To convert a RAW file, follow these simple steps:
Download, install, and launch Movavi Video Converter.
Adjust the conversion settings and convert your files.
When you take photos on a high-quality camera, it's normal for them to be created in the RAW format. This format can store a lot of information and ensures that your images are of the finest detail, but many people want to find a RAW converter or RAW-to-JPEG converter for Windows to easily convert RAW files from their camera into more usable and convenient formats for other devices.
If you're searching for a RAW-to-JPG converter or RAW-to-DNG converter, this guide can help. We can help you find the best RAW converter and have put together a list of trusted, reliable RAW file converters for PC, mobile devices, and other platforms too. Check out the RAW image converter comparison table below and our RAW converter free list further down to find out more.
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Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Level: beginner
Movavi Video Converter is another popular conversion tool you can download to Mac or Windows and use for free. It allows users to convert media files in 180+ different formats, including RAW files to JPG. It also lets you compress files without losing quality and is great for all-around conversion of media, perfect for people who take a lot of photos and record a lot of videos or have to work with many different file types.
Pros
Easy to use
Works with 180+ file formats
Great for all kinds of media conversion
Cons
Can’t convert videos by URL
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Level: intermediate
Adobe® Camera Raw is one of the simplest and most functional tools you can use for RAW file conversion and processing. It's available as a free plug-in download and supports all different types of digital cameras, so you shouldn't have to worry about compatibility issues. It's also fully compatible with other Adobe® tools like Photoshop® and Lightroom®, so it is a good choice for people who have already got Adobe® software on their devices.
Pros
Free to use
Supports lots of different camera types
Multiple enhancement features like color adjustments, correction, and spot removal
Works well with other Adobe software
Cons
You need to have Adobe® Photoshop® to install this plug-in
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, iOS
Level: advanced
Affinity Photo is a great RAW converter for people who want to convert lots of images in a short timeframe. It has really fast processing speeds, allowing it to deal with large batches of files in mere minutes, and it also comes with plenty of editing toolset features to adjust your images. On the downside, the interface is quite advanced, so this isn't the best of tools for beginners.
Pros
Very fast processing speeds
Supports JPEG, BMP, PNG, and TIFF formats
Lots of editing and enhancement tools
Cons
Quite complicated UI design for beginners
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Level: advanced
Capture One Pro is an advanced photo editing program that offers RAW conversion and processing as a key feature. It's used and trusted by professionals in fields like photo editing, and it comes with a wide range of built-in profiles to let you quickly and easily adjust the settings to suit your specific model. It also features editing and enhancements like color balancing.
Pros
Speedy conversion
Trusted by professionals
Lots of editing, filters, and enhancement features
Cons
High price
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Level: intermediate
Those who are looking for a program that offers RAW conversion and editing functionality in one whole package will appreciate Adobe® Lightroom®. This RAW image converter works with many big-name models like Nikon and Canon cameras, as well as some Sony models too. It offers lots of handy features like local tools for working on files during importing, camera and lens adjustments, color correction, and speedy converting too.
Pros
Work with files while importing
Smart preview
Advanced editing
Cons
Doesn't work with all cameras
6. DxO Photolab
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Level: beginner
DxO Photolab is another piece of software that is fully compatible with RAW files and works with over 400 different models of digital camera, so it's highly likely that this tool will be able to work with your device. As well as offering RAW file transformations, DxO Photolab features a myriad of editing and enhancement tools, with a user-friendly UI and plenty of useful features.
Pros
Accessible UI
Beginner-friendly
Works with 400+ cameras
Cons
Performance can struggle on low-end devices
7. Raw Power
Supported OS: Mac
Level: beginner
Raw Power is one of the top RAW converters for Mac devices. It's available exclusively for the Mac platform and is a very beginner-friendly option for people who just want to quickly and easily convert their RAW files. You can convert files in batches very simply, and the software supports a lot of different apps. It doesn't have a very extensive array of features like editing or enhancement panels, but it's a dependable, functional converter.
Pros
Very beginner-friendly
Ideal for Mac users
Batch editing
Easy integration with other Mac programs
Cons
Only for Mac
Not many features
Supported OS: iOS
Level: beginner
EasyRAWConverter is a simple mobile app available on the Google Play Store that you can download to your Android device and use for the conversion of RAW files. It's really easy to use, with simple menus and big buttons, so beginners shouldn't have any problems, and it works with a lot of the big camera types and brands too.
Pros
Small, lightweight download
Easy-to-understand menus
Supports lots of different formats
Cons
No editing
Processing speeds can be slow
9. Raw2dng
Supported OS: iOS
Level: intermediate
Raw2dng is another simple, lightweight Android app you can set up on your phone or tablet. It allows you to convert all of the major RAW formats into either TIFF, JPEG, or DNG, maintaining all metadata and preserving the quality of your images too. It doesn't work with CR3, however, which is a common Canon format. You can import RAW photos straight from the camera over Wi-Fi and compress images up to 60% without losing any information.
