Re: What is NEF?

From: Reed Hutchinson (macreed@UCLA.EDU)
Date: Mon Mar 04 2002 - 19:59:38 CST

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    Message-Id: <200203050159.g251xgG17415@sitelicense.arizona.edu>
Date:         Mon, 4 Mar 2002 17:59:38 -0800
From: Reed Hutchinson <mailto:macreed@UCLA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: What is NEF?
To: mailto:IMAGELIB@listserv.arizona.edu

    <pre>
    >We hired a Nikon DIX to test it out on some exhibition photography and it's
    >come up with three file names: NEF, TIF, and JPG. I know what TIF and JPG
    >mean, but what is NEF - is this a new format from Nikon, or is it a
    >standard file type, and what is it's purpose? Sould we keep all three
    >files, or can we ditch the NEF file & just keep the TIF and the JPG.
    >
    >Examples of the three image sizes & resolutions are as follows (all shot
    >from same subject & lighting conditions):
    >
    >NEF - File size - 7.7 MB (8084216 bytes); image size 3008 x 1960;
    >resolution 600 x 600 dpi;
    >12 bits/channel.
    >
    >TIF: - File size 16.9 MB (17770948 bytes); image size: 3008 x 1960;
    >rsolution 300 x 300 dpi; 8 bits/channel.
    >
    >JPG - File size 2.0 MB (2095446 bytes); image size: 3008 x 1960;
    >resolution: 72 x 72 dpi; 8 bits/channel.
    >
    >
    >
    >Jan Murton
    >Slide Curator
    >Royal College of Art
    >Kensington Gore
    >London SW7 2EU
    >UK
    >
    >Tel: 020 7590 4226
    >Fax: 020 7590 4500 

    --
Jan,

    The NEF file format is Nikon's own proprietary one...

    It supposedly offers some advantages if you are going to use Nikon's
scanning software or image capture software to modify the files -
hence the 12bits/channel.

    However, as you've surmised, it's not a standard format, though I do
believe the newest version of photoshop may be able to open it.

    In the long run, you're better off with just the TIFF and JPEG's I
would suspect.

    Hope this helps,

    Reed Hutchinson
UCLA Digital Imaging Services
mailto:imaging@ucla.edu
www.uclaphoto.ucla.edu

    </pre>

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