{"id":1473,"date":"2026-08-27T09:13:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/blog\/?p=1473"},"modified":"2026-07-16T23:43:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T03:43:06","slug":"camera-raw-formats-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/blog\/camera-raw-formats-explained","title":{"rendered":"Camera RAW Formats Explained: CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, PEF"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You copy a shoot off the SD card, double-click the first frame, and \u2014 nothing. The <code>.CR3<\/code> or <code>.ARW<\/code> files your camera previewed a minute ago sit there as blank icons. That\u2019s camera RAW: <strong>every brand writes its own proprietary format with its own extension<\/strong>, and no computer opens all of them out of the box. This guide is the map \u2014 which brand writes which format, what a RAW file actually is, why support breaks, and the fastest route to a shareable JPG. Every brand and extension claim below is verified against the vendor\u2019s own pages and cited at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> A RAW file is your camera sensor\u2019s <strong>unprocessed data plus metadata \u2014 not a finished, viewable image<\/strong>. Each brand has its own format: Canon <strong>.CR2<\/strong> (older DSLRs) and <strong>.CR3<\/strong> (2018 onward, including all EOS mirrorless), Nikon <strong>.NEF<\/strong> (plus <strong>.NRW<\/strong> on COOLPIX compacts), Sony <strong>.ARW<\/strong>, Pentax <strong>.PEF or .DNG<\/strong>, Fujifilm <strong>.RAF<\/strong>, Olympus\/OM System <strong>.ORF<\/strong>, Panasonic <strong>.RW2<\/strong>. Adobe\u2019s <strong>DNG<\/strong> is the one openly published RAW format. Support is per camera <em>model<\/em>, not per extension \u2014 that\u2019s why new cameras break old software. To view or share anywhere, convert to <strong>JPG<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jump to a section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#map\">The map: which brand writes which RAW format<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what\">What a RAW file actually is (and isn\u2019t)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#open\">Why RAW files won\u2019t open \u2014 and the three fixes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#choose\">RAW or JPEG: which should you shoot?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#tool\">Convert any RAW photo to JPG on xconvert<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"map\">The map: which brand writes which RAW format<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eight rows cover almost every RAW file you\u2019ll ever be handed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Brand<\/th><th>RAW extension(s)<\/th><th>Which cameras write it<\/th><th>Free vendor software<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Canon<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.CR2<\/code>, <code>.CR3<\/code><\/td><td><code>.CR2<\/code>: earlier EOS DSLRs \u00b7 <code>.CR3<\/code>: newer bodies, incl. all EOS mirrorless<\/td><td>Digital Photo Professional (DPP)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Nikon<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.NEF<\/code>, <code>.NRW<\/code><\/td><td><code>.NEF<\/code>: DSLRs and Z mirrorless \u00b7 <code>.NRW<\/code>: high-end COOLPIX compacts<\/td><td>NX Studio<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sony<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.ARW<\/code><\/td><td>Alpha (\u03b1) bodies and RX compacts<\/td><td>Imaging Edge Desktop<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pentax (Ricoh)<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.PEF<\/code> <strong>or<\/strong> <code>.DNG<\/code><\/td><td>K-series DSLRs \u2014 you choose the format in-camera<\/td><td>Digital Camera Utility 5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adobe \/ open standard<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.DNG<\/code><\/td><td>Pentax and Leica in-camera; iPhone (Apple ProRAW); Adobe DNG Converter output<\/td><td>Adobe DNG Converter<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Fujifilm<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.RAF<\/code><\/td><td>X series and GFX<\/td><td>RAW File Converter EX \/ X RAW Studio<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Olympus \/ OM System<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.ORF<\/code><\/td><td>Olympus and OM System bodies<\/td><td>Olympus Viewer \/ OM Workspace<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Panasonic<\/strong><\/td><td><code>.RW2<\/code><\/td><td>LUMIX<\/td><td>LUMIX RAW Codec (Windows viewer)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Canon: CR2 gave way to CR3 in 2018.<\/strong> Earlier EOS digital SLRs record <strong>.CR2<\/strong>; Canon\u2019s RAW explainer says newer cameras, \u201cincluding all mirrorless models,\u201d create the updated <strong>.CR3<\/strong> \u2014 it debuted in Canon\u2019s September 2018 EOS R launch materials as \u201cCR3 (RAW\/C-RAW)\u201d. C-RAW is the space-saving option: full pixel resolution at roughly half the size (Canon quotes <strong>45.4 MB vs 22 MB<\/strong> per file on the 45-megapixel EOS R5). Convert either \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-cr2-to-jpeg\">CR2 to JPEG<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-cr3-to-jpg\">CR3 to JPG<\/a> \u2014 and see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/blog\/convert-cr2-to-jpg-canon-raw\/\">converting CR2 to JPG (Canon RAW)<\/a> for the full Canon walkthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nikon: NEF on the big cameras, NRW on compacts.<\/strong> <strong>NEF<\/strong> \u2014 Nikon Electronic Format \u2014 \u201cis Nikon\u2019s RAW file format,\u201d keeping <strong>12-bit or 14-bit data<\/strong> where a JPEG keeps eight, with the camera\u2019s look stored as editable instructions rather than baked into the pixels. High-end <strong>COOLPIX<\/strong> compacts write <strong>.NRW<\/strong> instead \u2014 12-bit uncompressed RAW, per Nikon\u2019s support pages. Nikon\u2019s free NX Studio opens both (\u201c.NEF and .NRW\u201d). Online: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-nef-to-jpg\">NEF to JPG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sony: ARW, quietly versioned.<\/strong> Sony bodies write <strong>.ARW<\/strong>, but the spec sheets reveal a moving target: the a7 IV records \u201cRAW (<strong>Sony ARW 5.0<\/strong> format compliant)\u201d; the RX100 VII compact, \u201cRAW (<strong>Sony ARW 2.3<\/strong> format)\u201d. Same extension, different generations \u2014 part of why older software chokes on newer Sony files; Sony\u2019s free Imaging Edge Desktop is what develops them. Online: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-arw-to-jpg\">ARW to JPG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pentax: your pick of PEF or DNG, in-camera.<\/strong> Ricoh\u2019s current Pentax bodies \u2014 K-3 Mark III, KF, K-70, K-1 Mark II \u2014 all list \u201c<strong>RAW (14bit): PEF, DNG<\/strong>\u201d on their official spec pages: you choose Pentax\u2019s proprietary <strong>.PEF<\/strong> or the open <strong>.DNG<\/strong> in the shooting menu, making Pentax the rare brand whose RAW can be non-proprietary straight out of the camera. Online: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-pef-to-jpg\">PEF to JPG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DNG: the open exception.<\/strong> Adobe launched the <strong>Digital Negative (DNG)<\/strong> spec in 2004 as \u201ca publicly available archival format\u201d for RAW \u2014 an openly published, TIFF 6.0-based spec anyone can adopt. Adobe lists Leica, Casio, Ricoh, Samsung and Pentax among direct-DNG camera brands, and your phone may shoot it too: <strong>Apple ProRAW \u201cuses the industry standard digital negative (DNG) file format\u201d<\/strong> on iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models, with <code>.dng<\/code> originals. Adobe\u2019s free DNG Converter rewrites RAW \u201cfrom more than 600 cameras\u201d into DNG, and the US Library of Congress uses DNG for archiving. Online: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-dng-to-jpg\">DNG to JPG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The others.