SRF is Sony's in-camera RAW
SRF is the raw sensor data a Sony camera writes at the moment of capture. It's produced by the camera's own hardware and firmware — software can read it, but nothing can manufacture a genuine SRF from a finished BMP.
Looking to turn a BMP into a SRF file? Here's the honest answer — and what actually works instead.
You can't convert BMP to SRF. SRF is a camera's own RAW format — it only ever comes out of the camera.
SRF is the raw sensor data a Sony camera writes at the moment of capture. It's produced by the camera's own hardware and firmware — software can read it, but nothing can manufacture a genuine SRF from a finished BMP.
Your BMP is a developed, final image. The extra sensor information a SRF carries — wider dynamic range, full color depth, untouched highlights — was discarded when the photo was first saved, and can't be put back.
SRF is proprietary to Sony. Even other RAW formats (NEF, ARW, RAF…) aren't interchangeable with it — there is no universal "save as RAW" that produces a real SRF.
Every real RAW file is one of these camera-maker-specific formats, written by the camera itself:
BMP is an uncompressed raster format that stores pixel data with no quality loss, producing large files. It is common on Windows.
How to open BMP opens in most image viewers and editors on Windows and Mac.
Full BMP format guideSRF is Sony's earliest raw format from Cyber-shot cameras like the DSC-F828, predating the later ARW standard.
How to open SRF opens in Lightroom, RawTherapee and Sony's original software; convert to DNG/JPG for modern use.
Full SRF format guideLossless and uncompressed — ideal for editing, archiving and print.
BMP → TIFFLossless with transparency — perfect for graphics, logos and screenshots.
BMP → PNGA small, universal photo format that opens everywhere.
BMP → JPGConvert your SRF and other camera RAW files to JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Open the converter