CR2 to AVIF Converter
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Supports: CR2
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Need help?Convert CR2 to AVIF Online
CR2 is Canon's raw sensor format — large, 14-bit, and not viewable in a browser without conversion. This tool demosaics your Canon raw file and re-encodes it as AVIF, the AV1-based web format that holds 10- or 12-bit tonal range while landing roughly 50% smaller than an equivalent JPEG. It is built for publishing finished shots to the web, not for archiving: AVIF is a delivery format, so edit the CR2 (or keep the original) before you convert if you still need raw latitude.
How to Convert CR2 to AVIF
- Upload Your CR2 File: Drag and drop your
.cr2files or click "Add Files." You can queue several Canon raws and convert them in one batch. - Pick a Quality Preset: Open Advanced Options and choose a Quality Preset — "Very High (Recommended)" keeps near-original detail, while Medium or Low shrinks the file further for faster-loading pages.
- Set Bit Depth or a Target Size (Optional): Leave bit depth at the default for standard sRGB output, or pick "Specific file size" / "Target file size (%)" when you need every AVIF under a fixed budget.
- Convert and Download: Click Convert and save your AVIF. No sign-up, no watermark.
CR2 vs AVIF at a Glance
| Property | CR2 (Canon Raw 2) | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Raw sensor data (TIFF-based) | Delivery / web image |
| Codec | Lossless JPEG inside TIFF | AV1 bitstream in HEIF container |
| Bit depth | Up to 14-bit per channel | 8, 10, or 12-bit |
| Editing latitude | Full (white balance, exposure recoverable) | Baked in — no raw recovery |
| Browser support | None (needs conversion) | Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16.4+, Edge 121+ |
| Typical size (24MP) | ~25-35 MB | ~0.5-3 MB |
| Best for | Capture, archive, heavy edits | Publishing finished images to the web |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does converting CR2 to AVIF keep the raw editing latitude?
No. CR2 stores unprocessed 14-bit sensor data, so exposure and white balance stay recoverable; AVIF bakes a rendered image at 8, 10, or 12-bit. Once converted, you can no longer push highlights or shift white balance the way raw allows. Keep the original .cr2 (or finish your edits first) and treat AVIF strictly as the web-output copy.
Is AVIF or JPG better for publishing a converted Canon photo?
AVIF, in most cases. Per MDN, lossy AVIF files are around 50% smaller than JPEG at visually similar quality, and AVIF can carry 10- or 12-bit color plus HDR and wide gamut that 8-bit JPEG cannot. JPG still wins on universal compatibility with older software. If you need a fallback, convert to CR2 to JPG as well, or batch your finished AVIFs through the Image Compressor.
Why does my CR2 look different after conversion?
A CR2 holds raw sensor values that your camera or editor renders with a color profile, white balance, and tone curve. A converter applies a standard demosaic and sRGB rendering, which can differ from the in-camera JPEG preview you saw on the back of the Canon. For an exact look, apply your edits in raw software first, export, then convert that result.
How small will a CR2 become as AVIF?
It depends on quality preset and image content, but the drop is large because you are moving from a 14-bit raw to an AV1-compressed delivery image. In our testing, a 24-megapixel Canon CR2 of about 29 MB exported to roughly 1.4 MB at the "Very High" preset with no visible loss at normal viewing size — a savings of well over 90%.
What's the difference between CR2 and CR3, and can this still convert older files?
CR2 is Canon's TIFF-based raw introduced around 2004 (EOS 1D Mark II); Canon moved newer bodies to the CR3 format starting in 2018 with the EOS M50. This tool accepts the .cr2 files from that 2004-2018 era of Canon DSLRs and mirrorless bodies. If your files are .cr3, use the dedicated CR3 converter instead.