<\/strong> Fujifilm\u2019s X series and GFX write <strong>.RAF<\/strong> (\u201cRAW (.RAF) data \u2026 recorded by the X series,\u201d per Fujifilm\u2019s software page), Olympus and OM System bodies write <strong>.ORF<\/strong> (\u201cOlympus\u2019s own proprietary file format\u201d), and Panasonic LUMIX writes <strong>.RW2<\/strong> \u2014 the extension Panasonic\u2019s own RAW-codec page uses. All three, plus rarer formats, go through the multi-format <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">image converter<\/a>, whose supported list starts \u201c3FR, ARW, AVIF, BMP, CR2, CR3 +30 more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What a RAW file actually is (and isn\u2019t)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A RAW file is the sensor\u2019s measurement, not a picture. Canon describes it at the photosite level: each pixel location records brightness, and that data lands on the memory card \u201cunprocessed.\u201d Nikon calls RAW files \u201cdigital negatives\u201d that \u201ccontain all the image information captured by the camera\u2019s sensor, along with the image\u2019s metadata.\u201d Three consequences follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>It isn\u2019t viewable as-is.<\/strong> White balance, tone and sharpening ride along as <em>editable instructions<\/em> rather than applied pixels (Nikon: the values \u201care retained as instruction sets included in the file\u201d; Sony: \u201cdigital processing is not performed on this file format\u201d). Something \u2014 the vendor\u2019s app, Lightroom, or a converter \u2014 has to develop the data into a displayable JPEG or TIFF.<\/li><li><strong>It keeps far more tonal data.<\/strong> Canon: \u201c12-, 13-, or 14-bit recording \u2026 vs. the industry-standard 8-bit recording in processed JPEG files\u201d; Nikon says that depth gives \u201ca far greater tonal range than an eight-bit JPEG.\u201d That\u2019s the headroom for rescuing exposure or white balance later.<\/li><li><strong>It\u2019s big.<\/strong> More bits and little-to-no lossy compression mean, as OM System puts it, \u201cthe file sizes are much larger\u201d than JPEG: about <strong>45.4 MB<\/strong> per frame on Canon\u2019s 45-megapixel EOS R5, and roughly <strong>25\u201375 MB<\/strong> for iPhone ProRAW (12 MP vs 48 MP).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of this is a flaw \u2014 RAW is deliberately a master file. It just isn\u2019t a <em>sharing<\/em> file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open\">Why RAW files won\u2019t open \u2014 and the three fixes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the trap hidden in that map: <strong>software supports camera models, not extensions.<\/strong> A new body\u2019s <code>.CR3<\/code> or <code>.ARW<\/code> has newer internals than last year\u2019s, so an app that opens your old camera\u2019s RAW can fail on the new one. Adobe\u2019s Camera Raw troubleshooting names the classic cause: \u201cyour camera is newer than your version of Photoshop.\u201d Sony\u2019s ARW 2.3-vs-5.0 spec sheets are the same story from the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operating systems work the same way. Apple publishes a per-release list of supported camera RAW formats (\u201cDigital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, visionOS 26\u201d), and Windows needs Microsoft\u2019s free <strong>Raw Image Extension<\/strong> from its Store to view RAW files in the Photos app. That\u2019s how one file can preview fine on your phone yet sit as a blank icon on your PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three fixes, cheapest first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Update the decoder<\/strong> \u2014 OS updates, the latest Camera Raw plug-in, or the Raw Image Extension on Windows.<\/li><li><strong>Install the maker\u2019s free developer<\/strong> \u2014 Canon Digital Photo Professional, Nikon NX Studio, Sony Imaging Edge Desktop, Ricoh Digital Camera Utility 5, Fujifilm RAW File Converter EX \/ X RAW Studio, OM System\u2019s OM Workspace. Each vendor supports its own newest bodies first.<\/li><li><strong>Leave the proprietary format<\/strong> \u2014 Adobe\u2019s free DNG Converter rewrites RAW \u201cfrom more than 600 cameras\u201d into DNG for older editors; or, when the goal is just seeing and sharing the photos, skip the installs and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">convert the RAW to JPG online<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"choose\">RAW or JPEG: which should you shoot?