NEF – Nikon RAW vs JPEG files
I recently posted the query below to the Nikon Discussion List (a list with quite a number of experienced Nikon users; the list offers email, web or RSS interfaces):
I tried searching for this with no luck. After reviewing the manuals for my Nikon gear (D200 & 8800) and some experimenting I am just looking for confirmation.
Based on the manuals, if you select many of the in-camera image ‘optimization’ (i.e. D200 Optimize image: Normal, softer, vivid, more vivid, custom,etc.) settings (at least for the camera models above) then the in-camera enhancements are limited by file types - I am looking for confirmation that:
- RAW files - are *never* tweaked/adjusted by such settings? (i.e. .NEF files are always ~equivalent to film negatives – simply reflecting basiccamera settings from the capture, ie.. ISO, shutter, aperture, WB, etc.)
- does the JPEG embedded preview embedded in the RAW file reflect ‘optimized’ settings?
- only JPEG/Tiff/other? file types are affected by such settings?
- something else/additional info on this?
For many photo sessions I will shoot RAW+JPEG (currently using ALR, CSx/Bridge.) I have seen web postings that indicate that only Nikon software will properly render these optimizations from RAW files?
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My summary from the responses (which confirmed what I thought about Nikon NEF/JPEG generated files):
1) NEF (RAW) Nikon files are not directly affected by in-camera optimization settings (at least for relatively recent Digital cameras from Nikon.)
2) JPEG images do reflect in-camera ‘enhancement’ options (saturation, hue, sharpness, other image ‘quality’ options that you can configure using camera settings); the in-camera processing will apply these changes as the files are saved to storage.
3) A guess – each NEF (RAW) file includes an embedded JPEG preview image – I am guessing that this embedded image also reflects optimized settings – can anyone confirm?
Also, for standard camera settings, NEFS & JPEGS contain the same EXIF data for ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc.
If you shoot ‘optimized JPEG’ + RAW then you may get ‘double goodness’ – at least that’s how I see it; I can have a very close to ready-to-use JPEG without too much editing and the the RAW file is available if needed. Note that the options for RAW+JPEG may vary between camera models – in some instances you have to choose between RAW or optimized JPEG (i.e. older model Coolpix like the 8800.)
An additional note – I previosly found that some image editing software will alter RAW files (i.e. tinker with your negative!) and this includes prior versions of Nikon software – which would update the embedded JPEG in NEF files (not sure if current versions do this); just something to consider before you start editing your RAW files. Newer versions of digital photo editing software tend to treat (or give you an option to treat) your RAW or JPEG files as negatives – no changes are made to the file; instead instruction ’sets’ are created and a new image is ‘rendered’ by the software (i.e. Adobe Lightroom 2 and Adobe Photoshop CS4.) If there is any doubt about this or if you are concerned about having your negatives auto-adjusted then simply create a backup BEFORE doing any editing. If you use some of the auto-import features then there is also a chance that these tools may be altering your negatives…
Note that when you print an image you are NOT printing the RAW (.nef) file – you are printing an image that your software converts from the RAW format to either JPEG or some other, non-RAW format (i.e. .PSD, .TIFF, .BMP, etc.) You may also be interested in my post about ink-jet Photo Printing using Adobe products.
