What quality should I expect from the BMP output?

Our converter preserves as much fidelity as BMP Image allows. Where Canon Raw Image carries information that BMP Image cannot represent, that information is mapped to the closest equivalent (for example, color spaces, codec parameters, or metadata fields). For most everyday uses the result is indistinguishable from the source.

What file size should I expect for the BMP output?

The output size depends on the content and the compression characteristics of BMP Image. In most cases the BMP file will be in the same ballpark as your CR2 input, with differences driven by how each format encodes data. There is no fixed ratio — the converter does not change quality settings unless you ask it to.

When should I convert CR2 to BMP instead of staying with CR2?

Convert when the application, device, or workflow you are targeting prefers BMP Image over Canon Raw Image. If your current CR2 file already opens and behaves correctly everywhere you need it to, there is no benefit to converting — keep the original. The most common reasons to switch are compatibility (a tool only accepts BMP), distribution (recipients expect BMP), or feature requirements specific to BMP Image.

What is the maximum CR2 file size I can convert?

MegaConvert accepts CR2 files up to 100 MB on the free service, which is enough for the vast majority of real-world Canon Raw Image files. If you have a larger file (typical for high-resolution video or uncompressed audio), please contact us — we can sometimes accommodate larger uploads for legitimate use cases.

Is my CR2 file safe and private when I upload it?

Yes. Your CR2 file is uploaded over HTTPS, processed in an isolated job environment, and deleted from our servers within one hour. We do not read, index, store, or share the contents of your file. No account is required, so the upload is not associated with a personal identity. See our privacy policy for the full details.

Convert CR2 to BMP

Free online CR2 to BMP converter. No signup required.

Drag & drop your file here

or click to browse

Max file size: 100 MB

Why Convert CR2 to BMP?

Understand when and why this conversion makes sense for your workflow.

Converting Canon Raw Image to BMP Image is a common task for web developers, designers, and photographers who need to balance visual quality against file size and compatibility. Different image formats serve different purposes: some prioritize small file sizes for faster page loads, while others preserve lossless quality or support features like transparency. Choosing the right format for your use case can dramatically affect how your images look and how quickly they load across devices and browsers.

Canon Raw Image has a known limitation: proprietary format controlled by Canon with no public specification. In contrast, BMP Image offers a key advantage: completely lossless with no compression artifacts. While Canon Raw Image is commonly used for professional and enthusiast photography with canon cameras, BMP Image is better suited for windows system graphics and clipboard operations.

Our free online converter handles the CR2-to-BMP conversion in seconds, with no quality loss beyond what the target format inherently requires — no watermarks, no account needed.

CR2 vs BMP: Format Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of the source and target formats.

Property	CR2 (Source)	BMP (Target)
Extension	.cr2	.bmp
Full Name	Canon Raw Image	BMP Image
Compression	Varies	Uncompressed
File Size	Large	Large
Transparency	No	Yes
Animation	No	No
Best For	Professional and enthusiast photography with …	Windows system graphics and clipboard operations
Browser Support	Varies	Limited

How to Convert CR2 to BMP

Follow these simple steps to convert your file in seconds.

Upload your CR2 image
Drag your .cr2 file onto the upload area, or click "Browse" and pick it from your device. Canon Raw Image files up to 100 MB are accepted, which covers most photos, screenshots, and high-resolution scans. The file is uploaded over HTTPS and is never visible to anyone but you.
Click "Convert to BMP"
Once the upload completes, press the convert button. The image is decoded from Canon Raw Image, color-managed where the target format requires it, and re-encoded as BMP Image. Default settings produce a sensible balance of quality and file size — no manual encoder tuning is required for typical use.
Wait for the BMP encode to complete
Most image conversions complete in under five seconds. Larger images, batch jobs, or vector files with thousands of paths can take a little longer. The progress bar updates in real time and you can leave the tab open in the background — the conversion runs server-side.
Download your .bmp file
When the conversion finishes, click the download link to save the new BMP Image file to your computer. The file is yours — no watermarks, no expiration on the file itself, and no MegaConvert account is required to download it.

Tips for Converting CR2 to BMP

Practical advice to get the best results from this conversion.

