Free Online PEF to JPG Converter
Convert PEF to JPG. Free online conversion.
Drop PEF files here
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Up to 50 MB per file. Sign up free to convert files up to 100 MB.
Selected files
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Preparing files
Checking files and selected output formats.
When JPG is the right output
JPG is the default format for photographs, 24-bit colour, lossy compression tuned for continuous-tone imagery, universally supported. Ubiquity is its main strength: government portals, e-commerce marketplaces, print labs, and CMS uploaders that don't say what format they want will accept JPG. The trade-offs: no transparency, no lossless option, compression artefacts around sharp edges (text, logos). Use JPG when the source is a photograph and the destination doesn't require a transparent background.
Frequently asked questions
What is PEF?
PEF is a Pentax camera RAW file, typically used for professional editing before export. Converting it to JPG produces a file that opens on systems without PEF support.
PEF vs JPG - which format should I use?
PEF is a Pentax camera RAW file best for professional editing before export. JPG is a lossy raster format best for photos and web images where small size matters. Use JPG when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need a small file size and near-universal compatibility.
How do I open PEF files?
On Windows: Photos, with the Raw Image Extension. On a Mac: Preview and Photos on recent macOS. Pentax RAW, and among the less widely supported, some editors that handle Canon and Nikon files will not read PEF.
PEF vs JPG - which format should I use?
PEF is a Pentax camera RAW file best for professional editing before export. JPG is a lossy raster format best for photos and web images where small size matters. Use JPG when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need a small file size and near-universal compatibility.
Will the JPG look like what I saw on the camera screen?
Close, but not always identical. The preview on your camera is a JPEG the camera generated using its own picture style, sharpening, and noise reduction. A RAW file holds the unprocessed sensor data, so a converted JPG can look flatter or differently balanced. That latitude is exactly why photographers shoot RAW.
Should I edit the RAW before converting?
Yes, if you intend to edit at all. RAW holds far more recoverable detail in highlights and shadows than a JPG does. Adjust exposure and white balance while the file is still RAW, then convert, doing it the other way round means editing an image that has already thrown most of that information away.
Is the conversion lossy?
Yes, unavoidably. JPG is a lossy format and cannot store the sensor data a RAW file holds. Keep the original PEF, it is your negative, and a JPG cannot be turned back into one.
Why is the JPG so much smaller than the PEF?
A RAW file stores the full bit depth from the sensor, typically 12 or 14 bits per channel plus metadata. JPG compresses to 8 bits and discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice. A PEF usually comes out three to eight times smaller as a high-quality JPG.