Nikon D300 User Manual page 85

The NEF (RAW) Recording Menu: NEF (RAW) Bit Depth
The [NEF (RAW) recording] > [NEF (RAW) bit depth] item in the
shooting menu offers the following bit-depth options for NEF
(RAW) images:
Option
12-bit
q
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit-depth of 12 bits.
(default)
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit-depth of 14 bits,
producing files roughly 1.3 times larger than 12-bit files
r 14-bit
but increasing the color data recorded. Maximum frame
advance rate (pg. 77) falls to 2.5 fps.
A
NEF (RAW) Images
Note that the option selected for image size does not affect the size of
NEF (RAW) images. When opened in ViewNX version 1.2.0 or later or other
compatible software such as Capture NX version 1.3.5 or later or
Capture NX 2 version 2.1.0 or later (available separately), NEF (RAW)
images have the dimensions given for large ([L]-size) images.
Description
d
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