Nikon allows users to write NEF files to the memory card in uncompressed, compressed, or lossless compressed form. NEF files, in particular, retain 12-bit or 14-bit data, making their tonal range superior to standard image file formats, which usually retain only 8-bit data. And just like real negatives, NEF files have a wide dynamic range for preserving as much detail about the captured scene as possible. That’s why all RAW files are sometimes called “digital negatives”. RAW files, such as NEF files, have to be first processed using a specialized software.
Such files can be instantly printed, shared, or viewed on any device.
What are RAW file formats, you ask? RAW file formats are special formats used primarily by manufacturers of digital cameras to store all the image information that the camera sensor can capture.ĭigital cameras that don’t support this file format have to first process the image information before they store it as a conventional image file. NEF is an abbreviation for Nikon Electronic Format, which is a RAW file format exclusive to Nikon cameras.
