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CleverFiles has updated its Disk Drill photo recovery software with broader support for Panasonic RW2 files and faster, more stable TIFF detection. Available for Windows and macOS, version 6.3 also brings improvements to DNG detection and Advanced Camera Recovery, including changes for photographers who shoot video.

 

Expanded Panasonic RW2 Support for RAW Photo Recovery

 

RW2 is Panasonic’s RAW image format, used to store camera originals for processing in a compatible editor. Disk Drill already supported RW2; version 6.3 adds recognition of additional variants, extending compatibility within the format.

For photographers trying to recover deleted RAW photos, the change is relevant when an earlier version did not recognize their Panasonic files. If the image data remains on the card or drive, scanning with 6.3 gives the software a chance to identify the newly supported variants.

 

Faster, More Stable TIFF Detection

 

Disk Drill 6.3 improves TIFF detection speed and stability during scanning. The change applies to identifying TIFF images on the scanned device, including edited photographs saved on external drives and other project storage.

TIFF files often contain work completed after the original capture, such as retouching or preparation for printing. The update therefore covers both camera originals and saved edits, with faster detection for photographers searching through a collection of missing TIFF images.

 

Other Changes That Matter to Photographers

 

Disk Drill 6.3 also improves DNG detection and fixes an issue that could prevent some DNG files from being found.

The update includes several further improvements relevant to photo storage and recovery:

 

• Faster DeepFAT32 scanning. The updated scanning method improves speed on FAT32 volumes, a file system used on some memory cards and removable drives.
• Better thumbnail generation on Windows. Improved thumbnails help photographers recognize images in the results before opening individual previews.
• Corrected preview rotation on Windows ARM. The release fixes an image rotation issue in the preview window on ARM devices running Windows 11 Home.
• A fix for scanning byte-to-byte DMG backups. Disk Drill addresses an issue affecting scans of these disk images, which provide another way to work with a copy of a storage device.

 

Both platform releases also add RWL recovery within Advanced Camera Recovery. RWL is a separate RAW format associated with Leica cameras.

For photographers who also shoot video, Advanced Camera Recovery is designed to reconstruct fragmented camera files, whose data may be stored in separate locations on a memory card. The module also supports photos and audio from supported devices.

Version 6.3 improves reconstruction of Insta360 files and adds a choice over whether ACR should attempt to recover corrupted files or skip them. These changes give users more control over a camera recovery scan, alongside broader improvements to the module’s performance and stability.

 

Availability and Free Recovery Options

 

Disk Drill 6.3 is available for Windows and macOS, with free scanning and previews on both platforms.

On Windows, the free edition includes up to 100 MB of data recovery. The allowance applies to total file size, so the number of photographs it covers depends on the selected images. Disk Drill PRO enables recovery beyond that allowance.

On macOS, saving unprotected files found through a scan requires PRO. The Windows walkthrough below shows how to review and recover photographs.

For photographers choosing the best photo recovery software for a particular job, a free scan offers a way to assess the results: check whether the missing images appear and preview supported files before purchasing.

 

Disk Drill Overview: Finding and Recovering Lost Photos

 

The following Windows walkthrough covers RW2 and TIFF recovery from a connected storage device. For readers looking to recover deleted photos from SD card storage, CleverFiles also provides a detailed guide to recovering photos from memory cards.

 

Scan the Storage Device

 

Install Disk Drill on your computer, keeping the installation off the device containing the missing photographs. Connect your SD card through a card reader, or plug in the external drive you want to scan. If Windows asks to format the device, dismiss the prompt.

Open Disk Drill and locate the device under Storage Devices. Check its name and capacity so you select the correct one. Choose the physical card or drive.

 

Selecting a storage device in Disk Drill.

 

Click Search for lost data, and select Universal Scan when the scan-method dialog appears.

 

Selecting Universal Scan to search for lost photos.

 

Allow the scan to finish, then click Review found items. You can review results during scanning, but waiting until completion gives you the full set to examine.

 

Find and Preview RW2 and TIFF Images

 

Select Pictures to narrow the results to image files. To locate Panasonic originals, enter rw2 in the search field and look through the matching files. If necessary, use the file-size or date filters to reduce the list further.

Select an RW2 file and open its preview. Look for the subject and composition you recognize, then check the displayed file information. When several shots look similar, inspect them individually before choosing which ones to save.

 

Previewing RW2 photos in Disk Drill.

 

Clear the RW2 search before looking for TIFF images. Enter tif to find filenames containing either .tif or .tiff, then select a result to preview it. Check that it is the version you need if the drive contains several exports of the same photograph.

 

Previewing TIFF images in Disk Drill.

 

Review the Deleted or lost and Reconstructed groups, rather than relying on a single results folder. Mark the photographs you want using the checkboxes beside them. Your selection can include both formats, allowing you to recover deleted images together.

 

Recover the Selected Photos to Another Drive

 

Click Recover and choose a destination on a different physical drive. For photographs lost from an SD card, a folder on your computer is suitable. If you scanned the computer’s internal drive, use an external drive with enough free space.

 

Choosing where to save the recovered photos.

 

Confirm the destination and let recovery finish. Open the saved RW2 files in an application that supports RAW files from your Panasonic camera, and inspect the TIFF images in your photo editor. Check the full images for missing areas or visible damage. For a layered TIFF, also check that the expected layers are available before returning the file to your editing workflow.

 

What Affects Whether Photos Can Be Recovered?

 

Stop using the card or drive as soon as photographs disappear. Deleting a file usually marks its space as available for reuse; new data can overwrite the image data still there. Setting the device aside preserves the opportunity to recover deleted photos.

The cause of the loss also matters. A missing folder or an unreadable file system can leave the underlying image data intact. An interrupted write, however, may produce an incomplete photograph because some data never reached the card. A guest article on Larry Jordan’s website explains why photos become corrupted on SD cards, including interrupted transfers, power loss, and faulty media. These situations help explain why recovering a missing file and repairing a damaged image are different tasks.

Disk Drill can also create and scan a byte-to-byte backup, letting you work from a copy of the storage device. If a card is physically damaged or repeatedly disconnects, consult a recovery specialist before further attempts.

When the cause is unclear, a data recovery community can be a place to ask for help assessing the symptoms. A useful post should include the card or drive model, its reported capacity, what happened before the loss, and any steps already attempted. Describe whether the photographs disappeared, stopped opening, or became inaccessible along with the entire device. Those details make it easier to distinguish a file problem from a storage problem and discuss an appropriate next step.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Will Recovered RAW Photos Retain Their Lightroom Edits?

Lightroom Classic normally stores adjustments in its catalog, and may also save them in XMP sidecar files. Reconnect the recovered RW2 to its existing catalog entry to regain access to those edits. If the catalog is missing, look for the matching XMP file or a catalog backup; the RAW file alone does not contain adjustments stored elsewhere.

 

Can Recovered Photos Have Different File Names?

Yes. Recovery may preserve names and folders when the original file system records are available. Files identified by their internal signatures can receive generated names. This does not itself indicate image damage. Embedded capture dates and camera information may still help you organize the recovered photographs.

 

Can Photos Be Recovered After a Quick Format?

Often, yes. A quick format may replace file system information while leaving image data available for recovery. The outcome depends on how the device handled formatting and whether the data remains readable. Formatting that erases the underlying data has a different outcome, so a successful recovery cannot be assumed from the word “quick” alone.