Is this CR2 to PNG converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple CR2 files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

When should I convert CR2 to PNG instead of JPG?

Choose PNG when you need a lossless image — for design projects where you'll further edit the photo, compositing work in Photoshop or Figma, technical documentation, or any situation where JPEG compression artifacts would be a problem. PNG files are significantly larger (a 20 MP Canon shot typically produces a 50–70 MB PNG), but every pixel is stored exactly as rendered. For everyday sharing and printing, JPG is more practical.

Why won't my CR2 file open on my computer?

A .cr2 is Canon RAW sensor data, not a finished image, so standard photo viewers can't display it without RAW support. On Windows and Mac you'd normally need Lightroom, Canon's Digital Photo Professional, or Photoshop's Camera Raw. Converting it to PNG here sidesteps all of that — you get a normal image that opens anywhere.

Does converting CR2 to PNG lose any quality?

The conversion itself is lossless — the rendered image is written to PNG with no compression artefacts. What you give up is RAW flexibility: the PNG bakes in one exposure and colour interpretation, so keep the CR2 if you might want to re-edit highlights, shadows, or white balance later.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

CR2 to PNG Converter — Free, Lossless Output, No Upload

How to convert CR2 to PNG online

1
Drop your CR2 file
Drag and drop your Canon RAW Version 2 file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Canon RAW Version 2 → Portable Network Graphics entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your PNG
Your Portable Network Graphics file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

CR2 vs PNG: format overview

CR2

Canon RAW Version 2

Canon · 2004

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 14-bit
Transparency: No

✓ Full sensor data — maximum editing latitude for Canon DSLR photography
✓ 14-bit colour depth with complete highlight and shadow detail
✗ Proprietary Canon format — requires Canon software or a dedicated RAW editor to open

PNG

Portable Network Graphics

PNG Development Group (Thomas Boutell) · 1996

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 16-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Lossless compression — pixel-perfect quality
✓ Full alpha transparency (8-bit alpha channel)

CR2 magic bytes: 49 49 2A 00 (TIFF-based, Canon CR2 header)

PNG magic bytes: 89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A

Why convert CR2 to PNG?

CR2 is Canon's RAW format — the unprocessed sensor data your EOS DSLR or mirrorless camera writes when you shoot in RAW instead of JPEG. It holds far more detail and dynamic range than a finished image, which is exactly why photographers use it. But that also means a CR2 isn't really a "picture" yet: it's raw data that has to be rendered, and almost nothing outside dedicated photo software will open it.

Double-click a .cr2 on a machine without the right tools and you get nothing — no preview, no thumbnail, an "unsupported format" error. Opening and editing CR2 normally means Adobe Lightroom, Canon's own Digital Photo Professional, Photoshop's Camera Raw, or Capture One. If you just need to hand a shot to a client, drop it into a design tool, post it online, or edit it somewhere that doesn't speak RAW, you have to render it to a normal image first.

PNG is the lossless target for that. Converting CR2 to PNG gives you a rendered, full-quality image that opens in every browser, editor, and app — with no JPEG compression artefacts, so it's safe for further editing, compositing, or technical work where every pixel matters.

Common reasons to convert CR2 to PNG:

›Sharing a Canon RAW shot with someone who doesn't have Lightroom or RAW software
›Bringing a photo into Figma, Canva, or a web tool that won't accept .cr2
›Keeping a lossless master for editing or compositing without RAW round-trips
›Posting or embedding an image where CR2 simply isn't supported

Quality & file size: CR2 to PNG

This is a render-then-store step, not a lossy compression. The CR2's raw sensor data is demosaiced into a viewable image and written to PNG losslessly, so the PNG captures the rendered result pixel-for-pixel with no compression artefacts — which is the whole reason to choose PNG over JPG for RAW output when you plan to edit further.

Two things to expect. First, size: PNG is lossless, so a 20+ megapixel Canon shot typically produces a 50–70 MB PNG — much larger than the CR2, and far larger than a JPG. Second, the render is a fixed interpretation of the RAW: you're locking in one version of exposure and colour, so you lose the wide latitude a CR2 gives you to recover highlights or shift white balance later. Keep the original CR2 as your master and treat the PNG as the shareable, edit-ready export. (CR2 decoding works in Chrome, Edge, and Safari; Firefox doesn't support it.)

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your CR2 files are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.