"Converting" Nikon N-RAW to REDCODE RAW - Everything You Need To Know

DaVinci Resolve 20.2 and the release of the Nikon ZR have unlocked a powerful Nikon N-RAW hack. Today I’m showing you how to “convert” Nikon N-RAW to REDCODE RAW inside DaVinci Resolve. This is not a true conversion since the codec remains Nikon’s, but by renaming the .NEV extension to .R3D, Resolve runs the footage through the RED decoder. That unlocks RedWideGamutRGB, Log3G10, and IPP2 tone mapping. It also fixes the blue channel clipping issue and reveals more usable dynamic range compared to the default Nikon N-RAW decode.

In this video I’ll walk you step by step through the workflow, show you what works and what doesn’t, and explain how to set up your color management for highlight rolloff control. I’ll also share the testing I did at NAB that proves the issue is with Resolve’s debayer, not Nikon’s sensor.

If you’re grading Nikon Z9, Z8, or Z6III footage in DaVinci Resolve 20.2, this approach will help you get cleaner, more reliable results.

See the pinned comment for the full technical deep dive.

Nikon Blue Channel Clipping Test Video:    • Fixing Nikon N-RAW Blue Clipping in DaVinc...  
My Friend Derek's Video on NRAW to R3D:    • Nikon Raw “Hack” Explained  

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:34 How To "Convert" N-RAW to R3D
00:50 How It Works & What You Get
01:16 Color Management Quirks
02:34 Color Management Setting For Full IPP2 Control
03:33 How Resolves Color Management Engine Is Working
04:00 Blue Channel Clipping NRAW vs R3D Comparisons
05:33 My Research on NRAW Blue Clipping From 2024
06:28 My Background on Working With BMD & Nikon About The Blue Clipping
08:25 Dynamic Range NRAW vs R3D Comparisons
09:34 Final Thoughts

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