SRF to PFM Converter

SRF to PFM conversion — quick and online

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Batch Processing

Upload multiple SRF files at once and convert them all to PFM in a single session — saves time on large photo sets.

RAW Data Extraction

SRF contains full sensor data from Sony cameras — the converter extracts maximum quality when producing PFM output.

Browser-Based Tool

Run the entire SRF to PFM conversion in your web browser. No installations, no system requirements beyond internet access.

How to convert SRF to PFM

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose pfm or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pfm file right afterwards

About formats

SRF (Sony RAW Format) is the earliest proprietary RAW image format used by Sony digital cameras, introduced in 2003 with the Cyber-shot DSC-F828 and also used by the DSC-V3 compact camera. SRF files capture the unprocessed sensor readout at 12 bits per channel, preserving the raw Bayer-pattern data from the camera's CCD sensor before any demosaicing, white balance, or compression processing. The DSC-F828 was notable for its unique 4-color RGBE (Red, Green, Blue, Emerald) CCD sensor design — an attempt to capture a wider color gamut by adding a cyan-shifted fourth color filter element — and SRF files from this camera store the raw 4-color mosaic data needed to take advantage of this unconventional sensor layout. The format uses a proprietary container structure with Sony-specific metadata tags recording exposure parameters, lens position, and camera settings. SRF was succeeded by SR2 and then ARW as Sony expanded into interchangeable-lens cameras with the Alpha DSLR system from 2006 onward. One advantage is the capture of data from genuinely innovative sensor technology — the DSC-F828's 4-color filter array was a unique experiment in consumer camera design, and SRF files preserve the raw 4-channel data that enables exploration of the extended color gamut this sensor design was intended to provide, particularly in the cyan-green portion of the spectrum where standard Bayer sensors have gaps. Despite the format's obscurity, SRF files remain processable: Adobe Camera Raw, dcraw, LibRaw, and RawTherapee all support SRF, ensuring these early Sony RAW files remain accessible for modern processing.
Developer: Sony
Initial release: 2003
PFM (Portable Float Map) is a floating-point raster image format devised by Paul Debevec around 2001, designed to store high-dynamic-range image data with the simplicity of the Netpbm family of formats. PFM extends the PBM/PGM/PPM philosophy — minimal header, raw data, no compression — to 32-bit IEEE floating-point samples, providing direct access to HDR pixel values without the encoding overhead of formats like OpenEXR or the limited range of Radiance HDR's RGBE encoding. The file structure is deliberately minimal: a two-character magic number ('Pf' for grayscale, 'PF' for color), width and height on the next line, a scale/endianness indicator (negative for little-endian, positive for big-endian, with magnitude indicating scale factor), and then the raw 32-bit float data for each pixel. PFM files store one float per pixel for grayscale or three floats (RGB) per pixel for color, with no compression, alpha channel, or metadata support. The format emerged from the HDR imaging research community where Debevec's work on image-based lighting and light stage capture required a simple, unambiguous way to store linear floating-point radiance values that could be easily exchanged between research tools. One advantage is absolute simplicity for HDR data: PFM can be read and written in a few lines of code in any language that supports IEEE floats, with no library dependencies — ideal for research prototyping and quick data exchange between custom tools. The format's widespread adoption in the computer vision and computational photography research community is another practical strength — optical flow benchmarks (Middlebury), depth estimation datasets, and radiance field captures commonly use PFM. The format is supported by ImageMagick, OpenCV, HDR Shop, and Luminance HDR.
Developer: Paul Debevec
Initial release: 2001

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert SRF to PFM?

First-generation Sony Alpha cameras produced SRF files that are now nearly impossible to open — converting to PFM brings them back to life.

What opens PFM files?

PFM files can be opened with GIMP, ImageMagick, HDR imaging tools, and scientific software.

Is my data secure when converting SRF to PFM?

Your privacy is protected — uploaded files are deleted right after processing, and results are purged within 24 hours.

How long does SRF to PFM conversion take?

Most conversions finish in just a few seconds — server-side processing handles the heavy lifting, not your device.

Does SRF to PFM work on Mac and Linux?

Convertio runs entirely in the browser — it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even mobile devices with no installs.

Is there a cost for converting SRF to PFM?

Convertio offers free conversions for standard use. Premium plans are available for users who need higher volume.