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JeffSlugs
Participant
Nov 6, 2025 3:39 PM UTC
Answered

Nikon Z8 Raw NEF and denoise

Hello

 

I'm wondering what type of file I should be shooting in with my Z8.  I shot in NEF images but when i go to detail/denoise and it processes the photo, there is then a caution sign next to 'raw details' and 'super resolution.' Raw details is checked and grayed out and 'super resolution' is grayed out but not checked.


I'm wondering if I shot in the wrong or incompatible format? 

Thanks so much! 

KR Seals
KR SealsCorrect answer
Community Expert
Nov 7, 2025 12:49 AM UTC

No, you are using the right file format. NEF results in the most detail and broadest adjustment range. 

What you are seeing is correct. All those adjustments in the detail panel cannot be applied together. To see how they interact, go back in the History panel to before any have been applied and try one to see how they interact. If you click on the exclamation point, an explanation of the restrictions will pop up.

 

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
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6 replies

KR Seals
Community Expert
KR SealsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
Nov 7, 2025 12:49 AM UTC

No, you are using the right file format. NEF results in the most detail and broadest adjustment range. 

What you are seeing is correct. All those adjustments in the detail panel cannot be applied together. To see how they interact, go back in the History panel to before any have been applied and try one to see how they interact. If you click on the exclamation point, an explanation of the restrictions will pop up.

 

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Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
JeffSlugsAuthor
Participant
Nov 8, 2025 3:49 PM UTC

Just to be sure, which setting should I have this on? The lossless? Or otherwise 

 

Thank you so much ! 


Jeff

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KR Seals
Community Expert
KR SealsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
Nov 8, 2025 4:26 PM UTC

It doesn't matter to Lightroom Classic. 

Lossless Compression results in the very highest quality and largest file size.

High Efficiency * is pretty much indistiguishable from Lossless Compression but result in file sizes about half the size (in Megabytes). This is my choice.

High Efficiency is a more lossy compression that gives the smallest file size. I never use that.

All of those versions of Nikon NEF files are the same resolution.

 

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Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
Community Manager
AlekeCommunity Manager
Community Manager
Nov 6, 2025 7:11 PM UTC

Hi @JeffSlugs, welcome to the community!
Could you check your camera settings for RAW files and make sure you’re shooting in lossless format? Denoise may not work with compressed RAW images.
Also, when you hover over the caution sign, what does it say exactly? The caution sign can appear if the file format isn’t compatible with the feature, but it might also show up because Raw Details and Super Resolution aren’t available once Denoise is selected.
Thanks so much!
Alek

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*(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
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