By installing the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack , you can see thumbnails and open RAW files (like .CR2, .NEF, and .ARW) just like standard JPEGs.
IrfanView often uses the embedded JPEG preview within a RAW file to display images almost instantly, making it ideal for quick culling or sorting. 3. FastStone Image Viewer: The All-in-One Alternative
It is completely free for non-commercial use and supports Windows XP through Windows 11.
It features an intuitive full-screen mode that provides quick access to EXIF data and histograms by simply hovering your mouse near the screen edges.
For users who require more technical detail or cross-platform compatibility, these open-source and free tools are excellent choices:
