ARW is Sony's in-camera RAW
ARW 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 ARW from a finished RAF.
Looking to turn a RAF into a ARW file? Here's the honest answer — and what actually works instead.
You can't convert RAF to ARW. ARW is a camera's own RAW format — it only ever comes out of the camera.
ARW 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 ARW from a finished RAF.
Your RAF is a developed, final image. The extra sensor information a ARW carries — wider dynamic range, full color depth, untouched highlights — was discarded when the photo was first saved, and can't be put back.
ARW 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 ARW.
Every real RAW file is one of these camera-maker-specific formats, written by the camera itself:
RAF is Fujifilm’s raw photo format, capturing full sensor data from X-series and GFX cameras.
How to open RAF opens in Lightroom, Capture One and Fujifilm software.
Full RAF format guideARW is Sony’s raw photo format, storing unprocessed sensor data from Alpha cameras for full editing latitude.
How to open ARW opens in Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One and Sony Imaging Edge.
Full ARW format guideLossless and uncompressed — ideal for editing, archiving and print.
RAF → TIFFLossless with transparency — perfect for graphics, logos and screenshots.
RAF → PNGA small, universal photo format that opens everywhere.
RAF → JPGConvert your ARW and other camera RAW files to JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Open the converter