NEF, short for Nikon Electronic Format, is a RAW file format used in Nikon cameras. The .NEF file extension contains all the details captured by the camera’s sensor, storing unprocessed image data and metadata. The format allows for flexible post-processing, as adjustments like white balance, sharpening, and tone are stored as metadata rather than applied directly to the image, preserving the original RAW data. NEF files can be saved as uncompressed or lossless compressed, allowing photographers to work with high-quality photos in their original form.
A CR2 file is a RAW image captured by a Canon digital camera based on the TIFF file specification. This format stores uncompressed, high-quality image data, making the files large but ideal for post-processing. The CR2 format replaced the older CRW format used by earlier Canon cameras. CR2 images can be opened with various programs, including free options like IrfanView and UFRaw and professional software like Adobe Lightroom and Canon's Digital Photo Professional.
To convert files from NEF to CR2 use an online tool that supports mass conversion, like Convertjack. Such a tool transforms single or bulk images at once to save time.
Go to Choose File, and select any NEF photos you want to convert. If you want to do a bulk conversion, click Choose File and select all the NEF pics you want to convert.
After uploading the NEF image, click the “Select Format” button at the center. A drop-down menu will pop up; select CR2.
On the bottom right corner of the display, click the “Convert” button. Your converted CR2 file will be ready for download.
Click the “Download” button on the right side of the CR2 file, and the converted image will be downloaded. If you convert multiple files, each file will have a “Download all” button in front of it, and you can click each button to download all the converted files.
To save a NEF file as a CR2 file, you first convert it to CR2 and then download it.
Instead of converting a file manually from NEF to CR2, use an online tool like Convertjack to convert the file without losing any details.
After converting the NEF file, Download the CR2 file and save it in the default folder for all your downloads on the desktop or mobile.
One of the advantages of CR2 is its ability to store high-quality image data for detailed editing. The main disadvantage of NEF is that its larger file size and raw, minimally processed nature make it less practical for storage, sharing, or quick access. Therefore, converting NEF images to CR2 is useful when there is a need to include more extensive metadata and use Canon's proprietary format for efficient raw image processing.