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Olympus-ORF

Olympus Raw Format

image/x-olympus-orf Released 2000 · by Olympus Corporation (Now OM Digital Solutions)

The image/x-olympus-orf MIME type represents the Olympus Raw Format (ORF). Developed by Olympus Corporation (and now maintained by OM Digital Solutions), ORF is a proprietary raw image format utilized across Olympus digital cameras, including the OM-D, PEN, and classic E-System series. Structurally based on the TIFF specification but featuring unique proprietary headers, an ORF file stores uncompressed or losslessly compressed raw pixel data directly from the camera's sensor. This format preserves maximum dynamic range, precise 12-bit color depth, and essential EXIF metadata required for high-fidelity post-processing.

Photography & Raw Imaging ✦ HDR Production Ready

Technical Specifications

MIME Type
image/x-olympus-orf
Extensions
.orf
Container
TIFF-based (with proprietary variants)
Compression
Uncompressed & Proprietary Lossless
Algorithms
NoneOlympus Proprietary Lossless
Color Depth
12-bit (Per Channel)
Metadata
EXIF XMP ICC
Capabilities
Transparency
Animation
Progressive Loading
Alpha Channel
HDR Support
Official Specification
Aliases: image/orf

Magic Bytes & HTTP Headers

File Signature (Magic Bytes)
49 49 52 4F (IIRO) or 4D 4D 4F 52 (MMOR) or 49 49 53 52 (IIRS)
ASCII: IIRO or MMOR or IIRS
HTTP Headers
Content-Type: image/x-olympus-orf
HTML Accept Attribute
accept="image/x-olympus-orf, .orf"

Browser Support Matrix

Browser Status Min Version
Chrome Chrome
Not Supported
Firefox Firefox
Not Supported
Safari Safari
Not Supported
Edge Edge
Not Supported
Internet Explorer Internet Explorer
Not Supported Legacy

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages
  • Retains maximum sensor data, allowing extreme recovery of highlights and shadows that would be permanently lost in a JPEG
  • White balance, sharpening, and color profiling are saved as metadata instructions, meaning they can be completely altered in post-production
  • Unique magic byte signatures make programmatic file sniffing highly reliable compared to other camera manufacturers' TIFF-spoofing headers
Limitations
  • Proprietary format means it requires constant updates to raw processing engines every time a new camera model is released
  • Produces very large file sizes (often 15MB to 30MB+ per image depending on sensor resolution)
  • Cannot be directly embedded into web pages or used in standard HTML/CSS contexts

Developer Code Snippets

import magic
# Libmagic natively detects the 'IIRO', 'IIRS', and 'MMOR' signatures as Olympus raw files
print(magic.from_file('photo.orf', mime=True)) # Outputs 'image/x-olympus-orf'
const fs = require('fs');
// Manually detecting the 4-byte Olympus ORF magic signatures
const buffer = Buffer.alloc(4);
const fd = fs.openSync('photo.orf', 'r');
fs.readSync(fd, buffer, 0, 4, 0);
fs.closeSync(fd);
const signature = buffer.toString('ascii');
const isORF = ['IIRO', 'MMOR', 'IIRS', 'II+M'].includes(signature);
console.log('Is Olympus ORF:', isORF);
import (
    "bytes"
    "net/http"
)
// Native Go HTTP detection will likely return application/octet-stream.
// Check directly for the explicit 4-byte Olympus signatures:
// isORF := bytes.HasPrefix(buf, []byte("IIRO")) || bytes.HasPrefix(buf, []byte("MMOR")) || bytes.HasPrefix(buf, []byte("IIRS"))
$mime = mime_content_type('photo.orf');
echo $mime; // Standard PHP setups with updated magic definitions will return 'image/x-olympus-orf'

File Detection Steps

How to programmatically detect a image/x-olympus-orf file by reading its raw bytes:

  1. 1 Unlike many other raw formats (like Canon CR2 or Nikon NEF) that strictly use the standard TIFF magic bytes (49 49 2A 00), Olympus ORF files utilize unique 4-byte ASCII identifiers.
  2. 2 Check the first 4 bytes for specific Olympus signatures such as 'IIRO' (Hex: 49 49 52 4F), 'MMOR' (Hex: 4D 4D 4F 52), or 'IIRS' (Hex: 49 49 53 52).
  3. 3 Some older variants may also begin with 'II+M' (Hex: 49 49 2B 4D). Because of these distinct headers, programmatic identification of ORF is generally more reliable than other TIFF-based raw formats.

Software Support

O
OM Workspace
A
Adobe Lightroom Classic / CC
C
Capture One
R
RawTherapee

Conversion Tools

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Markdown Badge
Olympus-ORF Format Badge
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Interactive iframe Widget
<iframe src="https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/olympus-orf/embed" width="100%" height="280" style="border:1px solid #cbd5e1;border-radius:8px;" title="Olympus-ORF Specs"></iframe>

JSON API

All data on this page is available as a free, open JSON API. Use it in your project, documentation, or tooling.

GET https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/olympus-orf.json Open JSON
Free to use
No auth required
CORS enabled
Use from any domain
Cached 24h
Cache-Control headers set

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Olympus ORF file?

An ORF (Olympus Raw Format) file is a raw image generated by Olympus and OM System digital cameras. It contains unprocessed sensor data, offering significantly higher dynamic range, detail, and color depth compared to a standard compressed JPEG image.

How do I open an ORF file?

Because ORF is a raw format, standard web browsers and basic image viewers often cannot render it natively. You need specialized software like OM Workspace, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop (via Camera Raw), Capture One, or open-source alternatives like RawTherapee.

Are ORF files just standard TIFFs?

While ORF files are built upon the TIFF container architecture, they utilize proprietary magic headers (like 'IIRO' or 'MMOR') instead of standard TIFF signatures. They also contain proprietary Olympus MakerNote metadata necessary for proper raw demosaicing.

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