Nikon Electronic Format
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Also known as
- NEF
- Nikon Image Format
- Nikon Digital SLR Camera Raw Image File
File extension(s)
.nef
Format registry information
Significant characteristics
See Significant characteristics of raster images
Preservation action plan
See Raw camera files
Preservation issues
- NEF is a proprietary format with an unpublished specification.
- NEF files can be very large - 70 MB or more.
- Library of Congress states that Adobe Digital Negative (DNG), Version 1.1 may be emerging as a standard preservation format for raw camera images.
- Adobe provides a free (but not open-source) Adobe DNG Converter designed for downloading to Windows or Mac computers.
- An open-source option for converting RAW image files to DNG is DigiKam DNGConverter.
- Library of Congress states that Adobe Digital Negative (DNG), Version 1.1 may be emerging as a standard preservation format for raw camera images.
Conversion test results
More information
- NEF is a raw (i.e. pre-processed) image format produced by Nikon cameras.
- Information on NEF files is available at Library of Congress Sustainability of Digital Formats: Camera Raw Formats.
- For more information on JPEG2000 see Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines: Archiving and Technology Watch Support:JPEG 2000 - a Practical Digital Preservation Standard? Digital Preservation Coalition 2008.