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Convert FITS to RAW

Looking to turn a FITS into a RAW file? Here's the honest answer — and what actually works instead.

You can't convert FITS to RAW — and no tool genuinely can. Here's why.

Why FITS to RAW isn't possible

1

RAW is sensor data, not a picture

A RAW file is the unprocessed data captured straight off a camera's image sensor the instant you press the shutter. A FITS is an already-processed, finished image — the original sensor information is long gone and can't be recreated.

2

It's tied to a specific camera

Each RAW format — Canon CR2, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Fuji RAF and dozens more — is proprietary to one camera maker and model. There is no single universal "RAW" file to convert into.

3

The detail can't be rebuilt

Converting to RAW can't bring back the extra dynamic range, color depth or highlight recovery that real RAW holds — that data was never in your FITS. You'd only get a larger file with none of the benefits.

So what are the actual RAW formats?

"RAW" isn't a single format — it's dozens of camera-maker-specific ones. A real RAW file is always one of these, straight from the camera:

DNGDigital NegativeAdobeCR2Canon Raw v2CanonCR3Canon Raw v3CanonARWSony Alpha RawSonyNEFNikon Electronic FormatNikonRAFFuji RawFujifilmRW2Panasonic RawPanasonicORFOlympus Raw FormatOlympusPEFPentax Electronic FilePentaxSR2Sony Raw 2SonyX3FSigma RawSigma3FRHasselblad RawHasselbladCRWCanon Raw (legacy)CanonNRWNikon Coolpix RawNikonK25Kodak DC25 RawKodakKDCKodak Digital Camera RawKodakDCRKodak Professional RawKodakMRWMinolta RawMinoltaSRFSony Raw (early)SonyERFEpson RawEpsonMEFMamiya RawMamiyaMOSLeaf RawLeafIIQPhase One RawPhase OneRWLLeica RawLeicaFFFHasselblad Flexible FileHasselblad

Format details

What is a FITS file?

FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) is the standard format of astronomy, storing telescope and scientific image data with extensive metadata headers.

Full name
Flexible Image Transport System
Developed by
NASA / IAU
Released
1981
Extension
.fits
MIME type
image/fits
Transparency
Varies

How to open FITS opens in astronomy software like SAOImage DS9, FITS Liberator and Astropy; convert to PNG/TIFF to view normally.

Full FITS format guide

What is a RAW file?

A raw file is the unprocessed data straight from a camera’s sensor, keeping maximum detail and dynamic range before it is developed into a JPG or PNG. “RAW” isn’t one format — each maker has its own (CR2, NEF, ARW…).

Full name
Camera Raw
Developed by
Camera manufacturers
Released
—
Extension
.raw
MIME type
image/x-raw
Transparency
No

How to open RAW files open in Lightroom, Photoshop / Camera Raw, Capture One and each camera maker’s software.

What you can do instead

Convert FITS to TIFF

Lossless and uncompressed — the best choice for editing or archiving at full quality.

FITS → TIFF

Convert FITS to PNG

Lossless too, and opens everywhere — keeps every pixel with no quality loss.

FITS → PNG

Already have RAW photos?

Convert your CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG and other camera RAW files to JPG, PNG or TIFF.

Open the converter

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert FITS to RAW?
No. RAW is the unprocessed data a camera's sensor records at the moment of capture — it can't be generated from an already-processed FITS, or from any finished image. Software converts from RAW, never into it.
What's the difference between RAW and FITS?
FITS is a finished, ready-to-view image. A RAW file holds the original sensor data with far more dynamic range and editing latitude — but it only ever comes straight out of a camera, not from a converter.
Is DNG the same as RAW?
DNG (Adobe Digital Negative) is an open RAW container. You can convert a camera's proprietary RAW — CR2, NEF, ARW and so on — into DNG, but you still can't turn a regular FITS into RAW.
How do I open a RAW file?
RAW files open in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Camera Raw, Capture One, and each maker's own software — Canon DPP, Nikon NX Studio, Sony Imaging Edge and more.
Can I convert RAW to FITS or JPG instead?
Yes — that direction works. Use our converter to turn CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG and other RAW files into JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Will converting to RAW improve my image quality?
No. You can't recover detail, dynamic range or color depth that was never captured. Your FITS already contains all the data it has.