What options do we have for processing Nikon z8 raw files now? Other than getting a windows pc

Capture One Pro (latest version, v23 aka 16.2.0) supports the Z8.

So does Adobe Camera Raw v15.3 (plugin for Photoshop CC, Lightroom & Bridge)

Apple Photos does not currently support the Z8 but probably will in a future update.

It appears that as of February 20, 2024, Apple finally now supports Nikon Z8 RAW files (Lossless RAW files only) in MacOS Sonoma, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and visionOS.

Here's the link to the support page: Digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and visionOS - Apple Support

Adobe DNG Converter 16.0 converted a RAW Z8 image to a DNG without issue and the DNG is visible in the Finder, Quick Look or Preview.

I tried using Adobe DNG Converter a few months ago since I am also suffering from Apple's lack of support of the Nikon Z8 image format. The disadvantage that I have discovered with using Adobe DNG Converter is that it DOUBLED the size of my Z8 RAW files.

On average, my Z8 uncompressed RAW files range from ~50 MB to ~63MB. DNG Converter increased the size of my photos to ~100MB to ~120 MB on average.

Therefore, not a very good solution if you want to conserve hard drive space.

I have two different Z8 images here. Only the one whose NEF Compression is Lossless displays. This corresponds to Apple's RAW footnote for the Z8.

The one whose NEF compression is High Efficiency does not.

The following image was from the PhotographyBlog site.

You've paid $4k for a professional grade camera, and heavens knows how much more for glass. NOw pay for professional grade software to process and manage the output. That's a whole lot less expensive than buying a new computer.

You clearly don't understand the question. He's talking about MAC OS not supporting the RAW image file like it does for other cameras. Apple still doesn't have driver support for the Z9 either and that came out in 2021.

I am looking at a RAW Nikon Z9 image that I just downloaded from DP Review a moment ago. It displays in Finder icon, Quick Look, and Preview. This is from an Z9 with Nikon firmware 2.0 and the picture was taken in April 2022 according to the EXIF data.

Yes, Apple currently footnotes the Z9 entry in their Sonoma camera RAW entries as Lossless RAW only and it is also shown in the System Information : Raw Support entries.

Tested: macOS 14.3.1.

I just downloaded another Z9 image from DPReview and it didn't display either, but it is not out of the realm of possibility that the same reviewer may shoot images with different compression settings that may or may not render the image in Finder. This would not be an issue for a camera without any RAW footnote conditions, but would for the Z8 and Z9 cameras until or if improved RAW support is added.

There are multiple third-party apps that support Z8 files.

Green Lantern wrote:

On average, my Z8 uncompressed RAW files range from ~50 MB to ~63MB. DNG Converter increased the size of my photos to ~100MB to ~120 MB on average.

Sounds about right.

FWIW, a new computer isn't going to help with Z8 RAW files.

Not on my Macs.

Confirm still no Z8 RAW support on macOS 14.3.1 even though Apple's System Information : Raw Support suggests it is supported.