Image MIME Reference
Kodak-DCR
Kodak Digital Camera Raw
image/x-kodak-dcr
VS
Sony Alpha Raw Image
image/x-sony-arw
Sony-ARW
A complete technical comparison of Kodak Digital Camera Raw 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 | Kodak-DCR | Sony-ARW |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
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
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
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | Kodak-DCR | Sony-ARW |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
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
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
Kodak-DCR
Use Kodak-DCR when…
- Vintage Professional Digital Photography (Kodak DCS series)
- Non-destructive Image Post-Processing
- Raw Imaging Archival
Sony-ARW
Use Sony-ARW when…
- Professional Digital Photography
- Non-destructive Image Post-Processing
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging Archival