CR3 (Canon RAW)
Also known as: Canon RAW, CR3 file, how to open CR3, .cr3
CR3 is Canon’s current RAW image format, used on newer Canon cameras in place of CR2. It stores unprocessed sensor data with better compression, but files stay large (often 20–40 MB) and need recent Canon software, Lightroom/Camera Raw, or conversion to DNG or JPEG.
- Canon’s current RAW format, replaced CR2 around 2018
- Adds compressed C-RAW but files stay large
- Needs recent Canon, Lightroom, or Camera Raw software
CR3 vs CR2
CR3 (Canon Raw version 3) replaced CR2 starting around 2018 on Canon’s newer DSLR and mirrorless bodies. Like CR2 it captures the raw sensor data plus an embedded preview and EXIF metadata, so you keep full editing latitude for exposure and color.
CR3 uses a more modern internal structure and adds a compressed RAW (C-RAW) option, so files can be a bit smaller than the old format — but they are still far heavier than a JPEG, and a folder of them fills a card or phone backup fast.
Opening and converting CR3
CR3 opens in Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) and in current Lightroom, Camera Raw, Apple Photos, and recent macOS Preview. Because it is newer than CR2, very old software often cannot read it, so update your editor if a CR3 will not open.
For sharing or to save space, export to JPEG, or convert the CR3 to DNG to keep RAW data in a more portable, widely supported container.