Nikon

Thumbnail previews in Windows 7 for Nikon NEF files

John Tworsky

It’s a common complaint from Windows 7 users that they cannot see the thumbnail previews of their images when using Windows Explorer. Essentially they get a NEF logo as shown in the screenshot below. Not very helpful when you’re trying to find an image quickly!

NEF Thumbnails without codec

This can be very frustrating for the RAW shooter. Nikon has an excellent RAW codec which adds this capability to Windows 7. Once installed you can work with RAW files just like you would JPEG and TIFF.  To download Nikon RAW CODEC visit Nikon’s download page. A screenshot from after the installation is shown below.

NEF Thumbnails after Nikon codec install

As with any system update you always want to make certain you have backup of all your important data, information, pictures, etc. before installation. This RAW codec is updated regularly and the most recent version 1.14.0 includes support for the new Nikon D3200 camera.

Snow – Photographing Winter’s Majesty

Franklin Viola

The weekend’s precipitous frozen flurry presented a wondrous opportunity to capture the majesty of winter’s cloak. Armored in boots, cap and gloves, I marched into the white of Sunday morning’s golden light with my Nikon D-SLR and a spare battery, of course, warm and snug in the pocket of my Gortex jacket!

Strong diagonal rays and shadows accentuate a classic winter scene.
Winters Majesty
©Franklin Viola

IPTC Data: Nikon D2Xs, Nikon 12-24 at 12mm, ISO 200, f/8 at 1/125sec (Manual mode), Tripod

Emphasizing powder coating with ‘close-focus wide-angle’ imaging

Snowy Bench
©Franklin Viola

IPTC Data: Nikon D2Xs, Nikon 12-24 at 22mm, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/250sec (Manual mode)

Selective framing to contrast ‘icons’ of  hot and cold
Chimney - Icicles - Contrail
©Franklin Viola
IPTC Data: Nikon D2Xs, Nikon 24-120 at 105mm, ISO 200, f/8 at 1/320sec (Manual mode), Tripod
Have a question about winter photography? Please leave a comment, email, visit the store or visit our Winter shooting tips on our blog.

Nikon 200-400 VR AF-S lens rental now available

Franklin Viola

Recently on assignment in Panama, I used my Nikon 200-400 VR AF-S lens and Nikon D300 camera to capture this image of a Female Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) drinking nectar from a Hibiscus flower.
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
©Franklin Viola

IPTC Data: Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400 VR AF-S f/4 at 400mm (effective 600mm on DX body), ISO 640, f/8 at 1/200sec, iTTL fill-flash with Nikon SB800 (EV-2.0), Tripod

Observing the tiny birds ‘routine flight path’ to specific flowers for over an hour, I pre-set focus in AF, then switched to Manual focus to ‘lock’ my composition. Using a Nikon wired shutter-release, Bogen carbon-fiber tripod and Wimberly gimbal-head, the 200-400mm never flinched even in my excitement as the ‘hummer’ flew into position. iTTL fill-flash from a Nikon SB800 (hand-held via SC17 cable) applied just the right  ‘stop-action’ to complement the gyrating wing-blur. This artificial ‘light’ also added color ‘pop’, an often under-used tool in outdoor photography!

Nikon’s 200-400mm VR f/4 AF-S lens works with all Nikon ‘full-frame’, as well as Nikon APS-size sensor (DX) D-SLRs. You too can ‘reach out’ with this lens through BCC’s rental department. Call 201.664.4113 or come by the Westwood store for more details.
Nikon 200-400 Lens