Image
What is a .nef file?
A .nef file is a Nikon Digital SLR Camera Raw Image File. This is an image format — a picture, drawing or graphic.
How to open a .nef file
- GIMP (free) and IrfanView open a very wide range of image formats, including obsolete ones.
- XnView MP is the best bet for unusual or legacy image types.
- Your operating system's built-in viewer may work for mainstream formats.
The registry records this extension against Nikon Digital SLR Camera Raw Image File, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .nef file
- Open it in GIMP or XnView and export as .png (lossless) or .jpg (smaller).
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .nef.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Digital SLR Camera Raw Image File | — | — | fmt/202 |