2. Z 9 Reference Guide
  3. Shooting Settings
  4. Image Recording Options (Image Area, Quality, and Size)

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

Adjusting Image Area Settings

At default settings, image area can be selected by holding the Fn2 button and rotating a command dial.

  • 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)]

Record pictures in FX format with an angle of view equivalent to a 35 mm format camera.

a

[DX (24×16)]

Pictures are recorded in DX format. To calculate the approximate focal length of the lens in 35 mm format, multiply by 1.5.

  • Image-area selection is fixed at [DX (24×16)] when a DX lens is attached.

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)

DX Crop Alert

If [ON] is selected for this option in the camera menus, the image area icon in the shooting display will flash when DX (24×16) is selected.

Adjusting Image Quality

Choose the image quality option used when photographs are recorded.

Choosing an Image Quality Option

Hold the T button and rotate 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.

Option

Description

[RAW + JPEG finem]

Record two copies of each photo: an NEF (RAW) picture and a JPEG copy.

  • For the JPEG copy, you can choose from options prioritizing image quality or file size. Choose options with a star (“m”) to maximize image quality. Choose options without a star (“m”) to ensure that the JPEG copies all have more or less the same file size.

  • Only the JPEG copy is displayed during playback. If only one memory card was inserted in the camera when the photos were recorded, the NEF (RAW) copies can only be viewed using a computer.

  • If the photo was recorded with only one memory card inserted or with [Overflow] or [Backup] selected for [Role played by card in Slot 2] and two memory cards inserted, deleting the JPEG copy on the camera will also delete the NEF (RAW) picture.

[RAW + JPEG fine]

[RAW + JPEG normalm]

[RAW + JPEG normal]

[RAW + JPEG basicm]

[RAW + JPEG basic]

[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 a star (“m”) to maximize image quality. Choose options without a star (“m”) to ensure that the JPEG copies all have more or less the same file size.

[JPEG fine]

[JPEG normalm]

[JPEG normal]

[JPEG basicm]

[JPEG basic]
NEF (RAW)

  • NEF (RAW) files have the extension “*.nef”.

  • The process of converting NEF (RAW) pictures to other highly-portable formats such as JPEG is referred to as “NEF (RAW) processing”. During this process, Picture Controls and settings such as exposure compensation and white balance can be freely adjusted.

  • The RAW data themselves are unaffected by NEF (RAW) processing and their quality will remain intact even if the pictures are processed multiple times at different settings.

  • NEF (RAW) processing can be performed using [Retouch] > [RAW processing (current picture)] or [RAW processing (multiple pictures)] in the playback i menu or on a computer using Nikon’s NX Studio software. NX Studio is available free-of-charge from the Nikon Download Center.

“NEF (RAW) + JPEG”

If [RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2] is selected for [Role played by card in Slot 2], the NEF (RAW) copies will be recorded to the card in Slot 1 and the JPEG copies to the card in Slot 2 (Role Played by 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].

Choosing an Image Size

Hold the T button and rotate the sub-command dial.

The Photo Shooting Menu [Image Size] Item

Image size can also be adjusted using the [Image size] item in the photo shooting menu.

The number of pixels in the picture varies with the option selected for image area (Adjusting Image Area Settings).

Image area

Image size

Size when printed at 300 dpi

[FX (36×24)]

Large (8256 × 5504 pixels)

Approx. 69.9 × 46.6 cm/ 27.5 × 18.3 in.

Medium (6192 × 4128 pixels)

Approx. 52.4 × 35.0 cm/ 20.6 × 13.8 in.

Small (4128 × 2752 pixels)

Approx. 35.0 × 23.3 cm/ 13.8 × 9.2 in.

[DX (24×16)]

Large (5392 × 3592 pixels)

Approx. 45.7 × 30.4 cm/ 18.0 × 12.0 in.

Medium (4032 × 2688 pixels)

Approx. 34.1 × 22.8 cm/ 13.4 × 9.0 in.

Small (2688 × 1792 pixels)

Approx. 22.8 × 15.2 cm/ 9.0 × 6.0 in.

[1:1 (24×24)]

Large (5504 × 5504 pixels)

Approx. 46.6 × 46.6 cm/ 18.3 × 18.3 in.

Medium (4128 × 4128 pixels)

Approx. 35.0 × 35.0 cm/ 13.8 × 13.8 in.

Small (2752 × 2752 pixels)

Approx. 23.3 × 23.3 cm/ 9.2 × 9.2 in.

[16:9 (36×20)]

Large (8256 × 4640 pixels)

Approx. 69.9 × 39.3 cm/ 27.5 × 15.5 in.

Medium (6192 × 3480 pixels)

Approx. 52.4 × 29.5 cm/ 20.6 × 11.6 in.

Small (4128 × 2320 pixels)

Approx. 35.0 × 19.6 cm/ 13.8 × 7.7 in.
Print Size

Print size in inches equals image size in pixels divided by printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi; 1 inch = 2.54 cm).