SR2 to XV Converter

SR2 to XV — browser conversion tool

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Format Flexibility

SR2 can convert to over OUT_COUNT formats on Convertio — XV is just one option among many available targets.

Privacy Protected

Convertio deletes SR2 uploads right after processing. Converted XV results are purged within 24 hours — your photos stay private.

Quality Preserved

Sony RAW data from SR2 is carefully processed to produce high-quality XV output that preserves the original details.

How to convert SR2 to XV

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose xv or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xv file right afterwards

About formats

SR2 is an early proprietary RAW image format used by Sony for select digital camera models, most notably the Cyber-shot DSC-R1 released in 2005 — a unique fixed-lens camera featuring a large APS-C CMOS sensor that was Sony's first to use this sensor size in a compact body. SR2 files capture the unprocessed 12-bit readout from the camera's sensor in its native Bayer mosaic pattern, preserving the full dynamic range and color information before any demosaicing, white balance adjustment, or tonal processing. The format uses a TIFF-based container structure with Sony-specific metadata tags and lossless compression to keep file sizes manageable while maintaining bit-perfect sensor data preservation. SR2 represents a transitional format in Sony's imaging history: it succeeded the earlier SRF format and preceded the ARW format that would become Sony's standard RAW format across the Alpha mirrorless and DSLR lineup from 2006 onward. The DSC-R1's APS-C sensor paired with a fixed Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar zoom lens made it an unusual proposition — essentially a compact camera with DSLR-class image quality — and SR2 files from this camera are valued by collectors. One advantage is the preservation of data from a unique camera design: the DSC-R1's combination of large sensor and fixed optics produced a distinct imaging character, and SR2 files retain the full RAW flexibility to explore this character with modern processing tools. SR2 files are supported by Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, dcraw, LibRaw, and RawTherapee.
Developer: Sony
Initial release: 2005
XV is an alternate file extension for the VIFF (Visualization Image File Format) developed by Khoral Research as part of the Khoros scientific image processing environment, which originated at the University of New Mexico around 1990. The .xv extension and the .viff extension refer to the same underlying format — a container with a 1024-byte header encoding image dimensions, data type (from single-bit to double-precision float and complex numbers), color space, band count, and optional spatial location metadata, followed by color map data and pixel values. The XV extension became common on systems where Khoros was installed alongside other X Window System tools, and in some research communities .xv was preferred over .viff as a shorter alternative. Khoros itself was a pioneering visual programming system where scientists assembled image processing pipelines by wiring together processing nodes in a graphical canvas — an approach that predated and influenced similar environments in MATLAB, LabVIEW, and commercial remote sensing packages. One advantage of the VIFF/XV format is its ability to store data at scientific precision levels — floating-point and complex number pixel values preserve measurement accuracy that would be lost in photographic formats limited to 8-bit or 16-bit integers, making it valuable for spectral analysis, computational physics output, and satellite imagery. The multi-band architecture provides another strength, allowing a single file to hold dozens of spectral channels from multispectral or hyperspectral sensors without splitting data across multiple files. XV files are supported by ImageMagick and can be converted to modern image formats for visualization or publication.
Developer: Khoral Research
Initial release: 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert SR2 to XV?

Sony replaced SR2 with ARW years ago, so software support for SR2 is declining — converting to XV ensures long-term access.

What opens XV files?

XV files can be opened with ImageMagick, XV image viewer, and Unix/Linux display tools.

Do I need to pay for SR2 to XV conversion?

Basic conversions are free for all users. Premium accounts provide extended limits and faster processing speeds.

Does converting SR2 to XV lose quality?

Convertio extracts full sensor data from your SR2 file. The XV output retains excellent quality within the target format capabilities.

Can I convert SR2 to XV on my phone?

Yes — Convertio works in mobile browsers on both iOS and Android. Upload your SR2 file and get XV output instantly.

Is batch conversion available for SR2 to XV?

Yes. You can upload many SR2 files together and convert them all to XV in a single session.