Convert NEF to AVIF Online — Nikon RAW to AVIF
Convert Nikon NEF to modern AVIF. Supports Z9, Z8, Z6, D850, and more.
Drop up to 50 NEF files at once — no install, no sign-up required.
Drop NEF Files Here
Encrypted EU Servers Auto-delete 1h
How it works
- 1 · Drop your files
Drag & drop or choose Nikon NEF RAW files. No account required on Free—paid plans unlock bigger batches, higher limits, and priority queues.
- 2 · We convert securely
Processed on dedicated servers. Encrypted in transit & at rest. EXIF metadata stripped by default.
- 3 · Download & auto-delete
Grab your AVIF files in seconds. Files auto-delete after 1 hour.
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) is Nikon's proprietary RAW image format used by all Nikon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras since 1999. Built on TIFF structure, NEF stores unprocessed 12-bit or 14-bit sensor data, preserving maximum dynamic range and color information for post-production flexibility. Files include embedded JPEG previews and comprehensive EXIF metadata including lens data, focus point, and metering information.
Learn more: NEF on Wikipedia
NEF is essential for photographers using Nikon cameras who need maximum editing flexibility. For sharing or web publishing, conversion to JPEG is necessary since RAW formats require specialized software like Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or Nikon's own ViewNX-i and NX Studio applications.
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) leverages the AV1 video codec to deliver next-generation compression—typically 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, with support for HDR, wide color gamut, and both lossy and lossless compression. Standardized by the Alliance for Open Media in 2019, AVIF offers 10-bit and 12-bit color depth plus full alpha transparency. Encoding is slower than JPEG or WebP, but visual quality per byte is exceptional.
Authoritative reference: AVIF Specification (AOMedia)
AVIF is ideal for modern web delivery where cutting-edge compression and HDR support matter. Browser adoption reached critical mass in 2021-2023, with Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, and Safari 16.4+ now supporting AVIF natively. Encoding is 2-3× slower than WebP, but the compression gains typically justify the extra CPU time for server-side batch processing. For maximum compatibility, serve AVIF with WebP and JPG fallbacks using <picture> elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an NEF file?
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) is Nikon's proprietary RAW image format used across all Nikon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras since 1999.
NEF files contain unprocessed sensor data with 12-14 bit color depth, but can't be shared directly online. Converting to AVIF gives you the smallest possible file sizes with excellent quality.
What is AVIF and why use it?
AVIF is the next-generation image format based on the AV1 video codec. It provides superior compression—typically 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, with support for HDR and wide color gamut.
AVIF is ideal for modern web applications, photography portfolios, and any scenario where maximum quality with minimal file size is critical. All modern browsers support AVIF.
What Nikon cameras shoot NEF?
Will I lose quality converting NEF to AVIF?
What settings are used for the conversion?
Conversion settings:
- White balance: Preserved from your camera's as-shot settings
- Exposure: Auto-brightness applied
- Color space: sRGB for web compatibility
- AVIF quality: 80 — optimized balance of quality and file size
- Metadata: Stripped for privacy
AVIF vs JPEG vs WebP—which should I choose?
Choose AVIF for: Maximum compression with highest quality—ideal for modern web apps, photography sites, and when file size is critical. Smallest files of all formats.
Choose WebP for: Good compression with broad support—balanced choice for web publishing.
Choose JPEG for: Maximum compatibility with older software and devices.
What are the limits for this converter?
| Tier | Max File Size | Max Files/Batch | Parallel Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest/Free | 100 MB | 50 files | 3 at once |
| Pro | 1024 MB | 1000 files | 6 at once |
Note: File size limits are specific to this converter. Batch and parallel processing limits apply to all images converters site-wide. See all converter limits →
How are credits calculated for this conversion?
Cost: 1 credit per 5 MB
How it works:
- Files up to 5 MB: 1 credit
- 6-10 MB: 2 credits
- 11-15 MB: 3 credits
- 16-20 MB: 4 credits
Example: A 5 MB photo = 1 credit. A 95 MB photo = 19 credits.
Why per-megabyte? Larger files require more resources (processing, bandwidth, storage).
What are my daily and monthly credit limits?
Credit allocations vary by account tier:
| Tier | Daily Limit | Monthly Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Guest | 100 credits/day | — |
| Free | 100 credits/day | — |
| Pro | — | 12,000 credits/month |
Daily credits (Guest & Free tiers) reset every day at midnight UTC. Monthly credits (Pro) reset on your billing cycle date.
Note: With 1 credit per 5 MB, RAW files under 5 MB cost 1 credit each. Pro users can convert 12,000 RAW files per month.
Answers at a Glance
Quick answers to common questions.
- Are my files secure?
- How long do you keep my files?
- What metadata do you keep?
- What happens after I drop a file?
- Why are conversions so fast?
- How do you measure performance?
- What are the exact limits for each plan?
- Can I process files in bulk?
- Why did my file fail to convert?
- Do you use my files to train AI?
What's New in NEF to AVIF
Latest improvements to this converter
Added Resize and Metadata options.
Launch of Nikon NEF to AVIF converter.
Need to get more done? Pro starts from $5.
No subscription required.