For RAW shooter of Nikon D200...

What NEF quality do you use? And why do you use it?


Me, I always thought that using uncompressed NEF will give me better photo details than that of a compressed NEF. Also, it is possible to recover blown hi-lights using Nikon Capture 4.4 when you are using uncompressed NEF.


Although, I never tried to recover blown hi-lights. :D


I am aware that using compressed NEF will reduce the NEF file size to 40-50%


What say you? :)

Haven't done enough research on compressed RAW so I still shoot uncompressed.

I used to shoot with uncompressed raw but then the files were too big and becomes cumbersome. The compressed version works well with me since if I always check my LCD for the highlights then shoot again if necessary to eliminate it.

compressed.. just because i only have a few cards and not enough space (no laptop, secondhand storage) if i had cards to spare... i would definitely use uncompressed

Uncompressed, because to my knowledge, it retains the details better. :)

I don't think there's a difference in quality in Compressed vs. Uncompressed. AFAIK, Nikon's compression algorithm is a lossless algorithm, so no lost bits.

Compressed, you can hardly tell the difference in print, specially if you nailed your exposure at the point of capture. :) Plus the added benefit of an archival quality file in a smaller package...

Compressed for me as well. I don't think you will see a difference unless the print is really huge.

uncompressed as i am still experimenting with my camera

I'm using compressed NEF. It's enough for my needs. ;)

The only difference that an uncompressed NEF have over the compressed NEF is better highlight recovery possibility. Compressed NEF rounds some numbers from the highlight detail thus makes the file significantly smaller than the uncompressed NEF.