Why this conversion is worth doing

Canon Raw Image has a known limitation: proprietary format controlled by Canon with no public specification. BMP Image addresses this with a key advantage: completely lossless with no compression artifacts. Converting from CR2 to BMP is most worthwhile when this specific trade-off matters for the way you intend to use the file.

Match the format to the actual workflow

Canon Raw Image is most commonly used for professional and enthusiast photography with canon cameras, while BMP Image is the standard for windows system graphics and clipboard operations. If your workflow is closer to the second pattern, converting makes sense. If you are still working in a context where CR2 is the norm, converting may create unnecessary compatibility friction with collaborators or tools that expect the source format.

Watch for this limitation in the BMP output

BMP Image has its own limitation worth understanding before you commit: very large file sizes due to lack of effective compression. After the conversion completes, open the BMP file and verify that this limitation does not affect your specific use case — for some workflows it is irrelevant; for others it can be a deal-breaker.

Choose the right format for your content type

CR2 and BMP suit different image types. Lossy formats like JPG work well for photographs with gradual color transitions, while lossless formats like PNG, BMP, and TIFF are better for graphics with sharp edges, text overlays, or flat areas of color. Picking the wrong format can introduce artifacts or unnecessarily inflate file sizes.

Understanding CR2 and BMP Formats

Learn about the source and target file formats to understand what happens during conversion.

Source Format

Canon Raw Image

image/x-canon-cr2

CR2 (Canon Raw version 2) is Canon's proprietary raw image format used by Canon DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It stores unprocessed sensor data with full bit depth, white balance, and exposure settings as metadata rather than baked-in adjustments. CR2 files provide maximum flexibility for post-processing, preserving all the data captured by the camera sensor.

Advantages

Preserves complete unprocessed sensor data for maximum editing flexibility
Widely supported by major photo editing software including Lightroom and Capture One
Contains extensive EXIF metadata including camera settings and lens information

Limitations

Proprietary format controlled by Canon with no public specification
Large file sizes, typically 20-30 MB per image for modern cameras
Requires specialized raw processing software to view and edit

Common Uses

Professional and enthusiast photography with Canon cameras
Non-destructive photo editing and raw development
High-quality image archival preserving maximum sensor data

Target Format

BMP Image

image/bmp

BMP (Bitmap) is an uncompressed or minimally compressed raster image format developed by Microsoft. It stores image data pixel by pixel with no quality loss, supporting color depths from 1-bit monochrome to 32-bit with alpha. BMP files are typically very large because most implementations store raw pixel data without compression.

Advantages

Completely lossless with no compression artifacts
Simple format that is fast to read and write
Native support in all Windows applications

Limitations

Very large file sizes due to lack of effective compression
Not suitable for web use due to excessive file sizes
Limited metadata support compared to modern formats

Common Uses

Windows system graphics and clipboard operations
Intermediate format in image processing pipelines
Legacy application compatibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about converting CR2 to BMP.

Related Conversions

Explore other conversions related to CR2 and BMP.

Other conversions from CR2

CR2 to JPG CR2 to JPEG CR2 to PNG CR2 to GIF CR2 to TIFF CR2 to TIF CR2 to WEBP CR2 to HEIC CR2 to HEIF CR2 to SVG

Other conversions to BMP

JPG to BMP JPEG to BMP PNG to BMP GIF to BMP TIFF to BMP TIF to BMP WEBP to BMP HEIC to BMP HEIF to BMP SVG to BMP

Convert CR2 to BMP

Why Convert CR2 to BMP?

CR2 vs BMP: Format Comparison

How to Convert CR2 to BMP

Upload your CR2 image

Click "Convert to BMP"

Wait for the BMP encode to complete

Download your .bmp file

Tips for Converting CR2 to BMP

Why this conversion is worth doing

Match the format to the actual workflow

Watch for this limitation in the BMP output

Choose the right format for your content type

Understanding CR2 and BMP Formats

Canon Raw Image

Advantages

Limitations

Common Uses

BMP Image

Advantages

Limitations

Common Uses

Frequently Asked Questions

What quality should I expect from the BMP output?

What file size should I expect for the BMP output?

When should I convert CR2 to BMP instead of staying with CR2?

What is the maximum CR2 file size I can convert?

Is my CR2 file safe and private when I upload it?

Related Conversions

Other conversions from CR2

Other conversions to BMP