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision is about what happens <em>after<\/em> the shutter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shoot RAW when<\/strong> the shot matters and you\u2019ll edit it \u2014 tricky light, high contrast, anything you might print large or publish. You keep the 12\u201314-bit data and, as Sony\u2019s guide puts it, can readjust white balance, saturation and contrast after capture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shoot JPEG when<\/strong> the photo must be usable the moment you take it \u2014 casual shots, fast sharing, long bursts, tight card space \u2014 and you won\u2019t post-process. The camera develops the image for you, at a fraction of the size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Unsure? Shoot both.<\/strong> Most cameras record the two simultaneously \u2014 Pentax\u2019s spec sheets list simultaneous RAW + JPEG capture, and OM System describes RAW+JPEG mode saving two files per shot. Share the JPEG today; keep the negative forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mental model: <strong>RAW is the negative, JPEG is the print<\/strong> \u2014 which is why \u201chow do I open\/send\/upload this RAW file?\u201d almost always resolves to \u201cmake a JPG of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tool\">Convert any RAW photo to JPG on xconvert<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">xconvert image converter<\/a> develops RAW server-side \u2014 no vendor apps, codec packs or OS updates needed, so it works the same on Windows, Mac, Chromebook or a phone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">xconvert.com\/image-converter<\/a> and click <strong>Upload<\/strong> \u2014 add files from your computer, Google Drive, or Dropbox. The page lists what it accepts (\u201cSupports: 3FR, ARW, AVIF, BMP, CR2, CR3 +30 more\u201d \u2014 CR2\/CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, PEF, RAF, ORF and RW2 included), and you can queue one file or a whole shoot.<\/li><li>Leave the <strong>Image File Extension<\/strong> dropdown on <strong>JPG<\/strong> (the default).<\/li><li>Optionally open <strong>Advanced Options<\/strong> to change the <strong>Quality Preset<\/strong> (<strong>Very High (Recommended)<\/strong> is the default) or set an <strong>Image resolution<\/strong> for smaller files.<\/li><li>Click <strong>Convert<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Download your JPGs.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prefer a dedicated page for your camera\u2019s format? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-cr2-to-jpeg\">CR2 to JPEG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-cr3-to-jpg\">CR3 to JPG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-nef-to-jpg\">NEF to JPG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-arw-to-jpg\">ARW to JPG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-dng-to-jpg\">DNG to JPG<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/convert-pef-to-jpg\">PEF to JPG<\/a> are the same converter with the right label on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your file uploads over an encrypted connection, is processed on our servers, and is <strong>deleted automatically a few hours later<\/strong> \u2014 nothing lingers. Converting a whole card\u2019s worth in one go? The bulk workflow is in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/blog\/batch-convert-raw-photos-to-jpg\/\">batch-convert RAW photos to JPG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is RAW better than JPEG?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For editing, yes; for using the photo right now, no.<\/strong> RAW keeps 12\u201314-bit sensor data versus JPEG\u2019s 8-bit, so it withstands corrections far better \u2014 but it isn\u2019t universally viewable and each file is many times larger. \u201cBetter\u201d depends on whether the file\u2019s job is <em>master<\/em> or <em>deliverable<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are RAW files so big?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because they store <strong>12\u201314 bits per photosite with little or no lossy compression<\/strong>, versus JPEG\u2019s compressed 8-bit pixels. OM System says it plainly: RAW files \u201care not compressed to the extent of JPEG files,\u201d so \u201cthe file sizes are much larger.\u201d Vendor examples: about <strong>45.4 MB<\/strong> per frame on Canon\u2019s 45 MP EOS R5; <strong>25\u201375 MB<\/strong> for iPhone ProRAW (12 vs 48 MP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I shoot RAW or JPEG \u2014 or both?