2. D850 Online Manual
  3. Image Recording Options
  4. Image Quality

Image Quality

The D850 supports the following image quality options.

NEF (RAW)

RAW data from the image sensor are saved without additional processing. Settings such as white balance and contrast can be adjusted after shooting.

File type: NEF
NEF (RAW)+JPEG fine/NEF (RAW)+JPEG fine

Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one fine-quality JPEG image.

File type: NEF/JPEG
NEF (RAW)+JPEG normal/NEF (RAW)+JPEG normal

Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one normal-quality JPEG image.

File type: NEF/JPEG
NEF (RAW)+JPEG basic/NEF (RAW)+JPEG basic

Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one basic-quality JPEG image.

File type: NEF/JPEG
JPEG fine/JPEG fine

Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 4 (fine quality).

File type: JPEG
JPEG normal/JPEG normal

Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 8 (normal quality).

File type: JPEG
JPEG basic/JPEG basic

Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 16 (basic quality).

File type: JPEG
TIFF (RGB)

Record uncompressed TIFF-RGB images at a bit depth of 8 bits per channel (24-bit color). TIFF is supported by a wide variety of imaging applications.

File type: TIFF (RGB)

Image quality is set by pressing the T button and rotating the main command dial until the desired setting is displayed in the control panel.

T button

Main command dial

JPEG Compression

Image quality options with a star (“”) use compression intended to ensure maximum quality; the size of the files varies with the scene. Options without a star use a type of compression designed to produce smaller files; files tend to be roughly the same size regardless of the scene recorded.

NEF+JPEG

When photographs taken at settings of NEF (RAW) + JPEG are viewed on the camera with only one memory card inserted, only the JPEG image will be displayed. If both copies are recorded to the same memory card, both copies will be erased when the photo is deleted. If the JPEG copy is recorded to a separate memory card using the Secondary slot function > RAW primary - JPEG secondary option, each copy must be deleted separately.

The Image Quality Menu

Image quality can also be adjusted using the Image quality option in the photo shooting menu (0 Image Quality).

See Also

For information on the number of pictures that can be stored at different image quality and size settings, see “Memory Card Capacity” (0 Memory Card Capacity).

NEF (RAW) Compression

To choose the type of compression for NEF (RAW) images, highlight NEF (RAW) recording > NEF (RAW) compression in the photo shooting menu and press 2.

NLossless compressed
NEF images are compressed using a reversible algorithm, reducing file size by about 20–40% with no effect on image quality.
OCompressed
NEF images are compressed using a non-reversible algorithm, reducing file size by about 35–55% with almost no effect on image quality.
Uncompressed
NEF images are not compressed.

NEF (RAW) Bit Depth

To choose a bit depth for NEF (RAW) images, highlight NEF (RAW) recording > NEF (RAW) bit depth in the photo shooting menu and press 2.

q12-bit
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit-depth of 12 bits.
rCompressed
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit depth of 14 bits, producing files larger than those with a bit depth of 12 bits but increasing the color data recorded.

NEF (RAW) Images

JPEG copies of NEF (RAW) images can be created using NX Studio or other software or the NEF (RAW) processing option in the retouch menu (0 NEF (RAW) Processing).