Opening NEF Files

The NEF file type is primarily associated with ViewNX.

NEF	File extension: NEF
	File type:	raw image

What is a NEF file?

NEF files mostly belong to ViewNX by Nikon. NEF files usually contain RAW images captured with single or double-lens reflex digital cameras manufactured by Nikon. The image in a NEF file consists of lossless or lossy-compressed graphical data captured by the image sensor of the camera and saved in Nikon Electronic Format. The file also contains metadata such as Exif data, timestamps, settings, and camera model. Because NEF images are saved as RAW images, they do not undergo in-camera processing of the hue, alpha, or white balance. NEF format is based on TIFF/EP (Tagged Image File Format for Electronic Photography). Hence, NEF images may contain custom tags. One of such tags is the tag which defines what version of TIFF/EP format is used to save a NEF image. ViewNX, Photos, Preview, AfterShot, and Photoshop support NEF image format. BackItUp file backup program saves encrypted data in a different type of NEF files.

How to open a NEF file

You need a suitable software like ViewNX to open a NEF file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your NEF file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a NEF file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online NEF File Viewer

Choose your .nef file to view this image

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to convert a NEF file to JPG, PDF, HTML, DOC, ...

1. Just click the "Choose your .nef file to view this image" button on this page.
2. After your file is opened in browser,
3. click "Save as..." in the menu.
4. Then click the file format (e.g. PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
5. Your file will be converted and downloaded.

NEF file format:

Each file has a definite file format, that is, how the stored data is arranged in the file. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. Our examination of the NEF files comes to the following conclusion:

The NEF file extension is quite common and includes different formats for the applicable programs. The two most popular formats are as follows:

• 50% of all NEF files are based on the popular TIFF file format. TIFF is short for Tagged Image File Format. It stores raster graphics images that support color depths from 1 to 24-bit, lossy and lossless compression and multiple layers and pages. They consist of illegible, cryptic characters. The file size is in the range of 19 MB to 31 MB. The file type is relatively new.
• 40% of all NEF files are Nikon raw image files, which are based on the TIFF file format. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. The file size is in the range of 5 MB to 24 MB. Files like these are about nikon.

The remaining 10% of all NEF files are files with no common format, the following 3 formats exist: JetDB. They are often associated with message or manager. If you want to find out what your NEF file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.