Image MIME Reference
JPEG-XR-(HEIF)
JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container)
image/jxra
VS
Kodak Digital Camera Raw
image/x-kodak-dcr
Kodak-DCR
A complete technical comparison of JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container) and Kodak Digital Camera Raw — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | JPEG-XR-(HEIF) | Kodak-DCR |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | Yes | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container)
image/jxra
Extension
.jxra
Container
HEIF / ISOBMFF (ISO/IEC 23008-12 / Annex F of ITU-T T.832)
Compression
Lossy / Lossless
Algorithm
JPEG XR (Lapped Biorthogonal Transform)
Color Depth
8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit (Float)
Developed by
ISO/IEC JTC 1 / ITU-T
Released
2019
Magic Bytes
XX XX XX XX 66 74 79 70 6A 78 72 41
Kodak Digital Camera Raw
image/x-kodak-dcr
Extension
.dcr
Container
TIFF/EP
Compression
Uncompressed / Lossless JPEG
Algorithm
NoneLossless JPEG (ITU-T81)
Color Depth
12-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by
Eastman Kodak Company
Released
1998
Magic Bytes
49 49 2A 00 or 4D 4D 00 2A
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | JPEG-XR-(HEIF) | Kodak-DCR |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
JPEG-XR-(HEIF)
JPEG-XR-(HEIF) Strengths
- Combines the deep color (32-bit float) and mathematically lossless compression of JPEG XR with the robust metadata architecture of HEIF
- Allows grouping multiple images, exposure brackets, or focal stacks into a single file collection
Limitations
- Practically non-existent software and operating system support compared to standard HEIC or legacy JPEG XR (.jxr)
- Zero web browser support, rendering it entirely unsuitable for public web deployment
- Eclipsed by modern standards like AVIF and JPEG XL which offer superior compression with much broader industry backing
Kodak-DCR
Kodak-DCR Strengths
- Preserves the full dynamic range and uncompressed raw sensor data captured by foundational professional digital cameras
- Utilizes the standard TIFF container structure, ensuring that open-source decoders like LibRaw can easily parse and interpret the files long after official vendor support has ended
Limitations
- Completely obsolete proprietary format tied to camera hardware that is no longer manufactured
- Shares the TIFF magic header, leading to widespread misidentification by automated MIME detection libraries
- Cannot be natively viewed in web browsers or standard operating system image viewers without specialized codecs
When to choose which format
JPEG-XR-(HEIF)
Use JPEG-XR-(HEIF) when…
- Specialized Archival
- Experimental Imaging Workflows
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging
Kodak-DCR
Use Kodak-DCR when…
- Vintage Professional Digital Photography (Kodak DCS series)
- Non-destructive Image Post-Processing
- Raw Imaging Archival