How to Convert CR2 to JPG
(Canon RAW Photos)

What Is CR2 Format?

CR2 (Canon RAW version 2) is Canon’s proprietary RAW image format used by most Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras since the mid-2000s. Unlike JPG, which is a compressed, processed image, CR2 files contain the unprocessed sensor data exactly as the camera captured it.

A CR2 file stores 14-bit (or 12-bit on older models) color depth per channel, compared to JPG’s 8-bit. This means a CR2 image contains up to 16,384 brightness levels per channel, while JPG has only 256. The extra data gives you significantly more room to adjust exposure, white balance, and color in post-processing.

Canon Cameras That Use CR2

Virtually all Canon DSLRs released between 2004 and 2018 shoot in CR2 format. Here are the most popular models:

If you shoot with any of these cameras in RAW mode, your files will have the .cr2 extension.

Method 1: Convert Online with CleverUtils

The fastest way to convert CR2 to JPG without installing any software. CleverUtils works in any web browser on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone.

1. Upload your CR2 file — drag and drop it onto the converter, or click to browse your files. The converter takes one file at a time.
2. Pick a JPG quality — High (92) is the default; Low (60), Medium (80) and Max (100) are the other options. You can also shrink the long side to 2048, 1024 or 640 px.
3. Click Convert — the conversion takes a few seconds per file. CleverUtils decodes the RAW data on the server with dcraw, using the camera’s white balance and sRGB output.
4. Download your JPG — once conversion is complete, click the download button. Keep the original CR2 as your master file.

Method 2: Convert with Desktop Software

If you need more control over the conversion process, these desktop applications let you fine-tune RAW processing settings before exporting to JPG:

Adobe Lightroom / Camera Raw

• Import your CR2 files into the Lightroom library
• Adjust exposure, white balance, tone curve, and other settings
• Select the photos to export, then go to File → Export
• Choose JPEG as the format, set quality (80–95 recommended), and select the output folder
• Click Export — Lightroom processes and saves JPG files with your adjustments applied

Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP)

• Free software from Canon, optimized specifically for Canon RAW files
• Download from Canon’s support website (requires camera serial number)
• Open CR2 files, apply Canon’s Picture Style processing
• Use File → Convert and save to export as JPG
• Supports Canon-specific features like Dual Pixel RAW and in-camera lens corrections

RawTherapee (Free, Open Source)

• Powerful free RAW processor available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Open your CR2 file and adjust processing settings
• Use the export queue (Ctrl+B) to batch-process multiple files
• Set output format to JPEG with desired quality level

dcraw (Command Line)

• Free, open-source command-line RAW decoder that supports virtually every RAW format
• Basic usage: dcraw -T photo.cr2 (outputs TIFF, then convert to JPG)
• With quality settings: dcraw -w -H 2 -o 1 -q 3 -T photo.cr2
• Best for scripting automated batch conversions on Linux/macOS servers

JPG Quality Settings for Photos

When converting CR2 to JPG, the quality setting controls the compression level. Higher quality means larger files with more detail preserved; lower quality means smaller files with visible compression artifacts.

For most photography use cases, quality 85–92 provides the best balance between file size and visual quality. At this range, compression artifacts are invisible to the naked eye, and files are small enough for easy sharing and uploading.

Batch Conversion: Multiple CR2 Files

Photographers rarely need to convert just one photo. After a shoot, you might have hundreds or thousands of CR2 files. Here is how to handle batch conversion efficiently:

• CleverUtils (online): One file per conversion. Fine for a handful of photos; for a full shoot, use one of the desktop options below.
• Lightroom: Select all photos in the Library module (Ctrl+A), then File → Export. All selected images are processed with the same export settings.
• RawTherapee: Add multiple files to the processing queue, set a common output profile, and process the entire batch.
• Command line (dcraw + ImageMagick): Use a simple script to process an entire folder:
  for f in *.cr2; do dcraw -c -w "$f" | cjpeg -quality 90 > "${f%.cr2}.jpg"; done

Preserving EXIF Data During Conversion

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data contains valuable metadata embedded in your photos: camera model, lens used, exposure settings, GPS location, date/time, and more. When converting CR2 to JPG, preserving this data is important for organizing and searching your photo library.

Most RAW converters preserve EXIF data by default. However, some tools strip it during conversion. To verify your EXIF data was preserved, check the file properties in your operating system or use a tool like ExifTool.

CleverUtils removes EXIF metadata (camera, lens, date, GPS) from the JPG it creates. That protects your location, but if you need the data, copy it back with ExifTool: exiftool -TagsFromFile photo.cr2 photo.jpg.

How to Convert CR2 to JPG on Mac, Windows, in Photoshop and in the Camera

Mac (Preview)

1. Open the CR2 file in Preview.
2. Choose File → Export, set Format to JPEG and move the Quality slider.
3. Click Save. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and use File → Export Selected Images.

Windows (Photos)

Windows opens CR2 files in Photos once Microsoft’s free Raw Image Extension is installed from the Microsoft Store. For JPG copies of many files, Canon DPP (free) exports in batches.

Photoshop

1. Open the CR2. It opens in Camera Raw first.
2. Adjust exposure or white balance if needed, then click Open.
3. Choose File → Export → Export As, pick JPG and set the quality.

In the camera

Many EOS cameras can do it without a computer: open the playback menu, choose RAW image processing, pick the photo and save a JPEG copy to the card.