Nikon Patch is the software used to apply the Nikon Hacker Team's firmware patches to the firmware of your Nikon camera. The basic method is as follows:

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• 2Apply patches with Nikon Patch
  • 2.1Computer Requirements

Download Firmware

The original firmware for your camera is Nikon's intellectual property. Nikon Hacker do not have the right to distribute Nikon's firmware (nor have we asked for permission). You will have to go to Nikon's website to get it.

Your download will either be a self-extracting archive (.exe, Windows) or a disk image (.dmg, Mac OS), depending on the operating system you choose on Nikon's web site. Mac OS includes software for viewing .dmg images natively. Extract the binary firmware file (.bin) that is located inside the image.

For Linux/Unix platforms, the firmware can be directly extracted from the Windows .exe with the terminal command unrar.

Apply patches with Nikon Patch

Computer Requirements

Nikon Patch uses Microsoft Silverlight to patch your firmware. This is a cross-platform application framework, which means you can run Nikon Patch on any operating system and web browser that Silverlight supports. The Nikon Patch web page will automatically detect whether Silverlight is installed; if it is not you will be see an image like the one on the right. Clicking on the image will take you to Microsoft's website to download Silverlight.

Systems Supported by Silverlight

Free Nikon Camera Manuals

• Windows 2000 or later
  • Browser: Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome
• Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.11 or later
  • Intel processor
  • Browser: Chrome (recommended), Firefox or Safari

Linux and Unix Options

Moonlight is an open-source implementation of Silverlight, primarily aimed at Linux and Unix, but is no longer being actively developed. The current solution is Pipelight, a wrapper that allows the Silverlight plugin for Windows to be used directly in Linux. 3 sweep software program. Alternatively, you may be able to beg, borrow or steal a friend's Windows/Mac machine for five minutes.

Using Nikon Patch

If Silverlight is installed correctly, the application on the Nikon Patch page will load as seen at the right. Click Select Firmware File, and select the .bin file that you extracted out of the archive or disk image from Nikon's website. (e.g. D5100_0102.bin for D5100 firmware, version 1.02)

Nikon Patch detects the camera and firmware version automatically, and will only display compatible patches. Patches with a red or green background are alpha and beta patches, that have only received limited testing (if any). You will be warned of this when saving patched firmware.

Note that some patches are mutually exclusive, and cannot be selected at the same time. As an example: you cannot select both NEF Compression Off and NEF Compression Lossless: only one of them (or neither!).

Having selected the patches you want, save the patched firmware on your computer, ready to be transferred to your camera's memory card.

Place Patched Firmware on the Memory Card

The patched firmware file Nikon Patch creates needs to be placed in the correct place, and with the correct name, for the camera to recognise it as a firmware update. The file should be given the same name as the Nikon firmware that you downloaded (e.g. D5100_102.bin for a D5100 using firmware v1.02). Rename the file if necessary, then place it in the root folder of your memory card.

Update Camera Firmware

Always use a fully charged battery or an AC adapter when updating any device's firmware!!!

Having placed the memory card in the camera, use the camera's menu to update its firmware (typically Menu Setup Firmware Version Update). See your camera's user guide if you are unsure.

When the update is complete, you may delete the .bin file from the memory card. Your camera's behaviour will now reflect the patches you selected.

Restoring Official Firmware

If you wish to remove the Nikon Patch firmware and revert to Nikon's official firmware you can do so easily. Simply download the official firmware, place on your memory card and update through the camera's menu, as you would with any official update.

See Also

• The Nikon Patch web page - apply your patches here!
• Patching Help - original step-by-step guide
• Patch limitations - listing of expected behaviour/bugs with patched firmware

All Nikon School online classes are free again from November 23rd – December 31st. The free classes were first introduced at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and now they are back for the holidays:

NIKON INC. IS OFFERING THE GIFT OF GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BY STREAMING ALL NIKON SCHOOL ONLINE CLASSES FREE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR

Learn How to Easily Capture Picture-Perfect Family Portraits and More!

MELVILLE, NY – It’s the season for giving, and Nikon is happy to announce that for a limited time, its popular Nikon School Online classes will be available free of charge starting today through the end of the year. From now until December 31, anyone can sharpen their photography skills at home with Nikon’s entertaining and engaging classes taught by world-class Nikon Ambassadors and photographers. A wide range of classes are available, including an all-new class for creating memorable holiday photos and videos, helping users step up their creativity just in time for the most festive time of the year.

“Nikon School Online classes are a great way to help anyone brush up on their photography skills and inspire them to capture and share their amazing photos and video with their friends and families this holiday season,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. “Whether celebrating the holidays at home among loved ones or joining together virtually, the power of imaging helps keep us connected, creative and inspired.”

How To Use Nikon Camera

Nikon’s newest class, “Better Holiday Photos with Nikon Ambassadors,” features an all-star cast of Nikon’s top creators, sharing their unique tips and creative techniques for getting in the holiday spirit and capturing one-of-a-kind photos and videos to share with family and friends. Learn how to create holiday cards that stand out, master basic lighting for the best portraits, capture stunning food photography, perfectly pose as a couple or family and see how simple it is to add festive and creative flair to your photos.

From emerging creators who just got their first camera to seasoned enthusiasts, Nikon School Online classes offer a variety of educational lessons for anyone to enhance their photography and videography skills as well as anyone ready to pick up a new hobby at home. The easy-to-follow classes are taught by world-renowned creatives and cover an array of topics to best capture different genres. Whether looking to learn to photograph stunning portraits, vast landscapes, your furry friends or make the leap into video capture, there is a Nikon school class ready to inspire and entertain creators on each topic.

To access the full list of online classes available to stream for free, visit: www.nikonusa.com/school.

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