Raw SmithBlog
Sony a7 V RAW files on Mac, iPhone and iPad: what works now
Sony a7 V RAW files open on Mac, iPhone and iPad once your devices are up to date. Apple's list for version 26 supports the a7 V for lossless compressed files only; the list for version 27 names it with no restriction. If you edit on Apple devices, shoot Lossless Comp to be safe, and test one file from any other RAW File Type before you rely on it.
The short answer
On iPhone, iPad and Mac, most apps don't decode RAW files themselves. Photos, Preview, Raw Smith and many other editors use the RAW decoder built into the operating system, so whether an a7 V file opens is up to Apple. Here is where Apple's own lists stand today.
| Your software | Sony a7 V (ILCE-7M5) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 18, macOS Sequoia | Not listed | Apple, version 18 list |
| iOS, iPadOS and macOS 26 | Listed, "Lossless compressed format only" | Apple, version 26 list |
| iOS, iPadOS and macOS 27 | Listed, no note | Apple, version 27 list |
Our supported cameras page is generated from the decoder itself on macOS 27, where the camera appears under its model code, Alpha ILCE-7M5. Apple's version 26 and 27 lists also add the Alpha 7R VI, which shows up on our page as ILCE-7RM6B.
The missing note on the version 27 list suggests Apple now reads the a7 V's other RAW types too, but Apple doesn't say so in as many words, and we haven't had Compressed (HQ) or Compressed sample files to test. Treat those two as "check first".
Why a7 V files didn't open at first
Every new camera writes its own variant of the maker's RAW format, so a decoder has to be taught each model. Apple adds cameras in software updates, usually weeks or months after they ship. Until then, every app that relies on Apple's decoder is stuck at the same time.
That's what a7 V owners ran into. In December 2025, a thread on Apple's community forum asked when Photomator and Pixelmator would support the a7 V. The reply pointed to Apple's list of supported cameras, which didn't include the a7 V at the time, and suggested Adobe's DNG Converter as a stopgap. No editor that depends on Apple's decoder could do better; the fix had to come from Apple, and it has now arrived.
The a7 V's three RAW File Types
The a7 V offers three ways to record RAW, set in MENU › Shooting › Image Quality/Rec › Image Quality Settings › RAW File Type. This is how Sony's help guide for the ILCE-7M5 describes them:
| RAW File Type | What Sony says | On Apple devices |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless Comp | Compressed with no loss of image quality | Supported on version 26 and 27 |
| Compressed (HQ) | Compressed RAW, higher quality than Compressed | Not supported on version 26; no restriction listed on 27, but check |
| Compressed | Compressed RAW, for longer bursts than Compressed (HQ) | Not supported on version 26; no restriction listed on 27, but check |
There is no uncompressed option on the a7 V. Sony also notes that both card slots must use the same RAW File Type, so you can't record lossless to one card and compressed to the other.
Which should you shoot?
- Lossless Comp if you edit on a Mac, iPhone or iPad. It works on both version 26 and 27, and you lose nothing.
- Compressed (HQ) or Compressed if you need the longer bursts or smaller files for sport or wildlife, and you've confirmed your devices open them. Sony doesn't call these lossless, so expect them to hold slightly less than a Lossless Comp file, which matters most when you push shadows hard.
How to check your own files
Before you shoot a trip or a job in a new mode, do a two-minute test on every device you'll edit on.
- Update. Install the latest iOS, iPadOS or macOS your device can run. A camera listed for version 26 won't open on version 18.
- Shoot one frame in each RAW File Type you plan to use, and name or note which is which.
- Open each in Preview on a Mac, or import them into Photos on an iPhone or iPad and tap Edit. A supported file opens at full resolution and responds to edits. An unsupported one won't open, or may show only the small JPEG preview the camera embedded in the file.
- Or import them into Raw Smith. If the decoder can't read a file, Raw Smith tells you plainly, naming the camera, rather than showing a blank or a preview.
If a type doesn't open, switch the camera to Lossless Comp for future shots. For files you've already shot, keep the originals: they'll open as soon as an update adds that mode.
If a file won't open
You're on an older OS
If your Mac or iPad can't run version 26 or later, Apple's decoder on it won't know the a7 V. Adobe's free DNG Converter for Mac and Windows converts RAW files from the cameras Adobe supports into DNG, which Apple devices read. Convert, import the DNGs, and keep the ARW files.
You shot a compressed type on version 26
Update to version 27 and test again, or convert to DNG as above. A DNG made by a converter holds the same sensor data, but it may not render exactly as Apple's camera-specific support does.
What about Apple's Enhanced decoder?
Version 27 brings RAW 9, Apple's machine-learning demosaic and noise reduction, for a subset of supported cameras. In Raw Smith it appears as the Enhanced switch in Detail, and only for cameras where Apple offers it. We haven't been able to test an a7 V file, so we can't tell you yet whether it's covered. Open an a7 V file in Raw Smith on version 27 and look for the switch. Apple's RAW 9 Enhanced decoder explains what it does.
How Raw Smith fits
Raw Smith is a RAW editor and library for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built on Apple's decoder. That cuts both ways, and it's worth being plain about it: Raw Smith opens exactly what your OS version supports, no more and no less. It can't add a camera or a compression mode that Apple doesn't decode.
Once a file opens, everything is rendered from the RAW. You can bring a7 V files in from a card reader or a USB cable with Import RAWs, which lists the camera or card under Cameras and Cards and skips the JPEGs if you shoot RAW+JPEG. On iPhone and iPad the RAWs are copied into Raw Smith's folder in Files; on the Mac they stay where they are. Then set sharpening and noise reduction in the decode in Detail, and sync your edits between devices through your own iCloud. The SD card import guide walks through getting files onto an iPhone or iPad.
Raw Smith is a free download with a free tier and a 14-day trial; Pro is a one-time purchase or a yearly plan. It's in public beta on TestFlight now, so you can test your own a7 V files before you decide.
Questions
Does the Mac support Sony a7 V RAW files?
Yes, on current software. Apple lists the Sony Alpha 7 V for iOS, iPadOS and macOS 26 with the note "Lossless compressed format only", and for version 27 with no note. Update your Mac, iPhone or iPad, then test one file from each RAW File Type you use.
Which RAW File Type should I use on the a7 V for Apple devices?
Lossless Comp. It's the one mode Apple has said works on version 26, and it loses no image data. Compressed (HQ) and Compressed make smaller files, but check that they open on your devices first.
Why did my a7 V files not open in Photos or Photomator?
Apple's system RAW decoder didn't support the a7 V until it was added to the version 26 list, and then only for lossless compressed files. Apps that use Apple's decoder, including Photos, Preview and Raw Smith, can't open the files until the decoder can.
Does the a7 V shoot uncompressed RAW?
Not according to Sony's help guide. Its RAW File Type setting offers Lossless Comp, Compressed (HQ) and Compressed.
Can I convert a7 V files to DNG?
If Apple's decoder can't read a file, Adobe's free DNG Converter can turn RAW files from cameras Adobe supports into DNG, which Apple devices open. Keep the originals so you can go back to them later.