CR2 is Canon’s second-generation raw photo format. Canon EOS DSLRs and some PowerShot cameras used it from around 2004 until 2018, when the newer CR3 format arrived with the EOS M50 and the mirrorless EOS R system. Millions of photos from popular cameras such as the EOS 5D, 6D, 7D, 80D and Rebel series are stored as CR2.
How CR2 works
A CR2 file is built on the TIFF structure. It contains the raw sensor data, typically at 14 bits per pixel, along with one or more embedded JPEG previews and Canon’s detailed shooting metadata. The format is proprietary but well understood, so raw software such as LibRaw, Lightroom and darktable can read it.
CR2 versus CR3
CR3, used by Canon cameras since 2018, is based on a different container (ISO base media file format) and supports more efficient compression, including smaller “C-RAW” files. Older software that opens CR2 may not support CR3.
What CR2 is good at
- Full sensor data for editing exposure, white balance and colour
- Highlight and shadow recovery far beyond a JPG
- Wide software support, thanks to its long history
Where CR2 falls short
- Large files
- Not viewable on most phones, websites and social networks
- Needs developing before it looks like a finished photo
CR2 and other formats
Convert CR2 to JPG to share or print your Canon photos without raw software. For CR3 and other camera brands, the universal image converter accepts many raw formats.