What software do you suggest for ...

The basic difference is that if you choose jpeg, the camera takes the data from the sensor and applies its own algorithm, modified by any settings you have set and saves the result as a jpeg. The result is often fine, with the advantage that it can be easily viewed in many applications and devices, file sizes are small. The disadvantage is that any data not used is lost. If you choose RAW files, the camera takes all the data from the camera and saves it. The file size is much larger and you can only open the file in a limited number of applications. The advantage is that you now decide how to manipulate that data into the image you want. For example if there is a dark area in the photo, working with RAW data you may be able to lighten the shadows to show detail. If the camera produces a jpeg that detail would have been discarded. After you have worked on the RAW image you can export the result as a jpeg. I don't know how much you want to work on images to get them just the way you want. If that's important to you RAW is the way to go. If you want to experiment I think NX studio is free for Nikon cameras.

David

Thanks for the clear information.
It's the kind of help I was looking for, posting this thread.

I knew RAW was like the Assembler... but now I know what kind of use I can make of it !!

So I'll need to save Raw+Jpeg to have both a file to view and one to do PP or Edit.

About Nikon NX:

Next week I'll get surgery on my left hand, and I wanted to have some lead to "study" and understand better what I "need" to do really.
I will probably not even be able to write on the PC, 'cause I write lying in bed... no idea if and for how long I will be impaired.
We will see.

I'm seriously thinking and getting in the frame of mind of "Films" no matter if I use a Nikon Z.

I shoot for my pleasure, I post the best subjects/best shots... If I like none I post none.

Why should I bother with PP & Edits .... I'm trying to understand: Is it more like a fashion wave or a real necessity?
Results ? .. I know if you look for results you'll only see "the results".
I've seen astounding photos.
They happen really seldom even for the best.
But now the best have to compare with the medium level + edit ...
...and so on .. even the lesser ones can compete using as a little edit as they can.

Once upon a time ... Irreal shots were called "Photoshopped" and that word still resonates in my mind.

I'm just wondering what pleasure you may have after going out 4 hours to shoot, then to pass 8 hours to modify what you get...
... only to obtain e-perfect e-images.

Ok,
it's a philosophic dilemma of a Dyno warped 30 years ahead in time.

( not sure I'd like the answers I find them in my quest )

sorry for the rant

Not necessarily. It's common for cameras to generate a jpeg preview of the RAW, which is what is generally displayed on the LCD and/or in the viewfinder (if you have an EVF) after taking the image. In many cases the jpeg preview will embedded and (depending on the software you use to view/edit images) serves as the thumbnail/preview when the images are transferred to your computer.

You can, of course, choose to have the camera create both a RAW and a JPEG 'version' of each shot, but you may find that you don't need to (i.e. that RAW alone will suffice).

It's not a lot different from some of the ideas from film just, IMHO a lot more powerful. In film, as I remember from a long time back, you chose your film stock, you could if you wished develop it yourself (I never did) I think there were some decisions you could make at this point. Then you could print choosing your paper and deciding on time to expose, along with dodging and burning. Probably there are other darkroom techniques I don't know about. All of this enabled you to get the print you wanted.

Sorry can't help you with NX Studio, I don't use it.

David

Oh, ok. Thanks.

I don't preview on camera, I'm not being able to focus clearly enough the camera monitor... even with multifocal spectacles
So I usually shoot, and later I do the Winnowing/Binning on a W10 PC with a 65" monitor :-D

So on W10 I used to use Windows Photo Viewer ... that 'till I started again with a camera.
From then on I use Fastone which has also a basic editing fuction.

Recently I discovered FocusStacking .. at the moment till the trial end I'm using Helicon.

I did tentatively try some solutions to remove power lines, but so far nothing made my eyes shine.

It would have been a very nice shot...

www.dropbox.com/s/hktt8g9qu6icr38/2023-04-01%2017.41.48.jpg?dl=1

(I'll try to see if Fastone is able to manage Raws.)

A quick bit of work on my laptop using Affinity Photo 2

Photo editing and enhancing software. I use ‘Paint Shop Pro (Ultimate)’. With each tool, the ‘Learning Centre’ at the right-hand side of the program, will give a simple instruction guide on how to apply.
For focus stacking images, prior to acquiring my current Canon camera, I used the free to download and use, ‘CombineZP’.
I raise your comment (Quote). I'm just wondering what pleasure you may have after going out 4 hours to shoot, then to pass 8 hours to modify what you get.
To which I would reply: After a long day on a photo shoot, I use FastStone Image viewer to quickly bin the dross and near duplications. The remaining images I find worthy of processing, I run through my own batch processing script I created in Paint Shop Pro. That will process and enhance a hundred or so images whilst I prepare the gin and tonic. By the time I have added the wedge of lime, the task will have completed, together with the originals for side by side comparisons in (would you believe it) FastStone!

1) Ok, the same process, I get you fine.

