Camera RAW conversion
Convert ARW to AVIF
Updated Jul 2026
ARW is the raw format Sony cameras save straight off the sensor, and AVIF is a compact modern format built for web use. To convert ARW to AVIF, open the raw file in a converter and export it as AVIF. Doing this on your own computer means the original raw file, and whatever camera and location data it carries, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .arw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Sony cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .avif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Next-gen web images
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert ARW to AVIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ARW to AVIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in your ARW files, or a whole folder of them, straight from a memory card or import folder.
- Choose AVIF as the output format and pick a quality level for the export.
- Convert. The AVIF files are written to your drive, and nothing is uploaded anywhere.
ARW vs AVIF: what actually changes
| ARW | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, tens of megabytes per photo | Small, a fraction of the raw size |
| Quality | Full sensor data, nothing discarded | Very good, but compressed and final |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs raw-compatible software | Mostly, supported by modern browsers and apps |
| Editing headroom | Full, exposure and white balance can still be adjusted | None, the image is baked in |
| Transparency | Not applicable | Yes, if the source has an alpha channel |
| Keeps camera and shooting data (EXIF) | Yes, in full | Only if the converter carries it over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ARW to AVIF once you've picked and finished editing a shot and want a small, shareable file for a website, gallery, or app.
Keep the ARW original if you might still want to reprocess the exposure or white balance later, because once it's an AVIF, that raw sensor data is gone.
Why not just use an online converter?
A Sony ARW file can carry the camera's serial number, lens details, and, if GPS was on, the exact coordinates of where the photo was taken. Sending that raw file to an online converter means a server somewhere gets all of it along with the image. Converting on your own computer keeps the raw file, and everything embedded in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting ARW to AVIF lose quality?
Yes, in the sense that it's a one-way trip. AVIF is compressed and final, so you lose the ability to reprocess exposure, white balance, and other raw adjustments. For a finished photo meant to be viewed, the visible quality is very good.
Will the AVIF file open on any device?
Support is broad but not universal. Current versions of major browsers and many photo apps on Mac and Windows can open AVIF, though some older software still can't.
Does the AVIF keep the camera and location metadata from the ARW?
That depends on the converter. Some carry the EXIF data over, others strip it during the format change. If you're sharing the image publicly, it's worth checking before you post.
Why not just keep shooting in AVIF directly?
Cameras don't produce AVIF. They save ARW so you have the full sensor data to work with, and you convert to AVIF afterward once the editing is done and you're ready to share or publish.
Can I convert ARW to AVIF without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet processes the raw files on your own computer, so nothing about the photo or its metadata travels over the internet.
Morphjet converts ARW, AVIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.