Why convert RW2 to ARW?
RW2 (Panasonic Lumix RAW Image version 2) is a TIFF/EP-based proprietary raw format with Panasonic-specific metadata and encoding. ARW (Sony Alpha Raw) is a similarly structured but entirely separate proprietary format carrying Sony sensor data, Sony color matrices, and Sony lens correction profiles generated by Sony hardware. A file with an ARW extension but Panasonic data would be missing all Sony-specific structures and would be rejected or badly misread by Sony software - the two formats record output from different sensors made by different manufacturers.
How to convert RW2 to ARW
darktable OPEN-SOURCE
Open the .rw2 file in darktable, develop it, and export as JPEG or 16-bit TIFF for sharing or further editing.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom APP
Import the .rw2 into Lightroom and export as JPEG or TIFF, or use Copy as DNG on import to create an open raw archive.
Adobe Photoshop APP
Open the .rw2 via Camera Raw in Photoshop and save as TIFF or JPEG for processed output.
Programs that convert RW2
About these formats
.RW2
Panasonic Lumix RAW Image (version 2)
An RW2 file is a raw image from a Panasonic Lumix camera - the unprocessed sensor data, like a digital negative. On Windows, install the free Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store to…
Open .RW2 details →
.ARW
Sony Alpha Raw (Sony digital camera raw image)
An ARW file is a raw image from a Sony Alpha (or Cyber-shot) camera - the unprocessed sensor data, like a digital negative. On Windows, install the free Raw Image Extension from the…
Open .ARW details →Quality & what to watch
- Any tool listing ARW as an output for RW2 either produces a broken file or silently outputs JPEG in a renamed container - neither is a valid Sony raw.
- To produce a real ARW file you need a Sony camera; it is not possible to generate Sony sensor data from Panasonic sensor data.
- DNG is the practical open-raw alternative: convert RW2 to DNG with Lightroom's Copy as DNG feature.