2) Obscure and satanic procedure in my eyes, but I agree with the Gin&Tonic or a Coke&Rum

a) why do you process
b) what do you process
c) what results do you obtain from the satanic influx

? ? ?

Well, I tried it. Never been able to finish a stack. It crashes without giving any error so I cannot mend the situation.
I suppose there is a limit to the stack and I do not often use less than 10 shots

Nice result.
I expect that PS is able to do miracles.
I still have to understand how many months I would need to grab the right path to be able to use it for what I want not knowing what I want in the beginning.

AlainCh2. I like your style. You should write a book.
Follow this link. I thought to test the value of my script with before and after examples, on a photoshoot at a couple of local venue.
photos.app.goo.gl/pTe6B96mxr5VcFRd6
Click the first image to bring it full screen to your monitor. From here on, you can use the right and left arrow key on your keyboard, to move forward or backward through the gallery. The first image is the out of camera jpeg. The following image is the one run through my script. Thus, you can compare the originals to the script enhancements.
Reference your follow up comment about Combine ZP. Sorry to learn about the crashes. I have never had an issue. Care to share details about your PC and which operating system?
Regarding the cloned-out power lines. Supremely easy in PSPro.
When you discover what you want, in the beginning, remember this forum is your friend. There is a whole bunch of us willing to help if we have the experience to do so. And remember, with just about any aspect of photography, the answer to your search query may well lie amongst the mass of junk and dross on YouTube. Pearls of wisdom and helpful tutorials are also there to be found.

1) Thanks for the compliment, but too long a thing.
(one of my dream that will never come true - like visiting DawsonCity)

2) That's great. Exactly the best way to explain things.
(provided I'm able to get the correct interpretation of what you've done)

3) W10 last update - AMD 5600x - 32G - Nvidia 2070S - OS installed on 980Pro 1Tb - all data disk are M2 NVMe 3x 512G - BKP on HDD 8Tb
(performance should not be an issue - per practice I reinstall Windows every 14-18 months, it's due now - I'll do it when I get back the use of my hand)

4) I see that your corrected image has no distortion. The lines are still present but barely visible, and that avoid the pic looking "unnatural"

5) I tell you a secret. I decide to buy and get back a camera but I was aware of the related difficulties to adapt my knowledge. What decided me it was a "safe" move > was finding this DPR forum. So I bought it and received the parcel on Jan 30... opened it, slurped salivating.... and started banging my head into the Digital walls these modern boxes offer you for.
(Just in time to see DPR melting to nothing in the future weeks - >That's the reason I'm the first DPRvv poster )

6) Youtube is a great a thing, provided you spend a huge amount of time looking at a lot of videos that are pretty but un-useful to your search goal
(GoogleSearch about "specific" bring you 9 out 10 on DPR - where you get a 2013 answer that's on the spot even for stupid questions)

Closing this long post by saying:
Thanks, you are helping me greatly.
(I'm not stupid I know that I need to reach the first floor, to get to the second... but I need to be pointed to the first step of the correct stairs :-D )

Sorry If I'm sounding strange, really sorry.
(Inglisss is not my main language - I'm a frog living on the wrong side of the Italian/French Alps)

There are many ways of achieving similar results in post processing I don't know if you have seen my example of cleaning the wires. I didn't use the clone tool. You have mentioned 2 bits of software that crash on your computer which may indicate a degree of instability so reinstalling windows is probably a good idea. A new version of NX Studio has just been released.

Or take the upgrade path, and plonk Win 11 on the system!
For now, run ‘sfc /scannow’ once in a while. Takes scarcely 2 or 3 minutes these days, but it sometimes finds an issue to mend.
I’m the other side of the briny, in central U.K. The land where clouds love to shroud and hug me and follow wherever I go, should they spot me with my camera.

Thanks

Yes, I've seen your sample, but there are some evident anomalies.
If you look down the Sacra, on the tree profile, you can notice the deleted area it's fuzzy.

It's good practice for anybody from time to time to reinstall SO, I do too many tests and trials.
Usually, I have a backup PC. But I gave it for Christmas to my son: 8700K+2070 a huge beast it was.
...and now the money went for Camera HDW :-D

Yes, the new version didn't solve my issue.
A search on the Web didn't get results about similar cases.... On Nikon NX I'm left out on myself :-(

Thanks... but .... § Don't speak to me about #Vista11 !!! §

Nothing is wrong after passing the check utilities, even the deep ones.
( there is a nice UI to do these boring jobs >DISM_GUI_X64.exe or to get deeper Image-Health)

It's just Windows and MS ... 7 months ago I've individuated and corrected an error by MicrosoftStore ...
... It was doing garbled install versions of the shop Apps, a known issue and I was able to solve it from the root.

After that, random hiccups started to appear, so I suppose something is still wrong deep inside the Register.
I'm not keen to install a VM,
otherwise I would have had fewer issues on the main OS over the years, but I had a backup PC then.

( laziness is not always a benefit for lazy people - it doubles the necessary work to do )

Yes it is. I did say it was quick on a laptop. Hope your hand surgery goes well.

David