topic Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11 in Camera Software

CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

rxj325 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Hi everyone,

I’m fairly new to photography, and I’ve searched through the forums but haven’t been able to find a solution to my issue.

I’m using a Canon camera and viewing the photos on my HP Envy 13-ba1xxx laptop running Windows 11. I open the images in the default Windows Photos app (the one that comes built-in).

Here’s the problem:
When I view images taken in CR2 format, the brightness changes a few seconds after opening the file. At first, the photo looks just like it did on my camera screen, but then it shifts, almost like the app is automatically adjusting the exposure or applying some sort of correction. This doesn't happen with JPG files, only CR2.

This happens with every CR2 file, regardless of whether the original image is bright or dark. I’ve attached a few example photos to show what I mean.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Should I be using a different app to view/edit RAW photos? If so, what would you recommend?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

kvbarkley — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:38:58 GMT

Welcome to the world of raw. Images are displayed as the image processor sees fit. You should be able to adjust it the way you want it.

does it happen with canons DPP?

Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

p4pictures — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:10:38 GMT

RAW images have a small jpg thumbnail image inside them that was created by the camera when the photo was captured. when you first see the image on the computer twitch the windows photo app it uses that jpg as a fast way to preview the image. At the same time the software turn reads the RAW file and does its own version of raw processing on that file to show you the image as it has processed it. Unfortunately MS Windows photos app is not good at processing RAW images and also applies an automatic image enhancement that usually makes the image worse. Unfortunately it is not possible to switch off the raw image auto enhancement in Windows 11.

As Kevin suggested try using Canon DPP software to view your raw files and even process them as it is great at maximising image quality from Canon RAW files.

Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

shadowsports — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:15:43 GMT

Greetings,

This only happens in the windows photo app. It doesn't interpret the raw images properly.

Download Canon's digital photo professional.

This is a free post-process editor.

It can be found on the support portal (software and downloads) for your camera body.

How to download and install Digital Photo Professional or EOS Utility https://share.google/lIjnLJkmMN4o6vLNR

Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

rxj325 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:02:38 GMT

Thank you all! I have downloaded DPP and all is now working.

Re: CR2 Images Change Brightness When Viewed on Windows 11

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:11:37 GMT

Expanding on what others have said.

The camera captures a RAW image data from the sensor and applies any camera related adjustments such as Picture Style, ALO, lens corrections, etc. What you see on the rear LCD of the camera is the processed RAW image using those settings. That image is embedded into the RAW file as a small JPEG.

If the computer has a RAW image viewer software installed (as Windows does) that embedded JPEG is what shows up when you look at a collection of images in a folder.

When the RAW file is opened initially in software the embedded JPEG is displayed and as soon as the software completes reading the RAW file the RAW is processed in the software and displayed. Other than Canon DPP4 photo editing most software cannot "read" the Canon traits of the file; the file is displayed without the Canon properties and camera adjustments. It becomes very evident if you capture an image using the Monochrome Picture Style. It initially displays as B&W and quickly reverts to color in the editing software.

Some software (Lightroom Classic for one) can be configured to read the camera setting and will display the image in its version of the picture style.

As a beginner in RAW processing the recommendation to use Canon DPP4 is right on. Besides being free it will give you the most accurate presentation of what you saw on the camera LCD.