ARW Converter
Convert files to and from ARW online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality file conversion with no sign-up or software required.
Maximum file size is 1GB
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What is an ARW file?
The ARW (Sony Alpha Raw) format is a proprietary raw image container generated by Sony Alpha, Cyber-shot, and NEX series digital cameras. It adheres to the TIFF (Tag Image File Format) specification, storing unprocessed photodiode data from the image sensor in either uncompressed, lossless compressed, or lossy compressed (11-bit + 7-bit delta) variations. The file encapsulates extensive EXIF metadata, maker notes, and a JPEG preview, requiring specific demosaicing algorithms to interpret the Bayer pattern data for display.
How to open an ARW file
Opening ARW files requires software capable of decoding Sony's proprietary Bayer interpretation. Sony provides the free Imaging Edge Desktop software for native handling. Industry-standard post-production tools such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and DxO PhotoLab offer full support. On Windows, the Microsoft Raw Image Extension allows native viewing in the Photos app, while macOS Preview supports most ARW iterations natively via Apple's Core Image RAW engine.
ARW Technical Info
- Full Name
- Sony Alpha Raw
- Developed By
- Sony Corporation
- Initial Release
- 2005
- MIME Type
- image/x-sony-arw
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