Camera RAW
What is a PTX file?
Updated Jul 2026
A PTX file is the RAW image format Pentax digital cameras use to store unprocessed data straight off the sensor. It's lossless, so it keeps every bit of detail and color information a JPG would throw away, giving photographers more room to adjust exposure and white balance later. The tradeoff is that most photo viewers and websites can't open it without converting it first.
- Extension
- .ptx
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Pentax cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Why PTX exists
Pentax cameras save PTX files as their native RAW format, alongside or instead of a compressed JPG. Like other camera makers' RAW formats, it captures the sensor's raw readings before the camera applies any of the processing that turns a shot into a finished photo.
Because nothing is compressed or baked in, a PTX file holds far more information than a JPG taken at the same time. That extra data means you can recover detail in blown-out skies or dark shadows, and correct color and exposure without the image falling apart. It also means the file is much larger, and it needs software that understands Pentax's RAW data to turn it into something viewable.
That's where most people hit a wall. A PTX file won't open in a regular image viewer, won't display in a browser, and can't be uploaded to most photo-sharing sites as is. Getting it into a JPG or TIFF that anything can open usually means converting it first.
The trade-offs
Strengths
- Keeps full sensor detail with nothing thrown away
- Much more room to fix exposure and color after the shot
- Preserves shooting data like ISO, aperture, and lens settings
Watch-outs
- Won't open in standard photo viewers or browsers
- Much larger file size than a JPG of the same photo
- Needs converting before you can share or upload it
A note on privacy
A PTX file carries EXIF metadata: camera settings, timestamps, and often the GPS location of where the photo was taken. Run it through an online converter and that data, along with the photo itself, goes to someone else's server. Converting it on your own computer keeps the image and everything attached to it on your machine.
Questions
How do I open a PTX file?
You'll need software that reads Pentax RAW files, since standard photo viewers and browsers can't display them. Converting the file to JPG or TIFF first lets you open it anywhere.
Is PTX better than JPG?
For editing, yes: PTX keeps far more detail and gives you more control over exposure and color. For everyday viewing and sharing, JPG wins since it opens everywhere without conversion.
Why does my Pentax camera save PTX files?
It's the camera's native RAW format, capturing the sensor's data before any in-camera processing. Many Pentax cameras let you switch to JPG-only shooting in the settings if you don't need RAW.
Can I convert PTX without uploading it?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts PTX files on your own computer, so the photo and its metadata never leave your machine.
Morphjet opens and converts PTX and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.