Image Recording Options (Image Area, Quality, and Size)

Adjusting Image Area Settings
Adjusting Image Quality
Choosing an Image Size

Adjusting Image Area Settings

Image area settings can be displayed by selecting [Image area] in the photo shooting menu.

Choose Image Area

Choose the image area. The following options are available:

Option		Description
c	[FX (36×24)]	Images are recorded in FX format with an angle of view equivalent to a NIKKOR lens on a 35 mm format camera.
a	[DX (24×16)]	Images are recorded in DX format. To calculate the approximate focal length of the lens in 35 mm format, multiply by 1.5.
m	[1:1 (24×24)]	Pictures are recorded with an aspect ratio of 1 : 1.
Z	[16:9 (36×20)]	Pictures are recorded with an aspect ratio of 16 : 9.

1	FX (36×24)
2	DX (24×16)
3	1 : 1 (24×24)

4	16 : 9 (36×20)
5	DX format (24×16) image circle
6	FX format (36×24) image circle

DX Lenses

DX lenses are designed for use with DX format cameras and have a smaller angle of view than lenses for 35 mm format cameras. If [Auto DX crop] is off and an option other than [DX (24 × 16)] (DX format) is selected for [Choose image area] when a DX lens is attached, the edges of the image may be eclipsed. This may not be apparent in the viewfinder, but when the images are played back you may notice a drop in resolution or that the edges of the picture are blacked out.

Choosing the Image Area via Buttons and Command Dials

If [Choose image area] has been assigned to a button using Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls], the image area can be selected by pressing the button and rotating a command dial.

The selected crop is displayed in the viewfinder (Choose Image Area).
The option currently selected for image area can be displayed in the control panel and viewfinder by pressing the button to which [Choose image area] is assigned.

Image area	Display
[FX (36×24)]
[DX (24×16)]
[1 : 1 (24×24)]
[16 : 9 (36×20)]

Camera controls cannot be used to select image area when a DX lens is attached and [Auto DX crop] is on.

Image Size

Image size varies with the option selected for image area.

[Auto DX Crop]

Choose whether the camera automatically selects the [DX (24×16)] (DX format) image area when a DX lens is attached.

Option	Description
[On]	The camera automatically selects the [DX (24×16)] (DX format) image area when a DX lens is attached.
[Off]	Automatic image-area selection disabled.

The Viewfinder Mask Display

If [On] is selected, the area outside crop ([FX (36×24)] excepted) will be shown in gray in the viewfinder.

Adjusting Image Quality

Choose the image quality option used when photographs are recorded.

Option	Description
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG finem]	Record two copies of each photo: an NEF (RAW) image and a JPEG copy. For the JPEG copy, you can choose from options prioritizing image quality or file size. Options with a star (“m”) prioritize image quality, those without a star (“m”) file size. Only the JPEG copy is displayed during playback. The NEF (RAW) image can only be viewed using a computer. Deleting the JPEG copy from the camera also deletes the NEF (RAW) image.
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine]
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG normalm]
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal]
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG basicm]
[NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic]
[NEF (RAW)]	Record photos in NEF (RAW) format.
[JPEG finem]	Record photos in JPEG format. ”Fine” produces higher quality pictures than ”normal” and ”normal” higher quality pictures than “basic”. Choose options with m to maximize quality, options without m to ensure that all images have more or less the same file size.
[JPEG fine]
[JPEG normalm]
[JPEG normal]
[JPEG basicm]
[JPEG basic]

NEF (RAW)

NEF (RAW) image files (extension “*.nef”) contain the raw data output from the image sensor.
Using Nikon’s ViewNX‑i or Capture NX‑D software, you can adjust and re-adjust settings such as exposure compensation and white balance as often as you please without degrading image quality, making this format ideal for photos that will be processed in multiple different ways. ViewNX‑i and Capture NX‑D are available free-of-charge from the Nikon Download Center.
The process of converting NEF (RAW) images to other formats such as JPEG is referred to as “NEF (RAW) processing”. You can save NEF (RAW) images in other formats using the ViewNX‑i and Capture NX‑D computer applications or the [NEF (RAW) processing] option in the camera retouch menu.

Choosing an Image Quality Option

During viewfinder photography, you can choose an image quality option by holding the X (T) button and rotating the main command dial.

The Photo Shooting Menu [Image Quality] Option

Image quality can also be adjusted using the [Image quality] item in the photo shooting menu. Use the [Image quality] item in the photo shooting menu to adjust image quality during live view.

Recording Pictures to Two Memory Cards

If [RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2] is selected for [Role played by card in Slot 2] when photographs are taken at image quality settings of NEF (RAW) + JPEG, the NEF (RAW) copy will be saved to the card in Slot 1 and the JPEG copy to the card in Slot 2.

Choosing an Image Size

Choose a size for new JPEG pictures. The size for JPEG pictures can be selected from [Large], [Medium], and [Small]. The number of pixels in the image varies with the option selected for image area ( Adjusting Image Area Settings ).

Image area	Option	Size (pixels)	Print size (cm/in.) ^*
[FX (36×24)] (FX format)	Large	6048 × 4024	51.2 × 34.1/20.2 × 13.4
	Medium	4528 × 3016	38.3 × 25.5/15.1 × 10.1
	Small	3024 × 2016	25.6 × 17.1/10.1 × 6.7
[DX (24×16)] (DX format)	Large	3936 × 2624	33.3 × 22.2/13.1 × 8.7
	Medium	2944 × 1968	24.9 × 16.7/9.8 × 6.6
	Small	1968 × 1312	16.7 × 11.1/6.6 × 4.4
[1 : 1 (24×24)]	Large	4016 × 4016	34.0 × 34.0/13.4 × 13.4
	Medium	3008 × 3008	25.5 × 25.5/10.0 × 10.0
	Small	2000 × 2000	16.9 × 16.9/6.7 × 6.7
[16 : 9 (36×20)]	Large	6048 × 3400	51.2 × 28.8/20.2 × 11.3
	Medium	4528 × 2544	38.3 × 21.5/15.1 × 8.5
	Small	3024 × 1696	25.6 × 14.4/10.1 × 5.7

Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi. Print size in inches equals image size in pixels divided by printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi; 1 inch = approximately 2.54 cm).

Choosing an Image Size

During viewfinder photography, you can choose the image size by holding the X (T) button and rotating the sub-command dial.

The Photo Shooting Menu [Image Size] Option

Image size for JPEG images can also be adjusted using the [Image size] item in the photo shooting menu. Use the [Image size] item in the photo shooting menu to adjust image size during live view.