When will the Photos App release an update so the new Sony RX10 MKV camera RAW files will be compatible

The current list is here: Digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, visionOS 26 - Apple Support (IE)

Apple is releasing new RAW Support only with the new system versions. And it may take half a year or longer until new camera models will be supported. However, quite a few great cameras have never received RAW support by Apple. If you require a camera with native RAW support by Apple, it is safer to wait with the purchase of the camera until you are seeing the RAW Support on the list.

While you are waiting, you may want to use Adobe's free DNG Converter or the Sony's own software to convert the RAW files so another lossless format, DNG or TIFF.

While Apple does support my Nikon NEF files, I have it generate both jpgs as well as the RAW files. I use Photos to select the pictures that I want to spend more time on, maybe 1/6 of them, and I edit those RAW files in Lightroom Classic. I then export the results as 100% jpgs and import them into Photos. There I arrange them with Photos' excellent organization tools.

I don't really see anything that Photos offers especially for RAW files. Nikon and Sony offer software that does. Lightroom is great, but expensive.

mikeadams64 wrote:

Please, please, please, does anyone know when Apple will be allowing compatability within the Photos app for the new Sony RX10 MKV camera and its RAW/ARW files ? It's a fantastic camera, but neither my iPad or my MacBook will recognise the RAW files. Please help Apple

RAW compatibility updates are included in system upgrades and updates. The current Sony support with Tahoe 26.2 is:

Is your Sony a DSC model? The next update will be when the next system is released. Being users like yourself we have no idea when it will be or if your camera model will be included.

Richard.Taylor wrote:

While Apple does support my Nikon NEF files, I have it generate both jpgs as well as the RAW files. I use Photos to select the pictures that I want to spend more time on, maybe 1/6 of them, and I edit those RAW files in Lightroom Classic. I then export the results as 100% jpgs and import them into Photos. There I arrange them with Photos' excellent organization tools.

I don't really see anything that Photos offers especially for RAW files. Nikon and Sony offer software that does. Lightroom is great, but expensive.

It will change with iOS27 - we will no longer have to fiddle with the details of RAW development, iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate will use AI to do it for us 🫢

"NEWS https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/06/11/photographers-get-a-dramatic-raw-update-with-ios-27

Photographers get a dramatic RAW update with iOS 27.

Apple has told developers that iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate feature revised RAW image processing, which they can exploit to bring better sharpness and color in camera and image editing apps.

In principle, RAW photos are ones where there hasn't been any of the kind of processing that JPEG or PNG ones do. But in practice, Apple takes the RAW sensor data and does some processing to make it viewable.

Now in one of WWDC's developer sessions, the company has revealed a comprehensive update to this RAW processing. The new version 9 of its Core Image RAW improves denoising, color correction, and more, across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In principle, RAW photos are ones where there hasn't been any of the kind of processing that JPEG or PNG ones do. But in practice, Apple takes the RAW sensor data and does some processing to make it viewable.

Now in one of WWDC's developer sessions, the company has revealed a comprehensive update to this RAW processing. The new version 9 of its Core Image RAW improves denoising, color correction, and more, across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

In the 16-minute developer briefing, David Hayward, Apple Core Image Engineer, explains that this is not something that users will see in the regular Photos app. Instead, it is intended for developers to adopt for third-party camera apps such as Halide, or image editors such as Apple's Pixelmator Pro.

It's also not related to the new Apple Intelligence photo features, such as extending or reframing images.

While Apple has regularly improved RAW processing, Hayward called this the biggest update yet. He says that this "dramatically improves the rendering of Raw Files."

It uses Machine Learning, and "the model is run on device using the Apple neural engine cores for optimal performance," he continued.

In the video, Hayward demonstrates images that proved problematic for the previous RAW 8 version, such as ones with high or low noise. More detail is now correctly shown, and colors are claimed to be more accurate and well-defined.

RAW 9 is the first major update since RAW 8, which was released in 2017. Neither version should be confused with the separate ProRAW which Apple launched in 2020."

It looks like we will have to use the iPhone as a camera to get a versatile RAW processing. If only my iPhone had al longer lens and larger aperture!

Well, we will have to subscribe to Apple Creator Studio to get Pixelmator Pro:

." Instead, it is intended for developers to adopt for third-party camera apps such as Halide, or image editors such as Apple's Pixelmator Pro."

I have an Apple Creator Studio subscription to get Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Logic Pro, MainStage, Numbers, Keynote, Pages. It includes Pixelmator Pro, but cannot stand a photo editor cluttered with Graphics tools, I prefer Luminar Neo.

Perhaps I will find a way to use Pixelmator for the Raw processing, if it will be as great as promised.

léonie wrote: … cannot stand a photo editor cluttered with Graphics tools, I prefer Luminar Neo.

Perhaps I will find a way to use Pixelmator for the Raw processing, if it will be as great as promised.

I agree-- I'm not interested in changing the reality of the photo, though it does sometimes take some work to make the picture look like what I saw with my subjective brain.

I've used Photomator some for a few of its tools. There's little mention of its future. I'm using Keynote 13 to avoid Apple Creator. I wish I could avoid Adobe Creative. (When I search for Adobe, I get 57 files that have the name in them.)

At this point, don't count on Apple for your RAW files. They are getting slower and slower and supporting fewer cameras.

David Hayward says:

this is not something that users will see in the regular Photos app.

Hmmm