Nikon NEF Codec

Nikon NEF Codec is a multimedia graphics plugin that will not serve a large population of Windows OS users, but for the owners of the professional Nikon Corporation photo cameras, it will be a time-saving solution that will enable a fully-integrated way of handling RAW image files recorded in the Nikon proprietary NEF format.

In the simplest way, with the installation of this graphics codec pack, the management of NEF images should become identical as with the handling of popular common graphics formats such as BMP, JPG, PNG, and TIFF.

NEF file format is used by Nikon cameras to create image files of very high quality, enabling professional photographers to capture even tiniest details, while still leaving plenty of opportunities left to adjust that image in other professional applications. However, while NEF images can be manipulated by such image editing programs quite easily, the Windows OS cannot load and view them without external plugins. Nikon also supplies a standalone NEF viewer app called ViewNX.

With Nikon NEF Codec, regular Windows image viewers and editors such as Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Live Photo Gallery, and Windows Photo Viewer can now not only load NEF files, but they can also display previews and showcase thumbnails straight inside Windows Explorer!

Features and Highlights

• Enable your Windows PC to take full control over the proprietary NEF RAW image format from Nikon.
• One-stop solution for full compatibility with built-in Windows image viewers and editors.
• Organize your NEF image files without the need to load them into proprietary programs provided by Nikon.
• One installation package covers compatibility with every Windows OS version after Windows XP.
• Updated regularly to extend compatibility with the newest Nikon cameras and Windows OS releases.
• 100% FREE!

Installation and Use

Even though this codec pack is focused only on one specific multimedia format, the installation package comes in at over 120MB in size. This large size is needed to provide 100% compatibility with RAW image files created on Nikon cameras that were produced over the last several decades, and also to provide compatibility with all the supported versions of Windows (XP, 7, Vista, 8 and 10).

Thankfully, the installation procedure follows standard steps, requiring you to confirm on-screen instructions and leave the app to do the work by itself. After the installation is finished, it is recommended to fully restart your PC.

With the installation done, all the built-in Windows apps will gain the ability to load and showcase NEF image files.

What’s New with Version 1.31.0

Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Live Photo Gallery, and Windows Photo Viewer now display the previews embedded in NEF (RAW) images.

System requirements

Windows 11, Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Digital SLR cameras

D6, D5, D4S, D4, D3X, D3S, D3, D2XS, D2X, D2HS, D2H, D1X, D1H, D1, D90, D80, D70S, D70, D60, D50, D40X, D40, D850, D810A, D810, D800E, D800, D780, D750, D700, D610, D600, D500, D300S, D300, D200, D100, D7500, D7200, D7100, D7000, D5600, D5500, D5300, D5200, D5100, D5000, D3500, D3400, D3300, D3200, D3100, D3000, Df

Mirrorless cameras

Z 7II, Z 6II, Z 7, Z 6, Z 5, Z 50

Advanced interchangeable lens cameras

Nikon 1 J5, Nikon 1 J4, Nikon 1 J3, Nikon 1 J2, Nikon 1 J1, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 V2, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 S1, Nikon 1 AW1

Compact digital cameras

COOLPIX A, COOLPIX 8800, COOLPIX 8700, COOLPIX 8400, COOLPIX 5700, COOLPIX 5400, COOLPIX 5000

PROS

• Seamless integration with Windows OS.
• Enables preview and thumbnail display in Windows Explorer.
• Supports a wide range of Nikon cameras and Windows versions.
• Regular updates for compatibility.
• Free of charge.

CONS

• Large installation size (over 120MB).
• Limited usefulness for non-Nikon camera users.
• Dependency on external plugin for Windows to handle NEF files.