Choose a compression type and bit depth for NEF (RAW) photographs.

NEF (RAW) Compression

Option

Description

N

[Lossless compressed]

NEF pictures are compressed using a reversible algorithm. The resulting files are about 60% to 80% the size of pictures recorded using [Uncompressed]. Image quality is the same as pictures recorded using [Uncompressed].

O

[Compressed]

NEF images are compressed using a non-reversible algorithm. The resulting files are about 45% to 65% the size of pictures recorded using [Uncompressed]. Image quality is nearly the same as pictures recorded using [Uncompressed].

[Uncompressed]

NEF pictures are not compressed; the resulting files are larger than those for pictures recorded using [Lossless compressed] or [Compressed].

NEF (RAW) Bit Depth

Option

Description

q

[12-bit]

NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit depth of 12 bits.

r

[14-bit]

NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit depth of 14 bits. Files recorded at a bit depth of 14 bits contain more color data than pictures recorded using [12-bit]. Files recorded at a bit depth of 14 bits are also larger than pictures recorded using [12-bit].