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re unsure, <strong>shoot RAW+JPEG<\/strong> \u2014 most cameras record both at once (Pentax lists it on its spec sheets; OM System describes it). You get a shareable JPEG now plus the negative for editing later. Go RAW-only once you always post-process; JPEG-only if you never do and need the card space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why won\u2019t my RAW files open on my computer?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because <strong>RAW support is per camera model<\/strong>, and something in your chain predates your camera \u2014 Adobe\u2019s troubleshooting names it: \u201cyour camera is newer than your version of Photoshop.\u201d Update the app or OS, install Windows\u2019 free Raw Image Extension or the camera maker\u2019s free developer, convert to DNG \u2014 or just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">convert the files to JPG online<\/a> with nothing installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is DNG the same as RAW?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DNG <em>is<\/em> RAW \u2014 the openly published kind.<\/strong> Adobe released the spec in 2004 so raw sensor data wouldn\u2019t be locked into vendors\u2019 private formats; Pentax and Leica can write it in-camera, iPhone ProRAW photos are DNG files, and Adobe\u2019s free converter turns more than 600 cameras\u2019 RAW into it. A DNG still holds undeveloped sensor data \u2014 it still needs a JPEG export for everyday sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does converting RAW to JPG lose quality?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Technically yes \u2014 and that\u2019s the point.<\/strong> A JPEG is the developed, 8-bit, compressed <em>print<\/em> of your 12\u201314-bit negative: at a high quality setting the difference is generally invisible on screen, but the editing headroom is gone. Export JPGs for sharing and keep the RAW as the master \u2014 conversion doesn\u2019t touch the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Last verified 2026-07-16.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.canon.com\/learning\/training-articles\/training-articles-list\/raw-image-fundamentals\">Canon U.S.A. \u2014 RAW Image Fundamentals<\/a> \u2014 CR2 on earlier EOS DSLRs vs .CR3 on newer cameras \u201cincluding all mirrorless models\u201d; 12-, 13-, or 14-bit RAW vs 8-bit JPEG; unprocessed sensor data; EOS R5 45.4 MB RAW \/ 22 MB C-RAW; free Digital Photo Professional.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/usa.canon.com\/internet\/portal\/us\/home\/about\/newsroom\/press-releases\/press-release-details\/2018\/20180905-system\/20180905-system\">Canon U.S.A. \u2014 EOS R system press release, September 5, 2018<\/a> \u2014 \u201cCR3(RAW\/C-RAW)\u201d in the 2018 EOS R feature list.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nikonusa.com\/learn-and-explore\/c\/products-and-innovation\/nikon-electronic-format-nef\">Nikon USA \u2014 Nikon Electronic Format (NEF)<\/a> \u2014 NEF is Nikon\u2019s RAW format; 12-\/14-bit vs 8-bit; settings retained as instruction sets; \u201cdigital negatives.\u201d<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nikonimgsupport.com\/eu\/BV_article?articleNo=000046473&amp;lang=en_GB\">Nikon Support \u2014 What is an NRW (RAW) file?<\/a> \u2014 NRW as the RAW format for high-end COOLPIX compacts; 12-bit uncompressed; <code>.NRW<\/code> extension.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nikonusa.com\/content\/nx-studio\">Nikon USA \u2014 NX Studio<\/a> \u2014 Nikon\u2019s free viewer\/developer for \u201cRAW .NEF and .NRW image files\u201d across Z mirrorless, DSLR, COOLPIX and Nikon 1.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpguide.sony.net\/ilc\/2110\/v1\/en\/contents\/TP1000660153.html\">Sony a7 IV Help Guide \u2014 Specifications<\/a> \u2014 still-image format \u201cRAW (Sony ARW 5.0 format compliant).\u201d<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpguide.sony.net\/dsc\/1920\/v1\/en\/contents\/TP0002392811.html\">Sony RX100 VII Help Guide \u2014 Specifications<\/a> \u2014 \u201cRAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)\u201d on the RX compact line.