What Are RAW Photos?
When you shoot in RAW mode, sensor data is saved with minimal processing — no sharpening, no noise reduction, no white balance baking. This gives maximum flexibility in post-processing. RAW files are 2-4x larger than JPEGs but preserve all the detail the sensor captured.
RAW Format by Camera Brand
| Format | Brand | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| CR2 / CR3 | Canon | .cr2, .cr3 |
| NEF | Nikon | .nef |
| ARW | Sony | .arw |
| ORF | Olympus / OM System | .orf |
| RAF | Fujifilm | .raf |
| RW2 | Panasonic | .rw2 |
| DNG | Adobe (universal) | .dng |
Converting RAW Photos
- CR2 to JPEG — Canon RAW to universal format
- NEF to JPEG — Nikon RAW to JPEG
- ARW to JPEG — Sony RAW to JPEG
- CR2 to PNG — for lossless output
- DNG to JPEG — Adobe DNG to JPEG
RAW Conversion Quality Notes
Our converter uses ImageMagick with LibRaw as the RAW decoding library, applying basic demosaicing at full sensor resolution. For professional results with custom white balance and tone curves, use Lightroom, Capture One, Darktable, or RawTherapee before exporting.