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Apple adds raw support for Nikon D600, other Photokina models

An update means iPhoto, Aperture, and other software can handle Nikon's hot full-frame SLR and three new Canon PowerShot models that arrived at the Photokina show. Apple now supports raw photos from 283 cameras.

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Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
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, a hot camera at Photokina, pushed the price of Nikon's full-frame SLR cameras down to $2,100." credit="Stephen Shankland/CNET" alt="The Nikon D600, a hot camera at Photokina, pushed the price of Nikon's full-frame SLR cameras down to $2,100." creditUrl="" targetUrl=""/>

Apple issued an OS X update today that lets iPhoto, Aperture, and other Mac software use raw photos taken by the Nikon D600 and several other cameras that arrived last month at the Photokina trade show in September.

The Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 4.01 enables use of raw photos from the following cameras:

Apple Aperture icon

• Canon EOS M

• Canon PowerShot G15

• Canon PowerShot S110

• Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

• Nikon D600

• Nikon 1 J2

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G5

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7

• Sony Alpha NEX-F3

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

Supporting new cameras is a constant effort for software makers such as Apple and Adobe Systems, since each new camera comes with a new proprietary format. There's a race to support each new camera, too, so new customers can make use of raw images as soon as possible.

In that race, Apple beat Adobe for support of three interesting Canon PowerShot models, the higher-end G15, the compact S110, and the ultrazoom SX50 HS. Canon previously hadn't had raw support for its ultrazoom line, but added it because of popular demand, reflecting the increasing attention that photo enthusiasts are putting on raw imagery.

But with a raw update in Lightroom 4.2 three weeks ago, Adobe edged out Apple with support for some other cameras, including the Canon EOS M and the Nikon 1 J2, two compact mirrorless models that accommodate interchangeable lenses. Neither Apple nor Adobe yet supports a hot new full-frame SLR, the Canon 6D, and Adobe's Nikon D600 support is preliminary.

Raw images offer better flexibility and image quality than JPEGs, but file sizes are larger and viewing them is much less convenient.

Keeping up with raw formats requires a lot of effort. Lightroom and Photoshop today support 408 camera formats, and Apple supports 283.

To ease some of the pains of handling raw images, Adobe is pushing its Digital Negative (DNG) format by adding new features and attempting to make it a neutral, international standard.