I'm importing RAW NEF files from my Nikon Z6 II into Photos on Big Sur and they don't show a thumbnail and says an error has occurred when I try to open them. Info shows they are RAW NEF and the Geo location data. I can import them into Affiniti OK directly from the SD.
I'm only shooting RAW and not the JPEG.
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.0
If you're resourceful you can install EXIFTOOL and use a terminal session to change the exif information. Here's what I have to change on all NEF's from the Nikon Z6 2.
You should now see the NEF files thumbnails begin to populate on the mac finder folder.
NOTE: exiftool modifies the exif information for camera model that was embedded in the NEF file to "NIKON Z 6", from "NIKON Z 6 2".
If you're resourceful you can install EXIFTOOL and use a terminal session to change the exif information. Here's what I have to change on all NEF's from the Nikon Z6 2.
You should now see the NEF files thumbnails begin to populate on the mac finder folder.
NOTE: exiftool modifies the exif information for camera model that was embedded in the NEF file to "NIKON Z 6", from "NIKON Z 6 2".
Z6 2 is not yet on the list of supported camears
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211241
Your only solution for now is to convert them to adobe DNG raw format, using Adobe's free converter.
The RAW format of Nikon Z6 has been supported for a while, but the successor Nikon Z6 is a very new camera. It may take several month, until Apple will release RAW support for it (if it will be supported at all).
The current list of supported models is: Digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur - Apple Support
I found this to be the only solution for now. I've added this into my workflow so the converter takes the RAW files from the camera and puts them on my laptop in the DNG format and from there it seems anything I use can work with them just fine.
The sensors and the resolution of the NIKON Z 6 and NIKON Z 6 II are identical, so the same RAW development should work (provided the lenses are the same as well).
I checked, how the RAW support is installed on macOS 11. Previously, several system versions ago, the RAW support has been installed as separate files for each cameras in the RawCamera.bundle. We could simply fake an additional RAW support file and reindex the RAW support. This worked well with the RAW support for Aperture. But the separate files do no longer exist. There are still the directories for RAW support, but the RAW support seems to be hard coded into one file inside the bundles.
/System/Library/CoreServices/RawCamera.bundle/
/System/Library/CoreServices/RawCameraSupport.bundle/
/System/Library/Assets/com_apple_MobileAsset_RawCamera_Camera/
Tagging the RAW images with the wrong camera model name seems to be the only way to fool the system, but doing this, we are mutilating our image files. We should keep the originals RAW files safe and just modify copies, and rename them, so we are aware of the fact, that the files have been modified and can revert to the previous versions, if Apple is ever going to release RAW support for the Nikon Z6 2.
I am experiencing the same problem. The Nikon Z6 II NEF files are not readable on Big Sur. But the Nikon Z6 NEF files work just fine.
Thank you for the idea, I'll look into it.
Does anyone know where Apple stores the EXIF models in its files on MacOS? Seems it would be easier to duplicate the entry for NIKON Z 6 and add the new NIKON Z 6_2 so that they are recognised across the system.
How long does it take to add a "2" to the supported list of file types? Big Sur still doesn't read Nikon Z6 2 NEF files. ?????
Well there's the limit to that 'solution'. If you do add a 2 to the files you get your z6 II files decided using the Z6 definitions, and they're not the same.
Your Nikon Z6 is supposed to be supported on Big Sur (Digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur - Apple Support)
Are you using a compressed format? Or are you importing the images as referenced files without copying them into the Photos Library? Is your Photos Library in your Pictures folder or on an external volume?
I tried all NEF modes, including uncompressed. The thumbnails appear in the import screen but not once imported. When I try to edit them it says, "Photos cannot load adjustments for this image"
RAW NEF files not showing or working in Photos in Big Sur
