Reset to defaults
Need help?ARW to MPG Converter
ARW is Sony's Alpha Raw photo format — a single, high-bit-depth still captured straight off the camera sensor. MPG is the legacy MPEG program-stream video container. This converter renders one ARW photo into a short, silent MPG clip that holds the still on screen for a set duration. It is a genuinely niche conversion: if you only want a viewable picture, convert the ARW to a still image instead — MPG makes sense only when a player, kiosk, or DVD-authoring workflow specifically needs a video file.
ARW Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sony Alpha Raw |
| Introduced | 2006, with the first Sony Alpha DSLRs |
| Container | TIFF/EP-based binary structure (proprietary) |
| Holds | A single still photo — unprocessed sensor data, not video |
| Bit depth | Typically 12-14 bits per pixel of linear sensor data |
| Editing latitude | High: white balance, exposure, and highlight recovery can be re-developed |
| Editor support | Sony Imaging Edge, Lightroom, Photoshop / Camera Raw, Capture One |
| Best for | Editing and archiving Sony captures before exporting a finished image |
MPG Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG program stream (the .mpg container) |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 11172 (MPEG-1, 1993) and ISO/IEC 13818 (MPEG-2) |
| Video codec here | MPEG-2 by default on this converter |
| Audio | MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (MP2) when present — but a photo source produces a silent clip |
| Bit depth | 8 bits per channel |
| Best for | DVD-era authoring, set-top boxes, and legacy players that predate H.264 |
| Modern alternative | H.264 in MP4 — smaller, sharper, far more compatible |
How to Convert ARW to MPG
- Upload Your ARW File: Drag and drop your
.arwphoto onto the page or click "+ Add Files" to browse. You can queue several Sony Alpha Raw files at once. - Set the Duration: Under "Duration", choose how long the still is held on screen — the dropdown defaults to "5 seconds per frame" and ranges from a fraction of a second up to 10 seconds. This sets the length of the resulting clip.
- Set Resolution, Preset, and Background Color: Leave "Video resolution" on "Keep original" or pick a Fixed or Preset resolution; keep the "Preset" on "Very High (Recommended)"; and set a "Background Color" (White by default) to fill any letterbox bars left when the photo's aspect ratio doesn't match the frame.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your MPG. No sign-up, no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does converting an ARW photo to MPG actually produce?
A short, silent video that shows your single ARW photo as a still frame for the duration you set. There is no motion and no sound — the converter demosaics and tone-maps the RAW into one ordinary video frame and holds it. If your goal is a picture you can view, print, or post, this is the wrong format; convert to ARW to JPG or ARW to TIFF instead. Choose MPG only when something downstream genuinely needs a .mpg file.
Why is the MPG clip silent?
An ARW holds a photo, and a photo carries no sound, so this image-to-video conversion writes no audio track rather than padding the clip with silence. The MPG is silent in every case. If you need a soundtrack, open the clip in a video editor afterward and add music or narration.
Does the MPG keep my ARW photo's full resolution and bit depth?
No. An ARW stores roughly 12-14 bits per pixel of linear sensor data with wide editing latitude. To make a video frame, that data is demosaiced and tone-mapped down to an ordinary 8-bit MPEG frame, and a high-megapixel image is scaled to fit the chosen resolution. The video is a rendered, baked-in interpretation — it does not preserve the highlight recovery or detail of the original RAW. Keep the .arw as your master.
Should I use MPG or MP4 for an ARW-derived clip?
MP4 (H.264) for almost everything. The .mpg output here carries MPEG-2, a 1990s codec built for DVDs and set-top boxes — larger files, softer image, and patchy support on modern phones and browsers. Choose ARW to MP4 for sharing, editing, or web use, and reserve MPG for a player or DVD-authoring tool that specifically requires that container.
What if I just want to view or edit the ARW, not make a video?
Then skip the video wrapper entirely. Convert to ARW to JPG for a small, universally openable image, or to ARW to TIFF for a high-fidelity, print-ready master that keeps more detail. ARW itself opens in Sony Imaging Edge and recent Lightroom and Camera Raw releases — the video route is only for the rare case where you genuinely need an .mpg file.
Why is the converted clip larger than the original photo, and what can I do about it?
MPEG-2 is an older, low-efficiency codec, and holding a still for several seconds at video bitrates can produce a file bigger than the source photo. In our testing, a single ARW held for 5 seconds and encoded as MPG produced a short standard-definition clip noticeably heavier than the same image saved as a high-quality JPG. Shorten the "Duration", or if the file needs to be smaller still, run the result through the video compressor.
Can I combine several ARW photos into one MPG clip?
Yes. Add multiple .arw files and set Merge strategy to "Merge images" to stitch them into a single MPG slideshow, with each photo held for the Image Duration you choose; pick "Video per image" instead to get one separate clip per shot. There is still no motion within a frame and no audio — it is a sequence of stills cutting from one to the next.
Because MPEG-2 is an inefficient codec, a multi-photo slideshow can grow large quickly; keep the per-frame Duration short and run the result through the video compressor if you need it smaller. For a sharper, more widely playable slideshow, ARW to MP4 is the better container.
How are my files handled, and how long are they kept?
Your ARW is uploaded over an encrypted connection, rendered on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion — no sign-up, no watermark, and your photos are never shared or made public.