RW2 Format Guide

Available Conversions

About RW2 Format

RW2 is Panasonic's proprietary RAW image format used across their Lumix digital camera lineup, including both Micro Four Thirds cameras and the full-frame S-series cameras using the L-Mount. As a RAW format, RW2 files contain minimally processed data captured directly from the camera's image sensor, preserving all the information recorded at the moment of exposure without the quality loss associated with in-camera JPEG processing.

RW2 files store complete sensor data along with extensive metadata about camera settings, lens information, white balance, Photo Style settings, and shooting conditions, providing photographers maximum flexibility for post-processing adjustments to exposure, white balance, color grading, contrast, sharpening, and noise reduction without quality degradation.

The format is based on the TIFF specification with Panasonic-specific extensions and uses lossless compression, typically resulting in file sizes ranging from 15 to 25 MB for Micro Four Thirds cameras and 30 to 60 MB for full-frame S-series cameras depending on resolution. RW2 files capture 12-bit or 14-bit RAW data (depending on camera model), preserving thousands of tonal levels per color channel and delivering excellent dynamic range of 12-14 stops, providing substantial latitude for shadow and highlight recovery in post-processing.

History of RW2

Panasonic, originally Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., founded in 1918, entered the digital camera market in the late 1990s with their Lumix brand. The company gained initial attention with compact digital cameras but made their most significant impact through a groundbreaking partnership with Olympus in 2008 to create the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) standard—a revolutionary mirrorless camera system that eliminated the mirror box and optical viewfinder while maintaining the Four Thirds sensor size, enabling dramatically smaller camera bodies and lenses compared to traditional DSLRs.

Panasonic introduced the RW2 format with their early Lumix digital cameras as their RAW file standard. The format gained serious professional attention with cameras like the Lumix DMC-G1 (2008), the world's first Micro Four Thirds camera, which demonstrated the viability of mirrorless systems for serious photography. The Lumix G series established Panasonic's reputation for excellent ergonomics, intuitive controls, and strong video capabilities.

However, Panasonic's transformation into a major player came with the launch of the GH series, beginning with the GH1 (2009) but truly revolutionized by the GH2 (2010) and especially the legendary GH4 (2014)—the first mirrorless camera to offer internal 4K video recording at 100Mbps, making professional 4K video accessible to independent filmmakers, videographers, and content creators at a fraction of the cost of traditional cinema cameras. The GH4 became ubiquitous in YouTube content creation, documentary filmmaking, wedding videography, and independent film production, with many feature films and television shows using GH4s alongside much more expensive cinema cameras.

The GH5 (2017) cemented Panasonic's leadership in hybrid photography/videography, offering internal 4K 60p recording, 10-bit 4:2:2 color, unlimited recording time, robust weather sealing, and exceptional image stabilization. The camera became the industry standard for professional hybrid shooters who needed one camera system that could deliver both high-quality stills and professional video. The GH5S (2018) added Dual Native ISO technology inherited from Panasonic's professional cinema cameras, providing exceptional low-light performance for video work. The GH5 Mark II (2020) and GH6 (2022) continued this evolution, with the GH6 offering internal 5.7K 60p ProRes recording, unlimited recording in all modes, and professional cinema features previously unavailable in hybrid cameras.

In 2019, Panasonic made another strategic move by joining the L-Mount Alliance with Leica and Sigma, introducing full-frame mirrorless cameras beginning with the Lumix S1 and S1R. These cameras use larger full-frame sensors (36×24mm) compared to the Micro Four Thirds system (17.3×13mm), producing RW2 files ranging from 30MB to 60MB. The S1H (2019) became the first hybrid camera to be certified by Netflix for original content production, while the S5 (2020) brought full-frame hybrid capabilities to a more affordable price point. The S1 Mark II, S5 Mark II, and S5IIX (2023) introduced phase-detection autofocus (addressing a longstanding weakness), while maintaining Panasonic's video excellence.

Throughout this evolution, the RW2 format advanced to support higher resolutions, improved color science, expanded Photo Style modes, 6K Photo burst modes (extracting 18MP stills from 6K video), and advanced video-oriented features like waveform displays, vector scopes, and professional audio controls—all metadata preserved in RW2 files. The format gained excellent support from RAW processing software including Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, Capture One, DxO PhotoLab, and Panasonic's own Lumix Tether for Streaming software and Silkypix Developer Studio (bundled free with cameras).

Key Features and Uses

RW2 files store unprocessed, linear sensor data in 12-bit or 14-bit depth (depending on camera model), preserving 4,096 or 16,384 tonal levels per color channel respectively, compared to JPEG's 256 levels. This provides exceptional flexibility for exposure and color adjustments in post-processing. Micro Four Thirds RW2 files from cameras like the GH6 capture data from 20-25 megapixel sensors, while full-frame S-series RW2 files capture 24-47 megapixels (S5 II at 24MP, S1R at 47MP), providing excellent resolution for both stills and high-resolution video frame extraction.

