A CR2 file is a raw photo file format generated by Canons digital camera. The format is based on the TIFF file and contains detailed information about a photograph, resulting in large files and high-quality (high resolution) photos. The raw nature of the file means that it contains lossless details from the camera sensor without any form of processing, data loss, or loss of image quality. CR2 stands for Canon Raw 2 (2nd edition). CR2 files are generally uncompressed, high quality, and large, and they contain metadata such as lens info, white balance, and bracketing information. If youre a photographer or graphic designer, youve probably encountered a CR2 file format before. To open CR2 files, you need to install an extension or use a raw image processing program or photo editing software. If you dont want to edit, you may convert the CR2 file to JPG or any other photo format.