NEF

Nikon Digital SLR camera RAW image
File type: Digital camera RAW file
Files with nef extension can be mostly found as raw images saved in Nikon Electronic Format that is featured in all digital cameras and other devices produced by Nikon.
Found 2 different file type records with the same nef filename suffix.
What is nef file?
File type category:
Digital camera RAW file
Date updated: July 14, 2025
File extension nef is mainly used for Nikon Electronic Format which is primarily associated with the Nikon Digital SLR Camera raw images.
NEF file represens raw image format created by Nikon digital cameras and DSLRs. Raw images are basically the data as it comes directly from the CCD (charge-coupled device) sensor in the camera without any correction and image processing. Data is stored in 12-bit or 14-bit format.
How to open nef file?
NEF file format is supported by many bitmap editors and picture viewers, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, ACDSee or XnView. Also Nikon bundles ViewNX and Capnture NX-D photo management software together with their products.
How to convert nef file?
Bitmap editors like Adobe Photoshop or its clones, bitmap viewers (ACDSee or XnView) or photo management software like Adobe Ligtroom very often offer conversion support between bitmap file formats. You can use them to convert and resize the .nef files to another image format - most often to jpg.
Suggested software to open nef file:
Associated software actions with the nef file
Software applications that can open nef files:
ViewNX (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Microsoft Windows)
Zoner Photo Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
HDR Darkroom (Microsoft Windows)
PhotoFiltre Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Apple Aperture (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
darktable (Linux/Unix)
Software applications that can edit nef files:
ViewNX (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Microsoft Windows)
Zoner Photo Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
HDR Darkroom (Microsoft Windows)
PhotoFiltre Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Picture Information Extractor (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Apple Aperture (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
darktable (Linux/Unix)
Software capable of saving nef files:
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Programs for viewing nef files:
ViewNX (Microsoft Windows)
NEF Codec (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Microsoft Windows)
Zoner Photo Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Camera Codec Pack (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
HDR Darkroom (Microsoft Windows)
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)
FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Apple Aperture (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iPhoto (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
darktable (Linux/Unix)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software apps that import nef files:
ViewNX (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Microsoft Windows)
Zoner Photo Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe DNG Converter (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
HDR Darkroom (Microsoft Windows)
Magix Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
PhotoPlus (Microsoft Windows)
BatchPhoto (Microsoft Windows)
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
PhotoPhilia (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
Rawzor Photo (Microsoft Windows)
FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Apple Aperture (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
darktable (Linux/Unix)
XnConvert (Multiplatform)
Bio-Formats (Multiplatform)
Software apps that export nef files:
RAW2NEF (Microsoft Windows)
RAW2NEF for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Software apps that extract nef files:
Picture Information Extractor (Microsoft Windows)
Software apps that print nef files:
ViewNX (Microsoft Windows)
Nikon Capture NX-D (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Microsoft Windows)
Zoner Photo Studio (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
HDR Darkroom (Microsoft Windows)
ViewNX for Mac (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Apple Aperture (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iPhoto (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
darktable (Linux/Unix)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving nef files:
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (Microsoft Windows)
iPhoto (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Nero BackItUp encrypted data
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: August 14, 2019
The nef file extension is also used by Nero BackItUp, a program for Microsoft Windows operating system, which enables users to backup their sensitive data.
The nef file stores encrypted data by Nero BackItUp.
How to open nef file?
Use Nero BackItUp to open *.nef files.
How to convert nef file?
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Suggested software to open nef file:
Associated software actions with the nef file
Software applications that can open nef files:
Nero BackItUp (Microsoft Windows)
Software apps that create nef files:
Nero BackItUp (Microsoft Windows)
Software apps that extract nef files:
Nero BackItUp (Microsoft Windows)