ARW File Documentation

Overview

Feature Value
File Extension .arw
Format Type Raw Image File
Developer Sony
Compression Lossless / Uncompressed and Compressed
Color Depth 12-bit, 14-bit, 16-bit per channel
Camera Model Support Various Sony Alpha and Cyber-shot models
MIME Type image/x-sony-arw
Associated Programs Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom; Sony Imaging Edge
Metadata contained EXIF, IPTC, XMP
Advantage High-quality images, retains all data from the sensor
Disadvantages Larger file size compared to JPEG or TIFF
Image Bit Depth Supports up to 16 bits per channel
Editable Yes, with compatible software
Used For Professional Photography, Image Editing
Image Data Raw sensor data
Main Advantages Maximum Image Quality and Flexibility in Post-Processing
Compatibility Most advanced photo editing software
Typical Use Cases High-end Photography, Archival Purposes
File Size Varies, typically larger than JPEG
Proprietary or Open Standard Proprietary