[JMitchell]

More searching, more findings!

1.download these files to your computer
2.format your CF card in the camera
3.go to: SHOOTING MENU , Manage Picture Control, Load/Save, Copy to Card, OK
This step creates the correct folders for the other files. You are just copying a current picture control to the card.

4.Turn camera off, Take card out of camera and put into computer card reader
5.navigate to Nikon, CUSTOMPC
6.copy the the files in step 1 to the card (copy/paste - overwrite=yes)
7.Put the card back into the camera
8.SHOOTING MENU, Manage Picture Control, Load/Save, Copy to camera
9.OK to each file one at a time.
10. Happy Shooting

The 3 files (Astia, Velvia, Optima) can be found:

Here

just click the files one at a time and save to your computer.

[VinnyP]

Originally Posted by JMitchell

More searching, more findings!

There are also D2x curves available if you prefer that feel.

[JMitchell]

Thanks Vinny, I already had those, I posted these cos they're not official Nikon ones, ergo not publicised (at all), I figured that most people would have got the D2X ones, but maybe not

[Raymo]

Probably being a bit dumb ere, sorry, but what are these files for and what do they do Cheers

[JMitchell]

Not being an idiot, it's not clear unless you know about them

When (if) you're shooting in JPEG on the D300, you can have the 'Picture Controls' that make your pictures come out differently, you probably already know that. The defaults are 'Standard, Vivid, Neutral,' and another I think. You can edit these to your liking and save them, which is a good idea to get the best out of them.

BUT! Many people also wanted to get something that replicates Velvia film or the others mentioned, and you can create these custom 'curves' (not actually curves, misleading name), in Capture NX, and save them. This is what these are, people's ready made 'curves' or 'Picture controls' that replicate the best films from 'back in the day'

HTH

[LJR69]

Oo..cool! Thanks JM.

I never set them in the camera usually but I do apply them to my raws in Capture NX. I have some that I got through a course but I don't know if I'm allowed to distribute them. The portrait one I got was great.

Thanks for posting the link.

[Raymo]

Thanks Jack I was aware of the Standard/Vivid/Neutral settings but I was unaware you could program the camera to take different settings........well Iv'e learned something new today thanks again

[Raymo]

Hi Jack, or anybody that can help, I followed the steps as stated but when i get to shooting menu, manage picture control, load/save, The Copy to card is not highlighted so I cannot procede , is there something I am missing?? Cheers

[LJR69]

Yes, you've not done instruction number 3 on the above list. You have to go to the menu and make out you are going to save one of your camera's presets to the card. If you don't it won't create the right folders on the CF card.

Once you've done that you can take the card from the camera and copy the NCP files to the NIKON->CUSTOMPC folder. I think you can possibly create those folders on the card while it's in the card reader plugged into your PC/Mac. However I've never tried it that way and do what point 3 recommends (have the camera create those folders).

Once you've copied the NCP files to that folder on the CF then you insert the card back into your camera and go Manage Picture Control -> Load/save -> Copy to camera, you'll be presented with the new Picture Control Settings.

[Raymo]

Taa very much got it sorted now.

[JMitchell]

Glad it's working Raymo.
LRJ, I used to shoot exclusively in RAW, but when I was working in a photo shop in France, one of the photographers there said, "Why do you shoot RAW?", and I couldn't really give an answer...I decided it was best to try and get it right in cam, even if I can't, and I can tell you that it has cut down my PP and disk space usage by a ton!
The D300 JPEGs are so good that I think it's worth giving them a try, they even contain good detail for exposure changes.
Also, it'd be nice if you could share your portrait setting, cos that's the only one I haven't managed to produce yet, got one for every other occasion, mono, low light, nature etc, but not portrait. If you could find out whether you can distribute them I'd be grateful

[Les Meehan]

I have read this and Jack's other thread re JPEGs and an interesting (not really but thought I'd be nice) point has emerged in Jack's last post. A couple of times Jack has mentioned one of his reasons for shooting in JPEG is the desire to 'get it right in cam' (I assume he means camera here ), which seems to imply that he (and others) shoot (or used to shoot) RAW so they don't have to have the necessary discipline/knowledge to 'get it right in cam'. Hmmm!

Get the best of both worlds: shoot RAW with the same care you are applying to JPEG and be amazed!

Jack, next time someone asks you why you use (used) RAW the correct answer should be "because I want the highest possible quality from my camera since I have put loads of time and effort into becoming a great photographer and I don't want someone else's idea (the software writer) of what I need messing up my carefully crafted and powerfully creative images i.e. camera software conversion to JPEG".

And you thought I had gone AWOL! Hah!

Les

[JMitchell]

Hmmm. I can see what you're saying Les, and I get your point, but what I'm saying, is that if you put enough time and effort into the 'picture styles' or whatever they're called for JPEG, the quality is so high that you really don't get much difference from RAW. I mean, you gain the ability to correct exposure, and that's what I'm talking about getting it right in CamERA
Anyway, my testing of the JPEG system hasn't finished yet. It will be completed with a grand day out in the field. Then I will make my decision. I might even make comparison shots at the same time, ie shoot RAW + JPEG and look at the two procesesed files etc.

You lot. Honestly.