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpguide.sony.net\/ilc\/2110\/v1\/en\/contents\/TP1000659396.html\">Sony a7 IV Help Guide \u2014 File Format (still images)<\/a> \u2014 \u201cdigital processing is not performed\u201d on RAW; 14-bit capture (12-bit in some modes); Imaging Edge Desktop for development and JPEG\/TIFF export.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/camera-raw\/digital-negative.html\">Adobe \u2014 Digital Negative (DNG)<\/a> \u2014 DNG as \u201ca publicly available archival format\u201d launched in 2004; openly published TIFF 6.0-based spec; Leica\/Casio\/Ricoh\/Samsung\/Pentax direct-DNG cameras; Library of Congress archival use.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/camera-raw\/using\/adobe-dng-converter.html\">Adobe \u2014 Adobe DNG Converter<\/a> \u2014 free utility that converts RAW files \u201cfrom more than 600 cameras\u201d to DNG.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/camera-raw\/kb\/troubleshoot-camera-raw-photoshop-photoshop.html\">Adobe \u2014 Troubleshoot Camera Raw<\/a> \u2014 RAW files fail to open when \u201cyour camera is newer than your version of Photoshop\u201d; fix via Camera Raw updates or the DNG Converter.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/119916\">Apple \u2014 About Apple ProRAW<\/a> \u2014 ProRAW \u201cuses the industry standard digital negative (DNG) file format\u201d; iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models; <code>.dng<\/code> originals; ~25 MB (12 MP) \/ ~75 MB (48 MP) file sizes.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/122870\">Apple \u2014 Digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, visionOS 26<\/a> \u2014 Apple\u2019s per-OS-release camera RAW support list.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp\/english\/products\/k-3-3\/spec\/\">RICOH IMAGING \u2014 PENTAX K-3 Mark III specifications<\/a> \u2014 \u201cRAW (PEF\/DNG)\u201d; \u201cRAW (14bit): PEF, DNG\u201d; simultaneous RAW + JPEG capture. (The KF, K-70 and K-1 Mark II official spec pages list the same RAW options.)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp\/english\/support\/digital\/dc_utility5_win.html\">RICOH IMAGING \u2014 Digital Camera Utility 5<\/a> \u2014 Ricoh\u2019s official image-processing software for PENTAX cameras, handling PEF\/DNG RAW plus JPEG\/TIFF.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/global\/products\/software\/raw-file-converter-ex-powered-by-silkypix\/\">Fujifilm \u2014 RAW FILE CONVERTER EX powered by SILKYPIX<\/a> \u2014 develops \u201cRAW (.RAF) data \u2026 recorded by the X series\u201d; Fujifilm\u2019s free RAW development software.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/learnandsupport.getolympus.com\/learn-center\/photography-tips\/basics-of-photography\/why-shoot-in-raw\">OM SYSTEM Learn Center \u2014 Why Shoot in RAW?<\/a> \u2014 \u201c.orf\u201d as \u201cOlympus\u2019s own proprietary file format\u201d; no\/lossless compression and no image processing; larger file sizes; RAW+JPEG two-file behavior; software needed to convert to TIFF\/JPEG.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/av.jpn.support.panasonic.com\/support\/global\/cs\/dsc\/download\/raw\/\">Panasonic \u2014 LUMIX RAW Codec download<\/a> \u2014 identifies LUMIX RAW image files by the <code>.RW2<\/code> extension; Windows viewing codec.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.microsoft.com\/detail\/9nctdw2w1bh8\">Microsoft Store \u2014 Raw Image Extension<\/a> \u2014 the free Windows add-on for viewing camera RAW files.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/image-converter\">xconvert Image Converter<\/a> \u2014 live tool UI: Upload (From my Computer \/ Google Drive \/ Dropbox), \u201cSupports: 3FR, ARW, AVIF, BMP, CR2, CR3 +30 more\u201d, Image File Extension (JPG default), Advanced Options with Quality Preset \u201cVery High (Recommended)\u201d and Image resolution.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CR2 or CR3? NEF, ARW, DNG, PEF? One table maps every camera RAW format \u2014 which brand writes which, why files won&#8217;t open, and how to get a shareable JPG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-guides","category-tools"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Camera RAW Formats Explained: CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, PEF<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CR2 or CR3? NEF, ARW, DNG, PEF? 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