What is a RW2 file?
RW2 stands for Panasonic raw image. It was created by Panasonic and first released in 2008. RW2 is the raw format of Panasonic Lumix cameras since the G1 in 2008; earlier Lumix models wrote .RAW files. Leica compacts made with Panasonic write the same format under the .RWL extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless |
| Colour | raw sensor data, usually 12 or 14 bits per pixel |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | does not open in browsers; macOS Photos and Preview, Lightroom and SILKYPIX open it |
| Common uses | Panasonic Lumix cameras since the G1 |
| MIME type | image/x-panasonic-rw2 |
Which format should you convert RW2 to?
- RW2 to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
RW2 is lossy or lossless depending on how it was saved, so check what a program needs before converting.
How to open a RW2 file
A RW2 file does not open in a web browser, but most photo apps read it. Here is what works on each device.
| Windows | The Photos app opens it with Microsoft's free Raw Image Extension; Lightroom, SILKYPIX and darktable (free) edit it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Photos and Preview open it; Lightroom and darktable edit it. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app previews it and Photos opens it once imported; Lightroom Mobile edits it. |
| Android | Few Android apps read RW2. Convert it to JPG here to view it anywhere. |
Want the technical details? See what a .rw2 file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
RW2 compared with other image formats
How RW2 stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW2 | Either | No | 2008 | Panasonic Lumix cameras since the G1 |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
How to use the RW2 converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your RW2 files on the box, or press Choose RW2 files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting RW2 files without losing quality
RW2 can be lossy or lossless depending on how the file was saved. Either way, converting to a lossless format keeps exactly what is there, and converting to a lossy one trades a little detail for a much smaller file.
- Keep the raw file. It holds the full sensor data, with far more room for adjusting exposure and colour than any JPG or PNG made from it.
- Choose JPG to share or upload a photo, and PNG or TIFF when the picture will be edited further, since they add no compression loss.
- The conversion is a neutral development with the white balance the camera recorded. For an edited look, develop the file in Lightroom, darktable or RawTherapee instead.
- The server accepts files up to 25 MB, which fits the raw files of most cameras; very high-resolution cameras can go past it.
Convert RW2 files from the command line
LibRaw and ImageMagick do the same on your own computer:
dcraw_emu -w -o 1 -q 3 -T input.rw2
magick input.rw2.tiff -quality 92 output.jpgConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
RW2 converter FAQ
What is a RW2 file?
RW2 stands for Panasonic raw image, an image format created by Panasonic in 2008. RW2 is the raw format of Panasonic Lumix cameras since the G1 in 2008; earlier Lumix models wrote .RAW files. Leica compacts made with Panasonic write the same format under the .RWL extension.
How do I open a RW2 file?
RW2 does not open in browsers; macOS Photos and Preview, Lightroom and SILKYPIX open it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common RW2 conversion?
RW2 to JPG is the conversion people search for most. The RW2 is developed by LibRaw, the open-source camera RAW decoder, on our conversion server: the sensor data is turned into a full-colour picture with the white balance the camera recorded, AHD demosaicing and standard sRGB colour.
Does converting RW2 files here upload them?
Yes. RW2 conversions need LibRaw and ImageMagick, open-source programs that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the RW2 converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert RW2 files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your RW2 files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several RW2 files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.