RW2 files include comprehensive EXIF metadata containing all camera settings: shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, focal length, lens identification, autofocus mode, metering mode, Photo Style settings, white balance, and for video-oriented cameras, extensive video metadata including frame rates, bit depths, color profiles (V-Log, HLG), and audio settings. The Photo Style metadata is particularly valuable: styles like Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, and L.Monochrome are stored as metadata, allowing photographers to apply, modify, or completely change the look during RAW processing.

Panasonic cameras with Dual Native ISO technology (GH5S, S1H, GH6, S5 II) store dual amplification circuit data in RW2 files, enabling excellent low-light performance with minimal noise—the sensor has two base ISOs (typically ISO 400 and ISO 2500 or similar), with RW2 files preserving this optimization. The format includes lens correction data specific to Lumix G-series and S-series lenses, allowing automatic correction for distortion, vignetting, lateral chromatic aberration, and diffraction.

RW2 files from cameras with advanced video features preserve 6K Photo and 4K Photo mode data—these modes capture video at 6K (18MP) or 4K (8MP) resolution at 30fps, allowing photographers to extract perfect-moment stills from continuous sequences, particularly valuable for action, wildlife, and sports photography. The format also stores High Resolution mode data (available in some models like G9, S1R) which combines multiple pixel-shifted exposures to create ultra-high-resolution composites exceeding 100 megapixels.

Common Applications

RW2 files are essential for hybrid shooters who need excellent video and stills from one camera system. Videographers and filmmakers form Panasonic Lumix's core user base, particularly those using GH series cameras (GH5, GH5S, GH6) for documentary filmmaking, YouTube content creation, wedding videography, music videos, corporate videos, and independent film production. The GH series became legendary for internal 4K recording, unlimited recording times, professional video features, and exceptional value—many working videographers shoot RW2 stills for behind-the-scenes content, promotional images, and client deliverables while primarily using the cameras for video work.

YouTube creators and content producers extensively use Panasonic Lumix cameras (particularly G9, GH5, GH6, S5 II) for their combination of reliable autofocus, excellent image stabilization, unlimited recording, professional audio inputs, and flip-out screens—shooting RW2 stills for thumbnails, social media posts, and blog content while leveraging the video capabilities that made Panasonic famous. Wedding photographers and videographers increasingly adopt Lumix cameras (S5, S5 II, GH6) as affordable hybrid solutions, capturing RW2 ceremony photos and reception candids while recording 4K or 6K video throughout the event with a single compact kit.

Wildlife and action photographers use cameras like the G9 (2017) and G9 II (2023) which prioritize stills performance with high-speed burst shooting, advanced autofocus, and excellent ergonomics, capturing RW2 files at up to 20fps with continuous autofocus. The Micro Four Thirds format's inherent "crop factor" provides effective reach advantage—a 300mm lens delivers 600mm equivalent field of view—making wildlife photography more affordable and portable than equivalent full-frame systems.

Travel and street photographers value Lumix cameras for their compact Micro Four Thirds bodies and lenses, weather-sealed construction, and excellent image stabilization (up to 7.5 stops in some models), shooting RW2 files that deliver professional quality while maintaining a lightweight, unobtrusive setup ideal for all-day shooting and airline carry-on compatibility. Event photographers use Lumix cameras for corporate events, conferences, and live performances, leveraging silent electronic shutters, 6K Photo burst modes for capturing perfect moments, and the ability to seamlessly switch between stills and video as events require.

Cinema and broadcast professionals using Panasonic's professional cameras (S1H, S5IIX) capture RW2 stills for behind-the-scenes documentation, production stills, and promotional content while primarily using these cameras' exceptional video capabilities (Netflix certification, ProRes internal recording, professional cinema features). The full-frame L-Mount system provides shallow depth-of-field aesthetics, excellent low-light performance, and compatibility with Leica and Sigma lenses, making S-series cameras popular for high-end commercial, advertising, and narrative film production.

Landscape photographers shoot RW2 files with both Micro Four Thirds cameras (for weight savings during hiking and travel) and full-frame S-series cameras (when maximum image quality justifies the larger system), leveraging Panasonic's High Resolution mode (available in G9, S1R) for ultra-detailed landscape captures exceeding 100 megapixels through pixel-shift technology. The Lumix community is notably practical and value-focused, with many photographers and videographers choosing Panasonic specifically for its exceptional video capabilities, reliable operation, affordable prices, and outstanding bang-for-buck ratio in the hybrid camera market.

Advantages and Disadvantages