Camera RAW conversion
Convert CR2 to HEIF
Updated Jul 2026
CR2 is the RAW format Canon cameras save straight off the sensor, and HEIF is the compact format Apple devices use for photos. To convert CR2 to HEIF, open the RAW file in a converter and export it as HEIF. Doing this on your own computer means the photo, and the camera data attached to it, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .cr2
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Canon cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .heif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Apple devices
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert CR2 to HEIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert CR2 to HEIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the CR2 files you want to convert, or point it at a whole folder of them.
- Choose HEIF as the output format.
- Convert. The HEIF files are written next to your originals, and nothing is uploaded anywhere.
CR2 vs HEIF: what actually changes
| CR2 | HEIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Very large, 25 to 60 MB, full sensor data | Much smaller, a fraction of the RAW size |
| Quality | Lossless, every bit the sensor captured | Lossy, high quality but compressed on export |
| Editing flexibility | Wide latitude to fix exposure, white balance, highlights | Limited, edits are baked in once converted |
| Opens on | Needs RAW-capable photo software | Apple devices natively, others may need a plugin |
| Keeps camera data (EXIF) | Yes, full metadata | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert CR2 to HEIF once you've finished editing a photo and want a much smaller file to keep on an iPhone or Mac, or to share without carrying around the full RAW.
Keep the CR2 original if you might still want to re-edit the shot later, since a lot of the exposure and color latitude in the RAW file is gone once it's been converted to HEIF.
Why not just use an online converter?
A CR2 straight off a Canon camera carries EXIF data like the lens, shutter speed, and sometimes the GPS location of the shot. Send that file to an online converter and a server somewhere gets a copy of the photo plus that history. Converting on your own computer means the RAW file, and everything recorded inside it, stays on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting CR2 to HEIF lose quality?
Yes, some. CR2 is lossless RAW data, and HEIF compresses the image on export. The result still looks good for viewing and sharing, but you lose the editing headroom that made the RAW valuable in the first place.
Should I convert to HEIF or JPG instead?
HEIF gives you similar or better quality than JPG in a smaller file, which is useful if you're keeping photos on an Apple device. If you need a file that opens absolutely anywhere without question, JPG is still the safer bet.
Will the HEIF keep my camera's metadata?
Yes. The date, camera model, lens, and any GPS location stored in the CR2 carry over to the HEIF file unless you deliberately strip it during conversion.
Can I convert CR2 to HEIF without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet reads the RAW file and writes the HEIF locally, so the photo never has to travel over the internet. It works with your wifi off.
Why would I convert a Canon RAW file at all?
CR2 files are large and most software outside of photo editors can't open them. Converting to HEIF gives you a much smaller, easier to share file once you're done editing.
Morphjet converts CR2, HEIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.