Image recording options (image area, quality, and 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)]	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.

Changing image quality

Use the [Image quality] item in the photo shooting menu to choose the image quality option employed when photographs are recorded.

Option	Description
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF finem]	Record two copies of each photo: an NEF (RAW) picture and either a JPEG or HEIF copy. When [SDR] is selected for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu, the camera will record an NEF (RAW) picture and a JPEG copy. When [HLG] is selected for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu, the camera will record an NEF (RAW) picture and an HEIF copy. The highest-quality JPEG and HEIF copies are produced by options ending in “fine m”, with quality progressively declining through “fine”, “normal m”, “normal”, “basic m”, and “basic”. The camera displays only the JPEG or HEIF copy of dual-format pictures taken with one memory card inserted. If the photo was recorded with only one memory card inserted or with [Overflow] or [Backup] selected for [Secondary slot function] in the photo shooting menu and two memory cards inserted, deleting the JPEG or HEIF copy on the camera will also delete the NEF (RAW) picture.
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF fine]
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF normalm]
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF normal]
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF basicm]
[RAW + JPEG/HEIF basic]
[RAW]	Record photos in NEF (RAW) format.
[JPEG/HEIF finem]	The highest-quality pictures are produced by [JPEG/HEIF finem], with quality progressively declining through [JPEG/HEIF fine], [JPEG/HEIF normalm], [JPEG/HEIF normal], [JPEG/HEIF basicm], and [JPEG/HEIF basic]. Photos are recorded in JPEG format when [SDR] is selected for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu. Photos are recorded in HEIF when [HLG] is selected for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu.
[JPEG/HEIF fine]
[JPEG/HEIF normalm]
[JPEG/HEIF normal]
[JPEG/HEIF basicm]
[JPEG/HEIF basic]

NEF (RAW)

RAW files have the extension “*.nef”.
The process of converting RAW files to JPEG and other widely-supported formats is referred to as “RAW processing”. A variety of settings can be adjusted during this process, including exposure compensation, white balance, and Picture Controls.
RAW processing has no effect on the original RAW data, meaning that it can be repeated as often and using as many different combinations of settings as desired while maintaining image quality.
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/HEIF”

If [RAW primary - JPEG secondary] or [RAW primary - HEIF secondary] is selected for [Secondary slot function] in the photo shooting menu, the NEF (RAW) copies will be recorded to the card in the primary slot and the JPEG or HEIF copies to the card in the secondary slot (Secondary slot function).

Choosing an image size

Use [Image size settings] in the photo shooting menu to choose a size for new photographs.

Image size

Choose a size for new JPEG and HEIF pictures. The size for photographs recorded in formats other than NEF (RAW) can be chosen from [Large], [Medium], and [Small].

NEF (RAW) pictures are recorded at a size of [Large].

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

Image area	Image size	Size (cm/in.) when printed at 300 dpi
[FX (36×24)]	Large (6048 × 4032 pixels)	Approx. 51.2 × 34.1 cm/20.2 × 13.4 in.
	Medium (4528 × 3024 pixels)	Approx. 38.3 × 25.6 cm/15.1 × 10.1 in.
	Small (3024 × 2016 pixels)	Approx. 25.6 × 17.1 cm/10.1 × 6.7 in.
[DX (24×16)]	Large (3984 × 2656 pixels)	Approx. 33.7 × 22.5 cm/13.3 × 8.9 in.
	Medium (2976 × 1992 pixels)	Approx. 25.2 × 16.9 cm/9.9 × 6.6 in.
	Small (1984 × 1328 pixels)	Approx. 16.8 × 11.2 cm/6.6 × 4.4 in.
[1:1 (24×24)]	Large (4032 × 4032 pixels)	Approx. 34.1 × 34.1 cm/13.4 × 13.4 in.
	Medium (3024 × 3024 pixels)	Approx. 25.6 × 25.6 cm/10.1 × 10.1 in.
	Small (2016 × 2016 pixels)	Approx. 17.1 × 17.1 cm/6.7 × 6.7 in.
[16:9 (36×20)]	Large (6048 × 3400 pixels)	Approx. 51.2 × 28.8 cm/20.2 × 11.3 in.
	Medium (4528 × 2544 pixels)	Approx. 38.3 × 21.5 cm/15.1 × 8.5 in.
	Small (3024 × 1696 pixels)	Approx. 25.6 × 14.4 cm/10.1 × 5.7 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).

Enable DX image sizes

Selecting [ON] allows the size for photos taken using the [DX (24×16)] image area to be chosen separately from that for pictures taken using other image areas. The size for photos taken using the [DX (24×16)] image area can be chosen using [Image size (DX)].

Image size (DX)

Choose the size of photographs taken using the [DX (24×16)] image area when [ON] is selected for [Enable DX image sizes].

Regardless of the option selected, NEF (RAW) pictures will be recorded at a size of [Large].