot RAW, in my opinion at least.
I am explaining this, because it helps to explain what you are getting with Capture 4.4. Capture 4.4 is the ultimate program for modifying the settings that RAW files are designed to allow the modification of. It is Nikon's own program for modifying Nikon Electronic Format (RAW) files, and it is unsurpassed by third parties for this purpose. This is NOT a substitute for Photoshop or its competitors. Capture 4.4 does not give you the cloning tool and the other huge host of artistic modification tools that one finds in Photoshop. (It does have a cropping tool and a few other basic tools along this line, but nothing like Photoshop). The real purpose of Capture 4.4 is to control the "levers" i.e. exposure, sharpening, etc. that the RAW mode was designed to provide when post-processing RAW (and to a limited extent JPEG) photos. Some photographers, myself included, use Capture 4.4 for this purpose, and then may use Photoshop if there are any detailed changes to the photo that need to be done. Capture 4.4 really complements, rather than competes with, programs like Photoshop.
The main gripe most users have with Capture 4.4 is that it is a clunky memory hog, and it is somewhat slow. This is a program that will use every bit of your computer's processing power. The user interface is on the clunky side too, although it is not all that bad. I personally found that I could get up to speed pretty fast with this program without using the manual much.
I give this one 5 stars for utility and 3 stars for being a memory hog with a clunky interface, rounding out to 4 stars. Future upgrades will doubtless cure the technical issues with this program. But for the Nikon photographer shooting RAW files, this program is a "must have" in my opinion. Highly recommended.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Capture 4 Software for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and Coolpix 8800, 8700, and 8400
Current Version 4.4 Features: Capture Control for hard-wired remote operation Capture Editor for image processing of NEF, JPEG, TIFF formats New dust-delete technology New image-enhancement technology New Fish-eye 2 rectilinear technology Extensive legacy compatibility
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