CR2 Converter
CR2 is the raw file a Canon EOS body wrote before the CR3 era: full sensor data, untouched by in-camera processing, and unopenable by most software that is not a raw editor. Converting is how those frames become shareable without a Canon toolchain.
CR2 at a glance
| Full name | Canon RAW Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Extension | .cr2 |
| MIME type | image/x-canon-cr2 |
| Compression | Lossless |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| Colours | 16.7M+ (12/14-bit per channel) |
| Browser support | No browser support (requires RAW software) |
| Typical use | Canon EOS DSLR photos (5D, 7D, Rebel series) |
| Introduced | 2004 |
Convert CR2 to another format
CR2 questions
How do I open a CR2 file without Canon software?
Windows previews CR2 once the Raw Image Extension is installed, and macOS Preview reads it natively. Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom, darktable and RawTherapee all open it. For sending a photo to someone or putting it on the web, converting to JPG is simpler than asking them to install anything.
What is the difference between CR2 and CR3?
CR3 replaced CR2 from the EOS M50 onwards and compresses better for the same sensor data, so files are smaller. CR2 is the older TIFF-based container used by the EOS DSLRs. Neither is readable by ordinary software, and both convert to the same output formats here.
Which Canon cameras write CR2 files?
The EOS DSLRs from roughly 2004 to 2018: the 5D series, the 7D, the 6D, and the Rebel and xxxD bodies. Anything newer, and every EOS R mirrorless body, writes CR3 instead.
Is a CR2 file higher quality than the JPG beside it?
It holds more information rather than looking better straight away. A CR2 keeps 14 bits per channel and no in-camera sharpening or noise reduction, which is latitude for editing. Converted well it beats the camera JPG; converted with default settings it can look flatter.