Why convert CR2 to RAW?
CR2 is a TIFF-based proprietary raw format used in Canon DSLRs from 2004 through roughly 2018; it already holds unprocessed sensor data, the full tonal range, and all camera metadata. The .raw extension is used by several brands (Leica, Panasonic, some Sigma bodies), each with its own incompatible internal structure - there is no single .raw specification to convert to.
How to convert CR2 to RAW
Adobe DNG Converter FREE
Download the free Adobe DNG Converter and point it at your .cr2 files to produce open, portable .dng raw files with no quality loss - the correct alternative to .raw for archiving.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom APP
Import the .cr2 in Lightroom and export as JPEG for sharing or as 16-bit TIFF for a lossless processed master.
Programs that convert CR2
About these formats
.CR2
Canon RAW 2 (Canon digital camera raw image, version 2)
A CR2 file is a raw image from a Canon DSLR - the unprocessed sensor data, similar to a digital negative. On Windows, install the free Raw Image Extension (Microsoft Store) to see…
Open .CR2 details →
.RAW
Raw Camera Image
A .raw file is most often an unprocessed photo straight from a digital camera sensor - a "digital negative" used by Panasonic, Leica, Contax, Casio, and others. Open and develop it free…
Open .RAW details →Quality & what to watch
.rawis not a single defined format - each brand that uses it has its own internal structure incompatible with Canon CR2.- Renaming a
.cr2to.rawproduces a broken file that no software will open correctly. - DNG is the correct archiving target: it is documented, open, and widely supported across raw-capable applications.
Frequently asked questions
Is `.raw` a real image format?
.raw extension, each with its own internal structure; a Canon CR2 renamed to .raw is not compatible with any of them.What should I use for long-term raw archiving instead of `.raw`?
Can Lightroom or Photoshop export a .raw file from CR2?
.raw because no single .raw specification exists to export to.
