CR2 converter
Convert your CR2 files to any format.
What is a CR2 file?
CR2 is Canon's RAW format — every photographic detail the sensor captured, before any in-camera processing, editable but unreadable by most everyday software.
First released in 2004 by Canon, it uses lossless compression and no transparency, which makes it best suited to unprocessed camera sensor data from Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
Drop a CR2 file below and we'll show you every conversion available, each one processed locally on your device — nothing is uploaded to a server, so converting is instant and completely private.
Advantages of the CR2 format
Maximum editing latitude
CR2 stores the sensor's raw measurements rather than a baked-in interpretation, so exposure, white balance and color can be adjusted after the fact with far less quality loss than editing a JPG.
Higher bit depth
Typically 12 or 14 bits per channel versus JPG's 8, capturing far smoother gradients and more recoverable detail in shadows and highlights.
Nothing discarded
Unlike JPG, no in-camera sharpening, noise reduction or compression is baked in — the file is the closest thing to what the sensor actually saw.
Convert CR2 to…
Pick a target format — every CR2 conversion runs instantly in your browser.
CR2: frequently asked questions
Why can't I just open my CR2 file like a normal photo?
CR2 stores raw, undebayered sensor data — it needs a RAW processing pipeline (demosaicing, color matrix, white balance) to become a viewable image, which most everyday apps and browsers don't include.
Will I lose quality converting CR2 to JPG?
Some — JPG is lossy and limited to 8 bits per channel, while CR2 typically holds 12–14 bits of latitude. For sharing and viewing the difference is invisible; for serious editing, keep the original CR2.
Is the conversion private?
Yes — your CR2 is decoded and converted entirely inside your browser via a WebAssembly build of LibRaw; nothing is uploaded to a server.
Why is my CR2 file so large?
It stores the sensor's full raw measurements at high bit depth with little to no compression, which is exactly what gives it so much editing latitude.