Glossary
What Is a CR2 File?
A CR2 file is Canon's RAW image format, produced by a wide range of Canon DSLR and mirrorless cameras. CR2 stands for Canon Raw version 2, and it stores the unprocessed data straight from the sensor rather than a finished picture, so the shot keeps every bit of detail Canon's hardware captured.
TL;DRCR2 is Canon's RAW format holding the untouched sensor data from a shot. Convert copies to JPEG to share, and keep the CR2 originals for editing.
What a CR2 File Stores
A CR2 is more than just pixels. Inside a single file you get:
- The raw sensor readout at full bit depth, untouched by in-camera processing.
- A built-in JPG preview so the camera and file browsers can show a thumbnail.
- Metadata: the lens, exposure, ISO, white balance, and other shot settings.
CR2 is the older Canon RAW format. Newer Canon cameras have switched to CR3, which compresses better but is a different file type. A tool that opens CR2 will not always open CR3, so check which one your camera writes.
CR2 Versus JPEG
Shooting CR2 instead of JPEG means the camera does not lock in sharpening, color, or compression. You can correct exposure and white balance afterward with almost no quality loss. The cost is size and compatibility: a CR2 is much larger than a JPEG and will not open in most browsers, phones, or office apps.
Why You Need to Convert CR2
Because CR2 is a Canon-specific RAW format, you cannot post it online, attach it where others expect a normal image, or print it from a basic app. Converting CR2 to JPEG bakes in your adjustments and produces a small, universal file that opens anywhere.
Convert copies, not your originals. Keep the CR2 files as your editable masters so you can return and re-process a shot later with different settings.
How to Convert a CR2 File
A batch converter reads a whole folder of CR2 files and saves them as JPEG in one pass, using the size and quality you set, so a full shoot is ready to share without opening each photo by hand.
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