Reference

RW2 (Panasonic RAW)

RW2 is Panasonic’s RAW image format, used by Lumix cameras to store unprocessed sensor data. Files are large (often 15–30 MB) and need Panasonic’s software, Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw, or conversion to DNG or JPEG to edit and share.

Files & formatsGeneral

RW2 (Panasonic RAW)

Also known as: Panasonic RAW, Lumix RAW, RW2 file, how to open RW2

Panasonic Lumix RAW format
Unprocessed sensor files, often 15–30 MB
Opens in Lightroom, Camera Raw, or SILKYPIX

What an RW2 file is

RW2 is the proprietary RAW format Panasonic Lumix cameras write when shooting RAW instead of JPEG. It records the raw sensor data, an embedded preview, and EXIF metadata, keeping exposure, white balance, and color fully editable later.

Because nothing is baked in, an RW2 holds far more information than a JPEG of the same frame, so a card of RAW shots fills storage and backups much faster.

How to open and convert RW2

RW2 opens in Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw, Panasonic’s bundled RAW software (such as the included SILKYPIX edition), Apple Photos/Preview on recent macOS, and most full editors. Older or simple apps may not read it.

Export to JPEG for everyday sharing, or convert RW2 to DNG to keep RAW editing flexibility in Adobe’s open container. Keep the original RAW only while you still plan to re-edit it.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

Files & formatsCamera RAW (CR2, NEF, ARW)Camera RAW is the umbrella for manufacturer-specific files that store unprocessed data straight off the camera sensor — Canon CR2/CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, and others. They keep maximum editing flexibility, which makes them far larger than the JPEG or HEIC the same shot would produce.General Files & formatsDNG (digital negative)DNG (Digital Negative) is an open raw image format created by Adobe. Like other raw files, it stores the unprocessed sensor data from a camera for maximum editing flexibility — and like all raw files, it takes far more storage than a JPEG or HEIC.GeneraliOS Files & formatsRAW imageA RAW image is the unprocessed data straight from a camera sensor, before any in-camera compression or color processing. It preserves maximum editing flexibility but produces very large files — many times bigger than a JPEG or HEIC of the same shot.GeneraliOS Files & formatsJPEGJPEG (.jpg) is the most widely supported photo format. It uses lossy compression to shrink photographs dramatically, trading a small amount of detail for much smaller files. It has no transparency and is larger than newer formats like HEIC or WebP at the same quality.General

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