Nikon Z5 camera RAW

Apple never announces in advance, if or when a specific camera model will be supported. It is not guaranteed , that each and every new camera will be supported.

If you have a computer, you can convert the RAW files to DNG files with the Adobe DNG Converter. It is free. Then import the RAW files to your iPad. Or use the software that came with your camera to develop the RAW files and convert them to a lossless format, like TIFF.

Then you may want to send feedback with a feature request to Apple using the feedback form. https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html (and perhaps to Nikon to point out that the camera is not yet supported by Apple).

If Apple decides to support the camera it will usually happen within a year after a new camera model has been released. But not all cameras will get RAW support.

So as of Feb 2, the Nikon Z5, 6ii and 7ii have been added to the RAW supported list as part of iPad OS 14.4. I tried it yesterday, and while the RAW files did "open" (in my Files, Photos, Affinity and Raw Power apps), no image was displayed; just a blank space within the UI of the app. I spent about 2 hours on the phone with four levels of Apple tech advisors (one was even logged in to my iPad to see the screen) without the issue being resolved. The last one I spoke to was a high-level senior tech advisor who noted all the issues, and suggested checking the cable, the sd card reader, and finally resetting the iPad in case there was an issue with the iPad OS 14.4 install. Long story short, I left it alone yesterday, and then today thought I'd try one more time. Lo and behold, my Z5 NEF files open properly now in all my apps! So it looks like the newest Nikons are now supported :)

I've been waiting since Sept 2020 for Apple to support the Z5 on my iPad pro. I've seen on some forums that renaming the EXIF to match a Z6 file name may work, but the Z5 has a different sensor, so any Z6 RAW support may not be a good match for Z5 image files. The waiting continues, or use Nikon's own software on a Mac.

I work with a 11" and a 12.9" iPadPro.

The Z5 RAWs are stored on a NAS station of the home network.

When I first opened the Z5 RAWs with the Files App, it was shown with a blank image on both iPadPro's with the image name and the words Nikon RAW.

I turned off the iPadPro. Not shut down.

After about 30...45 minutes I turned both iPadPro's on again. The Z5 RAW showed up correct in the Files app on both iPadPro. Transferring to Photos app with Share + Save did not work. Only a coarse pixelated photo is displayed.

However, opening in Pixelmator Pro or RAW Power works.

Apple camera raw support notice Feb 2, 2021:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT211241

Had a similar problem this week with my new camera (Pentax KP). Also not supported - but I was able to change the camera specific RAW format to the generic DNG format, which seems to work with apple photos. Not sure however, if this impacts the quality of my RAW "negative".

Any luck? Did you try turning the iPad off then on? My Z5 NEF's now open in Files, Photos, Affinity Photo and Raw Power, so it seems like its finally working on mine.

iPadOS 14.4 is out. Still no RAW Support of Z5 RAWs. I'm not amused!

Yep, very disappointing (part of me thinks how hard can it be??). I'm thinking of switching to an M1 Mac so I can use Nikon's own RAW software. iOS is taking way too long.

Does not work for me under 14.4 on my iPadPro.

Where did you get the information that the Z5 RAws are supported by 14.4?

Thanks