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.dng

DNG file: what it is and how to open it on Windows

DNG (Digital Negative) is Adobe's open RAW photo format.

Download the free trial: every file converts, keep 10 clean

Before
RAF

DSCF0014.RAF

15.2 MB

Camera RAW: large, hard to share

AfterDaffodils in a garden bed: the JPG Contenta Converter made from a Fujifilm RAF file

DSCF0014.jpg

2.8 MB · 3664×2742 · 0.6 s

JPG: opens everywhere

Real output from Contenta Converter: one Fujifilm RAF file of 15.2 MB became a 3664 x 2742 JPG of 2.8 MB in 0.6 seconds on a desktop PC.
  1. Add your DNG filesDrop in single files or a whole folder.
  2. Pick output formatJPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF and more.
  3. Click ConvertEvery file converted in one pass.

iPhones save ProRAW as DNG, and Google Pixel phones, Leica, Pentax and DJI drones shoot it too. It holds the unprocessed sensor data. Windows Photos opens DNG with the free Raw Image Extension; for a whole folder, convert DNG to JPG or TIFF in one batch.

How to open a .DNG file on Windows

  1. Windows Photos (free). Install the free Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store, then double-click the DNG.
  2. RawTherapee or darktable (free). Open-source RAW editors that open and develop DNG files one at a time.
  3. Contenta Converter, for whole folders. Drop the folder, choose JPG, TIFF or PNG and convert hundreds of DNG files at once, iPhone ProRAW included.

Inside one RAW file

DSC_0001.NEF9,454,032 B
JPG · 3900×2613 · 1.69 MB. Contenta decodes the sensor data and writes a new JPG. The camera and exposure tags come along (Nikon D60, ISO 400, 1/125 s, f/2.8, 86 mm).
One Nikon D60 NEF, read with ExifTool. Each block is drawn to its real byte size. Other cameras lay files out differently; this is one real file, not an average.
✓ 100,000+ users worldwide · 100+ formats supported · Free trial, no time limit

Answer

Format

DNG

JPG

Company

Adobe

Joint Photographic Experts Group
Description JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group, 1992) is the standard for compressed photographs. A .jpg file stores 8 bits per colour channel and discards the detail the eye is least likely to notice, which makes a 24-megapixel photo 5 to 10 MB instead of 70 MB uncompressed. Every camera, phone, browser and editor reads and writes it.
Benefits Opens everywhere. Small files at good quality. Carries EXIF, IPTC and XMP metadata and ICC colour profiles. Rotation and cropping can be done without re-compressing, with the right tool.
Drawbacks File sizes are 20–40 MB for a 24 MP sensor, versus 5–8 MB for a high-quality JPEG. No web browser, email client, or phone gallery opens them directly — you need a RAW processor to view them. Every camera brand uses its own flavor, and older RAW files sometimes stop being supported as editors move on. Lossy: quality drops a little with every re-save. No transparency, no layers, 8 bits per channel only. Visible blocking and halos at low quality settings or after many edits.
Metadata Stores XMP metadata inline, including copyright, keywords, camera info, and ICC color profiles. Stores XMP metadata inline, including copyright, keywords, camera info, and ICC color profiles.
Technical Comparison
DNG JPG
Compression Lossless RAW Lossy
Typical file size 15–60 MB 2–10 MB
Bit depth 12/14/16-bit 8-bit
Transparency No No
Animation No No
Web browser support None (requires conversion) Universal
Best for RAW archival, universal RAW format Web sharing, social media

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CanonAppleNIKON CORPORATION
SONYLeica Camera AGNikon
PanasonicDJIHUAWEI
PENTAXFUJIFILMRICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
SAMSUNGHasselbladGoogle
OLYMPUSHMD GlobalRICOH
XiaomiSIGMAZOPO
HTCWestover ScientificKron Technologies
OPPOOnePlusCASIO
PENTAX CorporationArashi VisionLEICA
OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.YI TECHNOLOGYNokia
motorolaEASTMAN KODAK COMPANYLG Mobile
EpsonPhase OneSAMSUNG DIGITAL IMA
Aeryon Labs IncLGEAutel Robotics
FLIRwww.marzecino.comHP
CASIO COMPUTER CO.,LTD.Sinar Photography AGMicrosoft
OLYMPUS CORPORATIONCarl ZeissFIMI
Sinar AGKanDaoZTE
LANDI--PENTAX RICOH IMAGING
PIERaspberry Pivivo
PARROTPlustekKONICA MINOLTA
MakeKodakPeloton Interactive LLC
ODYSSEY 7Q RECORDERHasselblad/ImaconSEITZ PHOTOTECHNIK
SkydioReflectaSINAR
Allied_Vision_TechnologiesRIM

Frequently Asked Questions about DNG

What is DNG and why should I use it?

DNG (Digital Negative) is Adobe open RAW format designed as a universal alternative to proprietary formats like CR2, NEF, and ARW. Using DNG ensures long-term compatibility so your files will remain readable even if a camera manufacturer stops supporting their format.

Can I convert CR2 or NEF to DNG without losing quality?

Converting to DNG can be lossless, and Adobe's free DNG Converter does it. Contenta Converter PREMIUM does not write DNG: it reads CR2, NEF, ARW and DNG files and batch converts them to JPG, TIFF, PNG and other formats, keeping the metadata.

Can Contenta Converter open iPhone ProRAW DNG files?

Yes. It decodes Apple ProRAW DNG files and converts them to JPG, TIFF or PNG, a whole folder at a time.

Need more than DNG conversion? Browse supported cameras that produce DNG files below, or:

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