Analog Efex Pro 2

Google/Nik has just announced "Analog Efex Pro 2, available as a free upgrade for all existing Nik Collection users. (The entire collection is still only $149.) Analog Efex Pro pays homage to the classical, vintage, and alternative processing techniques that photographers used many years ago, allowing you to faithfully recreate them with your own images."

super cool "multi lens" filter (using image from above)

To get your free update, go to http://www.google.com/nikcollection and download the Free Trial.

vkphoto

Nik Collection with X-Trans files - first impression

For a long time I was sceptical about Nik's filters. I just could't justify the price tag for what can be done (with certain efforts) directly in CS.

When last week Google offered all 7 filters for $149 I took the plunge and bought the set. The installation was extremely simple and the set was installed in both Lightroom and CS at the same time. Interface is very intuitive and straightforward. So far I had time to play with only two filters (Color Efex and Silver Efex) and I like first results.

X-Pro 1 + Nikkor 28 mm 1:2.8 AI-s + Color Efex

X-Pro 1 + Nikkor 28 mm 1:2.8 AI-s + Silver Efex

X-Pro 1 + KONICA HEXANON AR 50mm 1:1.4 + Silver Efex

There are tons of various presets and controls in filters, but most important for me is that each filter creates just an adjustment layer. Working further with layers I have an additional flexibility what to apply to the final image and how much. 

Bottom line: Nik Collection is definitely a "keeper". Though some more learning/experimenting is still required it has already made my life easier and I am getting results I want faster. Well worth the money.

Thanks,
vkphoto