Convert RW2 to HEIC on Mac
Select the RW2 files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose HEIC and press Return. FileFlip saves each HEIC next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert RW2 to HEIC with FileFlip
Select the RW2 files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from RW2. Type “HEIC” to jump to it.
Choose HEIC and press Return
The HEIC files appear next to the originals. To make them smaller first, press ⇥ and lower the quality or size.
RW2 and HEIC
Raw files are large and most apps and websites can’t show them, so they have to be developed into a regular image before sharing. HEIC keeps photos small on Apple devices, which helps when storage is tight.
What changes when you convert
- HEIC is lossy: the file gets much smaller and some fine detail is discarded. At high quality settings the difference is hard to notice.
- A raw file is unprocessed sensor data. Converting develops it into a finished image, so keep the RW2 if you may want to edit it later.
- HEIC opens on Apple devices, but not everywhere else. Check before you send it to someone on Windows.
| Property | RW2 | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Panasonic RAW | High Efficiency Image File Format |
| Made by | Panasonic | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) |
| Compression | Unprocessed sensor data, lossless or lightly compressed | Lossy (HEVC) |
| Best for | Editing photos with the most room for adjustments | Storing photos on Apple devices |
| Opens in | Raw editors such as Lightroom, plus Photos and Preview when macOS supports the camera model | Apple devices; Windows needs the HEIF and HEVC extensions; many websites don’t accept it |
| File extension | .rw2 | .heic, .heif |
| In FileFlip | Opens | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Preview
Open the RW2 in Preview, choose File → Export, pick HEIC from the Format menu and click Save. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and choose File → Export Selected Images.
Works when macOS supports your camera model.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format heic DSC_0001.rw2 \
--out DSC_0001.heicBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about RW2 and HEIC
Does converting RW2 to HEIC lose quality?
HEIC is lossy: the file gets much smaller and some fine detail is discarded. At high quality settings the difference is hard to notice.
Can I convert many RW2 files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose HEIC. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Will the HEIC keep the date, camera and location?
Yes, metadata is copied by default. Turn on “Remove location” in the options before you share photos publicly.
Should I keep the RW2 file?
Yes. The raw file holds more information than any finished image, so keep it if you may want to edit the photo again.
Where is the HEIC file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .heic extension. The RW2 file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert HEIC back to RW2?
No. FileFlip opens RW2 files but doesn’t save them.
Convert a whole shoot at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac