Open NEF files in your browser
NEF is Nikon's RAW format. The files are TIFF-based, 25 to 60 MB each, and a folder of them can bring a laptop photo viewer to its knees before you have rated a single frame.
OnlineCull opens the folder instead of individual files: it extracts the full-size JPEG preview each NEF embeds, shows the whole shoot as a contact sheet, and lets you rate and flag with the keyboard. All locally, in the browser.
or drop files here|
Free. No upload: files are read on your device and never sent anywhere.
How it works
- 01
Open the folder with your NEF files
Click "Open a folder" or drag the folder onto the page. OnlineCull reads the files in place; nothing is uploaded, so a full card opens in seconds.
- 02
Browse, zoom, check EXIF
Every photo appears in a contact sheet with camera, lens, ISO, shutter and aperture. Press Enter for the loupe, Z for a 1:1 focus check, and use a histogram with a clipping warning.
- 03
Rate, flag and export
Rate 1 to 5, flag picks and rejects with P and X, then export XMP sidecars that Lightroom, Bridge and Capture One read, or copy your keepers into a selects folder.
FAQ
- Is this NEF viewer really free?
- Yes. No account, no photo cap, no watermark. OnlineCull is a free in-browser tool; it makes money later through optional pro features, never by limiting viewing.
- Are my NEF files uploaded?
- No. The files are read locally by your browser and never sent to a server. That is also why it is fast: there is no upload step at all.
- Which cameras produce NEF files?
- NEF comes from Nikon DSLRs and Z-series mirrorless, from the D3500 to the Z6, Z7, Z8 and Z9. OnlineCull also reads the other major RAW formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG, ORF, RW2, PEF) plus JPEG and PNG, so mixed folders are fine.
- Can I convert NEF to JPG here?
- OnlineCull is a viewer and culling tool, not a converter: it shows the full-size JPEG preview embedded in each NEF file. For editing and exporting finished JPEGs, hand your picks to Lightroom or any RAW developer using the XMP export.