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All of a sudden lots of my NEF files were gone. After finding them in the recycle bin they turned out to be NEF jpg. files... Yes, both! and only 72 dpi, sometimes not more then 88 kb. I have no idea what happened. Has it been some kind of crash?

I use Photoshop. I extracted the files with Adobe Bridge and stored them. After making a copy to a separate hard disk, I checked if all of the files were there. Then deleted on the computer meaning to copy them on one more hard disk. After deleting, all of them were gone except for a few images that became as I understand thumbnails. Most of them are lost, not even traceable with special programs.

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    \$\begingroup\$ I’m voting to close this question because it isn't really about photography, it's about a filesystem issue & would be best addressed on Super User \$\endgroup\$
    – Tetsujin
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 16:37
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    \$\begingroup\$ It's about how a file system handles file types specific to photography, and possibly about how files deleted using a photo processing application show up in the recycle bin. That is squarely on topic here. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 19:11
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    \$\begingroup\$ What application did you use to import the files from your camera? How did you delete them and send them to the recycle bin? Via Windows Explorer, or from within an image processing application? \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 19:12
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    \$\begingroup\$ Your question/situation is not really clear to be honest. (Files don't disappear on their own, and files can't be 2 filetypes at the same time. Even if your computer crashes, that wouldn't transfer files to the Recycle Bin.) This is probably one of those situations where it's best to get another human beside you, and troubleshoot together in person. Find someone with knowledge of digital imaging preferably. \$\endgroup\$
    – osullic
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 22:20
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    \$\begingroup\$ What method and program did you use to copy the files to the separate hard disk? Are those files also gone? \$\endgroup\$
    – xiota
    Commented May 14, 2021 at 5:14

2 Answers 2

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It sounds like what you found were the JPEG preview thumbnail images that are part of NEF files. Raw files for just about every camera maker include more than just the raw data collected by the sensor. They also include metadata that records things such as camera settings and meter readings, as well as preview images (that can be full, half, or quarter size of the sensor's resolution) and much smaller thumbnail preview images generated by the camera's raw conversion engine using the in camera settings in force at the time the photo was taken.

As for 72 dpi, that's pretty much meaningless for a digital image unless it is imported into a program, such as a page setting application or a document creation application like Word, that pays attention to the dpi number to determine the size of the image as it is embedded in another document. The vast majority of image display applications and even current printing applications will scale digital images to fit the amount of space provided, regardless of the dpi number in the EXIF info.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ But how can I get the originaliteit picture back? \$\endgroup\$
    – Astrid
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 19:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ A lot depends on the information requested in my comment to the question. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 10, 2021 at 19:23
  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks. I use Photoshop. Extracted the files with bridge and stored them. After making a copy to a separate harddisk I checked if all was there. Then deleted on the computer meaning to copy them on one more harddisk. After deleting all was gone except for a few images that became as I understand thumbnails. Most of them are lost not even traceable with special programs. But I do understand from the answer it is bad luck. Thanks a lot for replying eventhough it was not a good question. Sorry for that. Did not know. \$\endgroup\$
    – Astrid
    Commented May 11, 2021 at 17:38
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That rather sounds like preview images generated/extracted by your file system explorer. However, it would seem to be rather strange that they should be found in the trash rather than getting straightforwardly deleted when no longer in use since the trash is really intended for files by the user.

You don't even bother to say whether you are missing your NEF files on a memory card or on your system disk. If it is the former, the most likely culprit is removing the memory card from computer or camera while it is being written. If it is the latter, it's more likely to be an overall disk failure. There are recovery programs for either problem. And either problem should have been covered by you by timely backups: it is never a good idea to have personal files on only one device for extended durations without backup.

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