Pros
Supports most file formats
DNG, JPEG, or TIFF conversions
Import straight from the camera
Cons
Doesn't work with Canon cameras
Supported OS: Android
Level: beginner
Photo & Image Converter is an iOS app you can download and use on your iPad for RAW file conversion. It allows for quick and easy conversions in dozens of different file types from JPEG and JPG to PNG, WEBP, GIF, TIF, BMP, and so on. It supports a lot of different RAW types from major brands and also features image resizing, compression, and batch conversion too.
Pros
Great for iPad users
Batch conversion works well, built-in resizing tool
Cons
Some users report bugs
11. PhotoRaw
Supported OS: Android
Level: intermediate
PhotoRaw is another iOS app you can set up on Apple devices to use for RAW file conversion. It's not free, but the price isn't too high, and users are satisfied with the speeds and features of this app. It offers 64-bit processing for fast conversions, as well as being iOS 14 optimized for the latest devices. It can let you view and adjust RAW image files however you like and offers AirDrop support for experts.
Pros
Simple to use
Speedy conversions and processing
AirDrop support
Cons
Some users find the interface a little clunky
12. CloudConvert
Supported OS: any
Level: beginner
If you want to convert RAW files on the web, CloudConvert is a reliable and useful tool to do so. You can make an account in minutes and start converting from RAW to JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP, and HEIC. Users have total control over image resolutions, file sizes, and quality levels too, and the tool supports over 200 different formats, with good security settings to protect your privacy.
Pros
Solid security
200+ supported formats, easy to use
Cons
Processing speeds can be slow
13. RAW.Pics.io
Supported OS: any
Level: beginner
RAW.Pics.io is an easy-to-use online converter for transforming RAW files from many different camera models into JPEG format. You only need to follow a few simple steps to use it, and it works in all of the big browsers like Chrome and Firefox. This tool also supports batch conversion.
Pros
Easy to use
A built-in batch conversion
Drag and drop
Cons
Processing times can be long
14. iLoveIMG
Supported OS: any
Level: beginner
iLoveIMG allows users to transform a wide variety of RAW file types, like CR2, ARW, ORF, and SR2, into JPG format. It supports the most popular camera makes and models and is really easy to use, with built-in Dropbox and Google Drive support.
Pros
Quick and easy to use
Support for Dropbox and Drive
Cons
No editing
15. Zamzar
Supported OS: any
Level: beginner
Finally, we have Zamzar, another web-based RAW file converter. It only supports files of up to 50 MB in size, but it supports many different formats, and anyone can start using it without an account. You can leave it converting in the background when doing bulk conversions, and the tool will send you an email notification when the process is done.
Pros
Useful notification features
No account needed
Good for bulk conversions
Cons
50 MB file limit
It's important to note that different brands and types of cameras make use of different RAW formats. The RAW files from a Sony camera, for example, aren't the same as RAW files in a Canon camera.
They can have different extensions, and in order to open each type of RAW file, a program or device needs to be able to support both the file type itself and the specific model of camera that captured the image in question.
This is why a RAW picture converter can be so useful, as it lets you convert all these different types of RAW files into more universal, convenient formats like JPEG.
Canon RAW files
Canon RAW files are a raster file format for Canon brand cameras with the CRW extension. The format is supported by POLYVIEW and features on Canon series like Power Shot and EOS.
Sony RAW files
Sony RAW files have the ARW extension. With this format, all data captured by the camera is preserved according to TIFF specifications, with ARW files being quite large in general, with no compression in order to preserve quality. You can find Sony RAW files in models like the Sony NEX range and ILCE series.
Fuji RAW files
Fuji RAW files have the RAF extension. Like other types of RAW files, they are unprocessed and uncompressed. Camera series like the Fujifilm FinePix and Fujifilm X series make use of the RAF extension.
Nikon RAW files
These files have the NEF extension. When a NEF image is written to a memory card, its hue, tone, sharpening, and other parameters are not altered by in-camera processing. NEF files can be uncompressed or have a "lossless" compressed form.
In order to choose the best RAW-to-JPEG converter for you, it's important to take several different factors into account. For example, you should think about the user interface and how easy the converter is to use, as some are much more beginner-friendly than others.
You also need to think about camera profiles and compatibility – different cameras produce different types of RAW files, and you need to know that your chosen converter can work with your camera.
Color management is another key factor to consider, as well as batch processing and interpolation quality, and these factors can help you find the best free RAW converter in terms of the quality of the images it converts and the speed at which it can convert large numbers of images too.
Make sure you find a RAW converter that works on your chosen platform as well. You'll need a RAW converter for Mac to work on your Mac computer, for example, or you might want to use an online RAW converter if you don't want to worry about limitations regarding operating systems.
Summary
If you need a RAW-to-JPG converter for free, we hope that this list has provided you with enough options to find the perfect tool to use. With these online tools and downloadable pieces of software, converting RAW to other formats is quick and easy, perfect for helping you manage your photos and make conversions without losing quality or dealing with any unnecessary hassle.
Movavi Video Converter
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