Camera RAW
What is an ORF file?
Updated Jul 2026
ORF (Olympus RAW Format) is the raw image file produced by Olympus (and some OM System) digital cameras. It stores the unprocessed sensor data straight off the chip, so you keep every bit of detail and color information for editing later. The trade off is a large file that most photo apps and websites can't open without converting it first.
- Extension
- .orf
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Olympus cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Why ORF exists
When an Olympus camera shoots in RAW mode, it skips the in-camera processing that turns sensor data into a finished JPG. Instead it writes out the raw sensor readings, along with the camera settings and EXIF details, into an ORF file. Nothing is compressed away, so the file preserves the full range of light and color the sensor captured.
That untouched data is what makes ORF useful to photographers. You can adjust exposure, white balance, and color after the fact with far more room to work than a JPG allows, since a JPG has already thrown away the information you'd need to recover a blown highlight or fix a bad white balance.
The catch is that ORF is a proprietary format tied to Olympus cameras, so general photo viewers, most websites, and a lot of editing software either can't read it at all or need a plugin to do so. People usually run into ORF the moment they try to preview, share, or edit a photo somewhere that only expects JPG or PNG, and end up needing to convert it.
The trade-offs
Strengths
- Preserves full sensor detail for serious editing
- Much more room to fix exposure and color than JPG
- Keeps camera settings and EXIF data intact
Watch-outs
- Large files compared to JPG or PNG
- Not viewable in most web browsers or photo apps
- Proprietary to Olympus, so support outside dedicated raw editors is limited
- Needs converting before you can share or upload it most places
A note on privacy
An ORF file carries full EXIF metadata, including the camera model, settings, and often the GPS location where the photo was taken. Running it through an online converter means that data, along with the image itself, gets uploaded to someone else's server. Converting it on your own computer keeps the photo and everything attached to it on your machine.
Questions
How do I open an ORF file?
You need raw photo editing software that supports Olympus files, or you can convert it to JPG or PNG first to view it in ordinary photo apps and browsers.
Is ORF better than JPG?
For editing, yes: ORF keeps far more detail to work with. For everyday viewing and sharing, no: JPG opens everywhere, while ORF needs special software or a conversion first.
Why does my Olympus camera save photos as ORF?
It's the raw mode setting. The camera stores unprocessed sensor data instead of a finished image, giving you more control when editing later. You can usually switch to JPG mode in the camera settings if you don't need that.
Can I convert ORF without uploading it?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts ORF on your own computer, so the raw photo and its metadata never leave your machine.
Will converting an ORF file lose quality?
Converting to another raw-friendly format like TIFF keeps essentially everything. Converting to JPG applies compression, so you lose some of the editing headroom, though the visible image quality can still look excellent.
Morphjet opens and converts ORF and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.