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Image MIME Reference
JPM

JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format

image/jpm
VS

Sony Alpha Raw Image

image/x-sony-arw
Sony-ARW

A complete technical comparison of JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format and Sony Alpha Raw Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature JPM Sony-ARW
Transparency (Alpha) Yes ✕ No
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading Yes ✕ No
HDR Support ✕ No Yes
EXIF Metadata Yes Yes
ICC Color Profile Yes Yes
JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format
image/jpm
Extension
.jpm.jpgm
Container ISOBMFF / JPM (ISO/IEC 15444-6)
Compression Lossy / Lossless / Mixed Raster Content (MRC)
Algorithm
JPEG 2000JBIG2JPEGMMR
Color Depth 1-bit (Text/Masks), 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit
Developed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
Released 2003
Magic Bytes
00 00 00 0C 6A 50 20 20 0D 0A 87 0A ... 66 74 79 70 6A 70 6D 20
Full JPM reference →
Sony Alpha Raw Image
image/x-sony-arw
Extension
.arw
Container TIFF-based (Proprietary)
Compression Uncompressed / Lossless Compressed / Lossy Compressed
Algorithm
NoneSony Proprietary LosslessSony Proprietary Lossy
Color Depth 12-bit (Per Channel), 14-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by Sony Corporation
Released 2006
Magic Bytes
49 49 2A 00
Full Sony-ARW reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser JPM Sony-ARW
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
JPM

JPM Strengths

  • Highly optimized for scanned documents, drastically reducing file sizes without sacrificing the readability of text or the quality of embedded photos
  • Supports multi-page documents within a single file
  • Object-based architecture allows for complex layout representation and independent extraction of elements
Limitations
  • Failed to achieve widespread adoption, largely being overshadowed by PDF/A and DjVu
  • Zero native web browser compatibility
  • Requires complex, specialized software to properly encode and decode the multi-layered MRC structure
Sony-ARW

Sony-ARW Strengths

  • Retains absolute maximum sensor data, enabling massive shadow recovery and highlight protection compared to compressed in-camera JPEGs
  • Embeds high-quality JPEG previews and robust metadata, allowing photographers to match in-camera color science (like Creative Looks) perfectly during raw processing
  • Utilizes the standard TIFF container structure, ensuring broad compatibility with open-source decoding libraries (like LibRaw)
Limitations
  • Proprietary format means it requires constant updates to raw processing engines every time Sony releases a new camera model
  • Sony's historically controversial lossy compression algorithm (often called 'star eater' due to spatial filtering artifacts) was a drawback for astrophotography in older ARW versions, though largely resolved in newer models with uncompressed/lossless options
  • Cannot be directly embedded into web pages or used in standard HTML/CSS contexts

When to choose which format

JPM
Use JPM when…
  • Scanned Document Archiving
  • Mixed Raster Content (MRC) Imaging
  • Digital Libraries
Sony-ARW
Use Sony-ARW when…
  • Professional Digital Photography
  • Non-destructive Image Post-Processing
  • High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging Archival

More comparisons

JPM vs ACES → Sony-ARW vs ACES → JPM vs APNG → Sony-ARW vs APNG → JPM vs AVCI → Sony-ARW vs AVCI → JPM vs AVCS → Sony-ARW vs AVCS → JPM vs AVIF → Sony-ARW vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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