How do I convert CR2 to JPG?

Upload your CR2 file above. It is converted to JPG automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.

Does converting CR2 to JPG lose quality?

JPG is lossy, so some fine detail is discarded to make the file smaller. Raise the quality in Settings for a closer copy.

CR2 or JPG: which should I use?

Use CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude. Use JPG for photos you share, email, print or upload. Keep in mind the main drawback of JPG: no transparency, and every re-save loses a little more detail.

CR2 is the RAW format of Canon EOS cameras released before about 2018. It stores the unprocessed sensor data for maximum editing latitude, so most apps can’t show it as a normal picture.

Can I convert CR2 to JPG without Photoshop or Lightroom?

Yes. The CR2 file is opened on our servers, so you don’t need Photoshop or Lightroom or any other software installed. Upload the file, then download the finished JPG.

Is the CR2 to JPG converter free?

Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

Convert CR2 to JPG — Free Online CR2 Converter

Convert CR2 to JPG online at full resolution. Open camera RAW files without Photoshop or Lightroom; preview one free or batch-convert with Premium.

Drop your CR2 file or click to browse

Why convert CR2 to JPG?

JPG is supported far more widely than CR2, so the file is easier to open, share and upload.
JPG is made for photos you share, email, print or upload.
No Photoshop or Lightroom needed: the file is opened on our servers and you download a ready-to-use JPG.

What to expect when converting CR2 to JPG

JPG uses lossy compression; raise the quality in Settings for a closer copy of the original.
The RAW file is developed at full resolution with your camera’s white balance. Keep the original CR2 to re-edit exposure later.

CR2 vs JPG

Feature	CR2	JPG
Full name	Canon camera RAW	JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Origin	Written by Canon cameras	Standardised in 1992
Compression	Unprocessed sensor data	Lossy, adjustable quality
Transparency	No	No
Animation	No	No
Colour	12 to 16 bits per channel from the sensor	16.7 million colours (8 bits per channel)
Where it opens	RAW editors such as Lightroom; not browsers or most apps	All browsers, phones, computers and photo apps
Best for	adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude	photos you share, email, print or upload
Main drawback	very large files that most apps can’t open	no transparency, and every re-save loses a little more detail

In short: choose CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude; choose JPG for photos you share, email, print or upload.

Turning an archive of Canon CR2 files into JPGs you can share

CR2 is the RAW format of the Canon EOS DSLRs sold from the mid-2000s until Canon moved to CR3 around 2018. That run covers the Digital Rebel series, the 5D, 6D and 7D bodies and two-digit models such as the 60D and 80D, and several PowerShot G compacts write CR2 as well. As a result, CR2 fills a lot of old hard drives: years of holidays, weddings and family events that became hard to open once the computer with the right software was replaced.

Batch conversion is built for that kind of folder. With Premium you can queue up to 60 CR2 files at once (200 on Pro), set the quality once and download every JPG in a single ZIP. Inside the ZIP each JPG keeps the name of its CR2 with a number in front showing its place in the queue, so IMG_4521 is still easy to find. For prints, leave quality near its starting value of 90; for a shared family album, the slider's own hint of 60 to 80 keeps files much smaller.

Once the folder is converted, arrange a dozen favorites in one collage or gather the best shots of an event into a single PDF. Newer Canon files in CR3 format have their own converter, because this page accepts .cr2 files only.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert CR2 to JPG?: Upload your CR2 file above. It is converted to JPG automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.
Does converting CR2 to JPG lose quality?: JPG is lossy, so some fine detail is discarded to make the file smaller. Raise the quality in Settings for a closer copy.
CR2 or JPG: which should I use?: Use CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude. Use JPG for photos you share, email, print or upload. Keep in mind the main drawback of JPG: no transparency, and every re-save loses a little more detail.
What is a CR2 file?: CR2 is the RAW format of Canon EOS cameras released before about 2018. It stores the unprocessed sensor data for maximum editing latitude, so most apps can’t show it as a normal picture.
Can I convert CR2 to JPG without Photoshop or Lightroom?: Yes. The CR2 file is opened on our servers, so you don’t need Photoshop or Lightroom or any other software installed. Upload the file, then download the finished JPG.
Is the CR2 to JPG converter free?: Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

What you can do with CR2 to JPG

Review the main capabilities before you begin.

Convert Canon CR2 RAW files to JPG
Turn unprocessed sensor data into shareable photos
Control JPG quality for size versus clarity
Set a background fill for the final image
Batch-convert a full Canon shoot at once
View and edit camera RAW anywhere

Use this tool

Settings reference

Available controls for CR2 to JPG.

Settings

Output formatDropdown: Chooses the file type you download. The page opens on its own output format; switch to any other format before converting.Options: JPGPNGWebPAVIFGIFTIFFBMPICOPDF
QualitySliderRange: 20–100 · Default: 90: For JPG, WebP, AVIF and image-to-PDF output: higher keeps more detail but makes a bigger file; 60–80 suits most photos. Documents (Publisher, XPS, EPS…) become PDFs with every page and sharp text, with no quality setting.
Lossless modeOn / Off: For WebP and AVIF output: keeps every pixel exactly (best for logos, graphics and transparency) at the cost of a larger file.
Background fillColor picker: For JPG, BMP and image-to-PDF output, which can’t store transparency: the colour that fills transparent areas (white by default).