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Need help?DCR to MPEG-2 Converter
A .dcr file is a Kodak Digital Camera RAW still — the unprocessed sensor data from an older Kodak DCS professional camera, not a viewable everyday photo. MPEG-2 (.mpeg2 / .mpg) is the ISO/IEC 13818 video standard used for DVD-Video and broadcast. This tool demosaics the RAW image to a standard 8-bit frame and wraps that single flattened still into a short, silent MPEG-2 clip — useful as source material for a DVD-authoring or editing timeline. It does not create an animation, and there is no audio track.
If you just want to view or share the photo, convert DCR to a standard image instead: see DCR to JPG or DCR to PNG.
DCR Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kodak Digital Camera RAW Image |
| Developer | Eastman Kodak |
| Container | TIFF-based |
| Payload | Minimally-processed sensor data, lossless-JPEG compressed (like Canon CR2 / Adobe DNG) |
| Bit depth | 12-14 bits per channel (sensor) |
| Used by | Kodak DCS line (e.g. DCS Pro Back, DCS Pro SLR/n) |
| Opens in | Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, RawTherapee, dcraw |
| Best for | Archival masters and editing originals, before demosaicing |
MPEG-2 Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard | ISO/IEC 13818 (Part 2 = ITU-T H.262) |
| Standardized | 1996 |
| Type | Lossy video, intra- and inter-frame |
| DVD-Video resolution | 720×480 (NTSC), 720×576 (PAL) |
| Max DVD video bitrate | 9.8 Mbit/s peak |
| Used by | DVD-Video, ATSC/DVB broadcast, HDV, Blu-ray |
| Best for | DVD authoring, editing-timeline source, legacy player compatibility |
| Audio | Separate stream (this still-to-video output is silent) |
How to Convert DCR to MPEG-2
- Upload Your DCR File: Drag and drop your
.dcrfile or click "+ Add Files". You can queue several Kodak RAW stills at once. - Set the Merge Strategy and Image Duration: Choose "Video per image" for one clip per still, or "Merge images" to chain several DCR frames into a single clip; "Image Duration" sets how many seconds each still is held on screen.
- Pick Quality Preset and Video Resolution: Leave the codec on MPEG-2, set "Quality Preset" (Very High is the default), and choose a "Video resolution" — 720×576 or 720×480 if you are targeting a DVD.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert" to get your silent MPEG-2 clip. No sign-up, no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I convert a DCR still to MPEG-2 video at all?
The realistic reason is to feed a still into a DVD-authoring project or a video-editing timeline that wants a self-contained clip — for example a title card or a held photo in a slideshow. For viewing or sharing the photo itself, a standard image like JPG or PNG is the right target; MPEG-2 only makes sense when you specifically need a video container.
Will the MPEG-2 frame look as rich as the original DCR?
No. A DCR holds 12-14 bits per channel of sensor data, while an MPEG-2 frame is 8-bit and lossy. Demosaicing happens during conversion, so the wide tonal range of the RAW is baked down to a finished, compressed picture. Keep the original .dcr as your master if you ever need to re-edit.
Does the output have any sound?
No. A DCR is a single still image with no audio, so the MPEG-2 clip is silent. The output is one frame held for the duration you set — it is not an animation.
Is this the Kodak DCR or the Shockwave (Director) DCR?
This tool handles the Kodak Digital Camera RAW image. There is an unrelated .dcr extension used by Macromedia/Adobe Director (Shockwave) media, which is not an image and is not supported here.
What resolution should I pick for a DVD?
DVD-Video MPEG-2 is 720×480 for NTSC regions and 720×576 for PAL/SECAM regions, with a video bitrate up to 9.8 Mbit/s. Match the standard for your target player; for a non-DVD editing timeline you can keep a larger resolution.
Why MPEG-2 instead of MP4 or another modern codec?
MPEG-2 is older and less efficient than H.264 or HEVC, so files are larger at a given quality. The reason to choose it is compatibility: DVD players and some broadcast and editing workflows expect MPEG-2 specifically. If you do not need that, a DCR to MP4 clip is smaller and more widely playable.
Do I still need DVD-authoring software after this?
Yes, if your goal is a disc a set-top player will read. This tool outputs an MPEG-2 program stream — the correct video codec for DVD-Video — but a playable disc also needs the VIDEO_TS folder with its .vob, .ifo, and .bup files, which authoring software builds around your MPEG-2. Run the converted file through a DVD-authoring program to multiplex it into that structure and add any menu. If you only need the clip on an editing timeline, the loose .mpeg / .mpg file imports directly with no authoring step.
How is my file handled during conversion?
Your DCR is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and then deleted automatically after a few hours. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and files are never shared or made public. In our testing, a single 6-megapixel DCR held for five seconds produced a roughly 1-2 MB silent MPEG-2 clip at the default Very High preset, depending on the chosen resolution.