What does this format store?+
RAF is Fujifilm’s raw capture format. It stores image data with capture information for subsequent development instead of fixing every rendering choice in a finished JPEG. Support must match the camera’s sensor and recording mode; knowing the RAF extension alone is not a full description of its internal image representation.
How does compression affect quality?+
Fujifilm documents uncompressed, lossless-compressed and lossy-compressed RAW options where supported. Lossless and lossy modes are distinct, and applications must understand the particular compressed variant. The file extension does not declare which option was selected.
Is compressed RAF always lossless?+
No. Fujifilm distinguishes lossless compression from non-reversible lossy compression. Check the recording option and model rather than assuming one result for every RAF.
What should I check before opening the file?+
Check the exact camera model and recording mode in the processor’s support list. Raw support is model-specific, even when the extension is recognised. Viewing an embedded JPEG preview does not prove the sensor data has been decoded.
What changes when I export to another format?+
Raw-to-image export develops the data: white balance, colour mapping and tone become part of the pixels. Grayscale, palette and SDR targets can discard additional information. Keep the original; converting a rendered image back into a raw container cannot reconstruct the capture.
When is this format useful?+
Use the raw original for repeated photographic development when exposure interpretation and colour decisions need to remain flexible. Export JPEG for an opaque delivery image or a suitable high-precision raster for further editing. Those exports bake in processing choices and cannot recreate the original sensor data, calibration or all vendor metadata.