A RAW file is the unprocessed data straight off your camera's sensor, saved in a format specific to the camera brand — CR2 and CR3 for Canon, NEF for Nikon, ARW for Sony, RAF for Fujifilm, ORF for Olympus/OM, RW2 for Panasonic, and DNG as the one open standard. RAW files hold far more detail than a JPG, which is exactly why they're large and won't open in most apps until you convert them.
What is a RAW file?
A RAW file records the light your camera's sensor captured with almost no processing applied. A JPG, by contrast, is already "developed" in-camera — white balance, contrast, sharpening and compression are baked in. RAW keeps all of that adjustable, storing 12–14 bits of colour per channel (versus JPG's 8) and the full dynamic range the sensor saw. That's what lets photographers recover a blown-out sky or lift deep shadows later without the image falling apart.
Why doesn't every camera use the same RAW format?
Because RAW isn't really one format — it's a category. Each manufacturer stores sensor data its own way and gives it its own extension, tuned to its sensors and updated with new camera models. There's no single universal RAW file, which is why a photo from a brand-new camera sometimes won't open even in software that handled last year's model fine.
The main RAW formats, by camera brand
- Canon — .CR2 (older bodies) and .CR3 (2018 onward).
- Nikon — .NEF.
- Sony — .ARW.
- Fujifilm — .RAF.
- Olympus / OM System — .ORF.
- Panasonic Lumix — .RW2.
- Adobe / universal — .DNG, the open standard many phones (including iPhone ProRAW) and drones use.
RAW vs JPG: what's actually different?
RAW is the negative; JPG is the print. RAW gives you maximum editing latitude but is large and not directly shareable. JPG is small, universal, and finished — perfect for sending and posting, but with little room to recover detail. Most photographers shoot RAW and export a JPG only when it's time to share. For a full breakdown, see RAW vs JPG vs DNG: which to shoot and which to share.
What is DNG, and should you use it?
DNG (Digital Negative) is Adobe's open, documented RAW format. Because it isn't tied to one camera brand, it's a popular choice for archiving: you can convert a proprietary CR2 or NEF into DNG so your library stays readable years from now, even if the original software disappears. The trade-off is that some manufacturer-specific tools won't round-trip a DNG back to their own editing features.
Why won't my RAW file open?
Usually because the app doesn't recognise your camera's specific format, or your software predates the camera. Windows Photos, phones, and web upload forms typically can't display RAW at all. The quick fix is to convert it — the details are in why won't my RAW file open.
When should you convert RAW to JPG?
Convert to JPG whenever you need to share, upload, print at a lab, or simply view the photo somewhere that can't open RAW — after you've finished any editing. Converting bakes in your adjustments and produces a file that works everywhere. It does trade away the RAW file's editing headroom, which is covered in does converting RAW to JPG reduce quality. The golden rule: always keep your RAW originals as the master.
How to convert RAW photos privately
You don't need Lightroom or manufacturer software just to get a shareable copy. Convert RAW to JPG or RAW to PNG runs entirely in your browser, so your photos are never uploaded to a server — useful for client work or anything you'd rather keep off someone else's machine. There are dedicated tools per brand too, like CR2 to JPG, NEF to JPG, and ARW to JPG. New to it? Start with how to convert RAW photos to JPG.