Camera RAW

What is a RAF file?

Updated Jul 2026

Definition

RAF is the RAW image format used by Fujifilm digital cameras. It stores the unprocessed data straight off the camera's sensor, so it keeps far more detail and editing flexibility than a JPG. The tradeoff is that RAF files are large and many photo apps and websites won't open them without converting first.

RAFFujifilm RAW

Extension: .raf
Type: Camera RAW
Typically: Fujifilm cameras
Metadata: Carries EXIF

Why RAF exists

Every Fujifilm camera, from compact X-series bodies to the medium format GFX line, can shoot in RAF. Instead of letting the camera process and compress the shot into a JPG, RAF captures the raw sensor readout: every pixel's brightness and color data before any sharpening, white balance, or compression is applied.

That raw data is what gives photographers room to work. You can pull back blown-out highlights, recover shadow detail, or fix white balance after the fact, all without the quality loss you'd get editing a JPG. Fujifilm's sensors also use a distinctive color filter layout, and RAF preserves that raw pattern so it can be reconstructed precisely during editing.

The catch is that RAF is a proprietary format specific to Fujifilm, so support outside of photo editing software is thin. Web browsers won't display it, most phones can't preview it, and some editing tools need updates before they recognize a new camera model's RAF files at all.

That's usually when people go looking for a converter: they've imported photos from a Fujifilm camera and need JPGs or TIFFs to share, upload, or print.

The trade-offs

Strengths

Keeps the full detail captured by the sensor, with no compression loss
Gives much more room to adjust exposure and white balance after shooting
Preserves Fujifilm's color science for accurate film-simulation edits

Watch-outs

Files are much larger than JPG, often several times the size
Doesn't open in browsers, most photo viewers, or on phones
Newer camera models sometimes aren't recognized until software catches up
Needs converting before you can share, print, or upload it most places

A note on privacy

A RAF file carries EXIF metadata: camera settings, timestamps, and often GPS location if your camera has it enabled. Upload a batch of RAF files to an online converter and that shooting history goes with them. Converting on your own computer keeps both the images and their metadata off anyone else's server.

Convert a RAF file

Questions

How do I open a RAF file?

You'll need photo editing software that supports RAW files, or a Fujifilm-provided viewer. Most web browsers, phones, and basic photo viewers can't open RAF directly, so many people convert it to JPG or TIFF instead.

Is RAF better than JPG?

For editing, yes: RAF holds far more detail and lets you recover highlights and shadows that a JPG has already thrown away. For everyday sharing, JPG wins since it opens everywhere and is a fraction of the size.

Why does my Fujifilm camera save photos as RAF?

Shooting RAF preserves the sensor's raw data so you have full flexibility when editing later. If you don't plan to edit, you can set the camera to shoot JPG instead, or both at once.

Can I convert RAF without uploading my photos?

Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts RAF to JPG, PNG, or TIFF on your own computer, so the images and their metadata never leave your machine.

Will RAF from a new Fujifilm camera always open?

Not always right away. Software support for a camera's specific RAF variant sometimes lags behind a new model's release, which is a common reason people hit a wall trying to open recent files.

Morphjet opens and converts RAF and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.