How to convert CR2 to BMP
- Add your .CR2 file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .BMP in a few seconds.
- Download your new .BMP file.
What to expect
- The raw is rendered to fixed 8-bit pixels; the exposure and white-balance latitude of the original is lost.
- BMP stores no Exif, so camera settings and any GPS data are dropped.
- Output is uncompressed and can be very large.
Frequently asked questions
What does the BMP actually contain compared to the CR2?
The CR2's raw sensor data is demosaiced and rendered into finished pixels, so the BMP looks like an ordinary photo. The wide editing latitude of the raw is baked in at this stage.
Why convert a Canon raw to BMP?
BMP opens instantly in any Windows viewer with no raw plug-in, which is useful when you need a plain, universally readable raster rather than a camera-specific file.
Where does a BMP open?
Every major operating system and image viewer opens BMP natively - double-clicking works without extra software.
What is lost, and how big is the file?
The raw's 12/14-bit depth is reduced to 8-bit per channel and raw-only adjustments (white balance, exposure recovery) are no longer possible. BMP is uncompressed, so the file can be very large - often larger than the original CR2 - and Exif/camera metadata is not stored.
Programs that convert CR2: ACDSee Photo Manager · XnView · FastStone Image Viewer · XnConvert · 3D Studio Max
