NEF: conversion steps
- Upload your NEF file to start.
- Convert NEF to JPEG.
- Download the NEF file.
About NEF files
Nikon's camera RAW format
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) is the RAW format of Nikon cameras: the sensor data and the camera settings in a TIFF-based file.
Nikon DSLRs and Z-series mirrorless cameras; Nikon NX Studio and most RAW editors open it.
NEF: what conversion changes
Converting NEF develops RAW.
NEF: settings to change
Before you convert NEF files, you can adjust: Width, Height, Scale fit, Crop position, Never enlarge, Quality, Lossless, Progressive, Remove metadata, Auto-orient from EXIF, Rotate, and Background.
Limits of the NEF format
Nikon cameras can save NEF uncompressed, lossless compressed or lossy compressed, so two NEF files can hold different amounts of image data.
Common questions about NEF
Why do my Nikon NEF photos look flat and dull straight from the camera? RAW files skip the camera’s processing on purpose, so the picture is meant to be developed — converting to JPG applies the contrast and colour the RAW holds back.
Can Windows open NEF raw files? Windows requires Nikon's own codec or a third-party raw extension, while macOS recognises NEF through its system raw support. Android phones and browsers cannot open it, so a JPG or TIFF copy is what makes the photo viewable and shareable.