ARW to NEF Converter

Encoding: the ARW uses Sony's lossy compressed raw, uncompressed (since the A7R II) or lossless compressed (since the A1); NEF uses uncompressed, lossless compressed, lossy compressed, or High Efficiency on recent Z bodies, and the download is a Linear DNG: demosaiced 8-bit RGB with the colour matrices raw editors need.

Bit depth: 12 or 14 bits per channel in the ARW; NEF allows 12 or 14 bits per channel, and the DNG written here has 8 bits per channel, linearised. The sensor's 12 or 14 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.

Colour: camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic in the ARW; NEF supports camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic, written here as 8-bit sRGB.

Metadata: the ARW can carry EXIF, Sony maker notes, a thumbnail and a full-size JPEG; NEF can carry EXIF and Nikon maker notes, partly encrypted, plus a thumbnail and a larger preview, but nothing is copied across.

ARW is the raw format of Sony Alpha, RX and Cyber-shot cameras. It stores the sensor data (compressed, uncompressed or lossless compressed, depending on the model) with a full-size JPEG preview.

ARW is TIFF-based: the first directory carries EXIF and Sony's JPEG preview and the sensor data sits in a sub-directory. In Sony's classic compressed raw each block of 16 same-colour pixels keeps an 11-bit maximum and minimum plus 7-bit steps for the rest, which can leave artefacts beside high-contrast edges.

ARW files usually come from Sony Alpha mirrorless and SLT cameras, RX compacts and some Cyber-shot models.

NEF is the raw format of Nikon cameras, from the D1 to the current Z series. It stores 12 or 14-bit sensor data, uncompressed or compressed, with a JPEG preview the camera renders using its Picture Control.

NEF is TIFF-based: the first directory usually holds a small thumbnail, and sub-directories hold the sensor data and, on current bodies, a full-size JPEG preview. Nikon's maker notes are a TIFF structure of their own, and since the D2X their white-balance block is encrypted with a key derived from the camera's serial number and shutter count.

NEF files come from Nikon DSLRs (D-series) and Z-series mirrorless cameras.

Forms and workflows that ask for NEF usually feed a raw editor, and each of those opens DNG as well, so the DNG can take the NEF's place. Keep the ARW if you only need to view or share the picture.

What NEF offers when it comes straight from the camera: Lossless compressed mode with no data loss; Picture Control recorded so Nikon NX Studio can reapply it; 12 or 14-bit sensor data. Its drawbacks: Partly encrypted maker notes; The lossy compressed mode discards some sensor data; Large files on high-resolution Z bodies.