How to Convert Sony ARW to JPG

Sony ARW: The Alpha RAW Format

ARW (Alpha Raw) is Sony's proprietary RAW image format used across the entire Alpha camera lineup — from the entry-level a6100 to the professional a1 and a9 III. Sony holds a dominant position in the mirrorless camera market, which means ARW is one of the most common RAW formats you will encounter.

Sony ARW files store 12-bit or 14-bit sensor data from BSI CMOS or stacked CMOS sensors. The a7R V captures 61 MP in ARW format (70-85 MB per file uncompressed), while the a7C II produces 33 MP files (35-45 MB). Converting these to JPG reduces file sizes by 90% while preserving excellent image quality for sharing, web publishing, and client delivery.

ARW Format Specifications

Sony ARW files include embedded JPG previews that the camera generates using its BIONZ XR image processor. These previews show what the image looks like with the selected Creative Look profile applied — but the RAW data itself is unprocessed.

Method 1: Sony Imaging Edge Desktop

Sony's free Imaging Edge Desktop software applies the same processing as the camera body, including Creative Look profiles and lens correction data:

1. Open ARW files in Imaging Edge Edit
2. Apply desired adjustments (Creative Look, white balance, exposure)
3. Select File → Export → JPEG
4. Set quality (Extra Fine: 97, Fine: 92, Standard: 85), sRGB color space
5. Export the batch

This is the most accurate method for reproducing the camera's rendering, especially for Creative Look profiles like VV (Vivid) and FL (Film).

Method 2: Command-Line Conversion

Using LibRaw

# Convert with camera white balance and sRGB output
dcraw_emu -w -T -o 1 -q 3 input.arw

# Convert the TIFF to JPG
convert input.tiff -quality 92 output.jpg

Batch Convert

mkdir -p jpg
for file in *.arw *.ARW; do
  [ -f "$file" ] || continue
  dcraw_emu -w -T -o 1 -q 3 "$file"
  tiff="${file%.*}.tiff"
  convert "$tiff" -quality 92 "jpg/${file%.*}.jpg"
  rm "$tiff"
done

Using ImageMagick Directly

If your ImageMagick build has the LibRaw delegate:

convert input.arw -auto-orient -set colorspace sRGB \
  -auto-level -quality 92 output.jpg

Method 3: Online Conversion

Use the ARW to JPG converter online. Upload your Sony ARW file and download a processed JPG without installing any software. For other formats, use the Image Converter.

Understanding Sony's Compression Modes

Sony cameras offer three RAW compression options, each affecting file size and quality:

For JPG conversion, all three modes produce identical results. The differences between lossy and lossless compressed RAW only matter when doing extreme shadow recovery in post-processing. For standard conversion to JPG, the output is visually indistinguishable.

Quality and Settings Tips

JPG quality for high-resolution files: Sony's 61 MP a7R V produces enormous JPGs at quality 95 (20-25 MB). For web and social media, resize first:

convert input.arw -auto-orient -resize "4096x4096>" \
  -set colorspace sRGB -auto-level -quality 90 output.jpg

Creative Look matching: Sony's Creative Look profiles (the successor to Picture Profiles) significantly affect the rendering. If your JPGs look flat compared to the camera preview, the camera was likely using VV (Vivid) or SH (Soft Highlight). Generic RAW converters produce neutral output. To approximate Vivid:

convert input.arw -auto-orient -set colorspace sRGB \
  -auto-level -modulate 105,130,100 -unsharp 0x0.5 -quality 92 output.jpg

Noise characteristics: Sony BSI CMOS sensors produce clean files up to ISO 6400. Above ISO 12800, luminance noise becomes visible. When converting high-ISO ARW files, consider light noise reduction. Sony's Imaging Edge handles this well with its built-in NR algorithms.

Lens corrections: Sony ARW files include lens distortion and vignetting correction profiles. Sony Imaging Edge and Lightroom apply these automatically. Generic converters like dcraw do not — you may notice barrel distortion or dark corners with wide-angle lenses.

For more on RAW processing, see our comprehensive RAW photo conversion guide.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

ARW files from newest cameras not recognized

Sony releases new camera models frequently, each with slight ARW format updates. If your software cannot open the file, update to the latest version. LibRaw and RawTherapee typically add support within weeks of a new camera launch.

Green or magenta color cast

This can happen when the conversion tool does not correctly interpret Sony's color matrix. Use the camera's recorded white balance (-w in dcraw) rather than auto white balance:

dcraw_emu -w -T -o 1 -q 3 input.arw

Pixel Shift Multi Shooting files

Sony's Pixel Shift mode captures 4 or 16 exposures for ultra-high resolution composites (up to 240 MP on the a7R V). These special ARW files require Sony Imaging Edge or Lightroom — generic tools process only the first exposure and output a standard-resolution image.

Slow processing of 61 MP files

a7R V files are huge. Full AHD demosaicing on a 61 MP file takes 15-30 seconds per image. For large batches, use bilinear demosaicing (-q 0) for 5x faster processing with only slight quality reduction in fine detail areas.

Star Eater issue

Sony cameras apply a noise reduction pass that can remove point-like details (stars in astrophotography). This is baked into some compressed RAW files. If you are converting astrophotography ARW files, use Uncompressed RAW mode on the camera to avoid this, and process with a tool that preserves point detail.

Conclusion

Sony ARW to JPG conversion is straightforward with modern tools. For color-accurate results matching the camera's rendering, use Sony Imaging Edge Desktop. For batch processing and automation, LibRaw handles all current Sony Alpha cameras. The high resolution of modern Sony sensors means you should consider resizing during conversion for web-targeted output to keep file sizes practical.

Ready to convert? Try our free ARW to JPG converter — no registration required.