Sony compressed ARW files

[graham1]

I have just bought a Sony A7cr camera.  This will take full size 60MP ARW RAW files which are around 125MB each, and also smaller lossless compressed ARW files, still RAW but smaller file sizes.  On experimenting with these, I find that although IMatch can read the full size uncompressed versions, it cannot read any of the smaller compressed versions.  The thumbnails just have a placeholder in the middle and show the images as having zero dimensions: trying to open them gives an "file cannot be displayed" error message.  Although no image shows, the thumbnails do recognise the number of keywords (inserted via Lightroom, which can read these files) and therefore metadata is being read and GPS also works.  All the Camera Data info can also be read in the metadata panel.  It is only the image itself which does not display.

I see from a search that there have been previous issues with Sony ARW files, but not for some years.  Is there a known solution or workaround to this problem (other than, of course, do not use the compressed RAW formats!).

Graham

[Mario]

Keep in mind that you are working with a proprietary and undocumented RAW format.
Sony does not provide a WIC codec for their many SRF and ARW variants.

This means when Sony comes up with a new incompatible variant, Microsoft (WIC) and the LibRaw project have to find time and resources to reverse.-engineer the new format and add support for it.
Same for companies like Adobe, DxO, C1 and Affinity (they get their RAW support from LibRaw).

You make yourself totally dependent on Sony products or software written by Adobe and others.
Sony should switch to DNG and make everybody happy.

1. Run a WIC diagnosis for one of the problem files and ZIP and attach the results.

2. Send me a sample file (upload to your cloud space and send me a link) for a large and small ARW that fails. I can then tell you it the latest LibRaw snapshot I use in IMatch 2025 can handle the format.

[graham1]

Thanks Mario.  Having tested the new camera over the weekend, I have decided that I will only use the full uncompressed ARW RAW format, not the smaller versions, which will avoid the problem.  The files are large, but disk storage is cheap these days!

Graham