Nikon D300 User Manual page 121

NEF (RAW) Image Quality Format
The Nikon NEF proprietary format stores raw image data
directly to the camera's memory card. Most of the time,
photographers refer to a NEF file simply as a RAW file.
These RAW files can easily be recognized because the file
name ends with NEF. This is not an image format used in
day-to-day graphical work (like JPEG) and it's not yet really
even an image. Instead, it's a base storage format used to
store images for conversion to another file format ending in
JPG, TIF, EPS, or PNG. Other than initial compression—if
selected in NEF (RAW) recording—it stores all available
image data and can be easily manipulated later.
You must use conversion software, such as the included
Nikon Software Suite, Nikon ViewNX, Nikon Capture NX2,
Adobe Lightroom, or Adobe Photoshop, to later convert your
NEF format RAW files into other formats. There are also
several after market RAW conversion applications available,
such as Bibble, Capture One, and PhaseOne.
Before you go out shooting in the NEF (RAW) format, why
not install your conversion software of choice so that you'll
be able to view, adjust, and save the images to another format
when you return?
You may not be able to view NEF files directly on your
computer unless you have RAW conversion software
installed. Some operating systems provide a downloadable
"patch" or "codec" that lets you at least see NEF files as small
thumbnails. Do a Google search on these specific words and
you'll find a Microsoft Windows XP patch for NEF (RAW)
files: "microsoft raw thumbnail viewer download". You'll be
able to download a file called RAWViewerSetup.exe (about
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