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CR2 File - What is a .cr2 file and how do I open it?
Learn about .CR2 files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is a CR2 file? A CR2 file is a digital photo saved in the Canon Raw 2 format. Various Canon digital cameras, including the EOS 1D Mark IV and EOS 450D, save photos in the CR2 format. Notably, CR2 files contain a losslessly-compressed copy of the image data a camera's Charged Coupled Device ( CCD ) captured. Thus, CR2 files often have large file sizes (and contain high-quality images).
More Information CR2 file open in Adobe Photoshop Typically, professional-grade digital cameras save photos as camera raw files. Camera raw files contain an unprocessed copy of all the data a camera captured when taking a photo. Retaining all this data allows photographers to, among other things, edit their photos more precisely and print them at higher quality. (In contrast, non-professional cameras usually process and compress photos before storing them as .JPG files.) Each manufacturer's digital cameras save photos in their own particular camera raw formats . Most Canon cameras released between 2004 and 2018 save photos in the CR2 format (extended from TIFF ). This format replaced Canon's previous camera raw format, .CRW , with the release of the EOS 20D. It has itself been replaced by the .CR3 format, with the release of the EOS M50. When to use (and not use) CR2 files Professional and hobbyist photographers often import CR2 files into Canon photo-editing software and other photo editors, like Adobe Photoshop. They then use these programs to edit and/or print the photos their CR2 files contain. So, if you're looking to edit or print a high-quality photo, you may want to keep your photo saved in the CR2 format and open it with a professional image editor. On the other hand, if you want to share the photo a CR2 file contains, you'll likely want to convert it to JPG or .PNG . Doing so will reduce the file's size considerably, making it easier to share. Just be aware that converting a CR2 file will discard some of the camera raw data the file contains. Thus, you may want to create a copy of your CR2 file before converting it, if you plan to edit or print your photo in the future.
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DeveloperBondware
Popularity3.2 | 21 Votes
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.CR2 File Extension
2 file types use the .cr2 file extension.
Canon Raw 2 Image
| Developer | Canon |
| Popularity |
4.0 | 312 Votes |
NEW: Open your .CR2 file online with File Helper . View Online
What is a CR2 file?
A CR2 file is a digital photo saved in the Canon Raw 2 format. Various Canon digital cameras, including the EOS 1D Mark IV and EOS 450D, save photos in the CR2 format. Notably, CR2 files contain a losslessly-compressed copy of the image data a camera's Charged Coupled Device ( CCD ) captured. Thus, CR2 files often have large file sizes (and contain high-quality images).
More Information
CR2 file open in Adobe Photoshop
Typically, professional-grade digital cameras save photos as camera raw files. Camera raw files contain an unprocessed copy of all the data a camera captured when taking a photo. Retaining all this data allows photographers to, among other things, edit their photos more precisely and print them at higher quality. (In contrast, non-professional cameras usually process and compress photos before storing them as .JPG files.)
Each manufacturer's digital cameras save photos in their own particular camera raw formats . Most Canon cameras released between 2004 and 2018 save photos in the CR2 format (extended from TIFF ). This format replaced Canon's previous camera raw format, .CRW , with the release of the EOS 20D. It has itself been replaced by the .CR3 format, with the release of the EOS M50.
When to use (and not use) CR2 files
Professional and hobbyist photographers often import CR2 files into Canon photo-editing software and other photo editors, like Adobe Photoshop. They then use these programs to edit and/or print the photos their CR2 files contain. So, if you're looking to edit or print a high-quality photo, you may want to keep your photo saved in the CR2 format and open it with a professional image editor.
On the other hand, if you want to share the photo a CR2 file contains, you'll likely want to convert it to JPG or .PNG . Doing so will reduce the file's size considerably, making it easier to share. Just be aware that converting a CR2 file will discard some of the camera raw data the file contains. Thus, you may want to create a copy of your CR2 file before converting it, if you plan to edit or print your photo in the future.
How to open a CR2 file
You can open CR2 files with any of the following image viewers and editors:
If you're looking to edit the image a CR2 file contains, opening it in Adobe Photoshop is likely your best bet. Photoshop contains a comprehensive suite of image-editing tools and can export CR2 files in many common image formats.
How to convert a CR2 file
Various image editors and viewers, including Adobe Photoshop, Apple Preview, and IrfanView, can convert CR2 files to other formats.
For example, Adobe Photoshop can convert CR2 files to the following formats:
Apple Preview can convert CR2 files to the following formats:
Programs that open CR2 files
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Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Microsoft Photos with Raw Image Extension
Included with OS
Adobe Photoshop 2025
Free Trial
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Free Trial
IrfanView
Free
GIMP with UFRaw plug-in
Free
ACD Systems ACDSee Photo Studio
Free Trial
Canvas GFX Canvas X Pro
Free Trial
FastStone Image Viewer
Free
Mac
Apple Preview
Included with OS
Apple Photos
Included with OS
Adobe Photoshop 2025
Free Trial
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Free Trial
GIMP with UFRaw plug-in
Free
Snap Converter
Paid
MacPhun ColorStrokes
—
Discontinued
Paid
Linux
GIMP with UFRaw plug-in
Free
gphoto2
Free
MATE
with Atril Document Viewer
Free
gThumb
Free
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
Google Photos
Free
Apple Photos
Included with OS
iOS
Apple Photos
Included with OS
Adobe Photoshop Express
Free +
Google Photos
Free
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
Adobe Photoshop Express
Free
Google Photos
Free
Chrome OS
Google Photos
Free
Category: Camera Raw Files
Updated: June 30, 2023
Poser Character Rigging File
| Developer | Bondware |
| Popularity |
3.2 | 21 Votes |
3D character data file used by Poser, a 3D human modeling program; includes information about the figure's joints and bones, including where and how much they bend; may also contain information about morphs that are built into the figure; may be imported by various third-party programs.
More Information
NOTE: Poser was originally developed by Smith Micro, but was sold to Bondware in June 2019.
Programs that open or reference CR2 files
Sort
Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
Bondware Poser
Free Trial
DAZ 3D DAZ Studio 4
Free
Autodesk 3ds Max with PMorphTools
Free Trial
Mac
Bondware Poser
Free Trial
DAZ 3D DAZ Studio 4
Free
Category: 3D Image Files
Updated: April 15, 2020