What is a PEF file
If you are using a Pentax digital camera, you have the option to take images not only in the common JPG format, but also as PEF. This is the uncompressed RAW image format provided by Pentax. The RAW image format is deprecated since Pentax changed it's RAW format from PEF to DNG.
As all camera RAW formats, PEF image files store information about color, lightning, etc. exactly like they are captured by the camera's sensor. No compression or adjustment of the image information takes place. It is based on the TIFF file format. However, not all PEF formats are identical. Depending on the Pentax camera model, the files may store image information differently. Thus, not all PEF files can be reliably opened by the same program.
Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open PEF documents:
- ACD System ACDSee 18
- ACD Systems Canvas 15
- Adobe Photoshop CC
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 13
- Corel PaintShop Pro X6
- File Viewer for Android
- Google Picasa
- MacPhun ColorStrokes
- MAGIX Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9
- Pentax Photo Browser or Photo Laboratory
- UFRaw
