AVIF Support in Digital Cameras: Current Status

While the AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) has gained rapid adoption across web browsers and operating systems due to its superior compression and 10-bit/12-bit color capabilities, native AVIF support among dedicated digital camera manufacturers is currently non-existent. Traditional camera makers have universally bypassed AVIF in favor of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) as their modern alternative to legacy 8-bit JPEG. Consequently, photographers seeking AVIF files must convert their RAW or JPEG captures using external post-processing software rather than shooting AVIF directly in-camera.

The Manufacturer Landscape

No mainstream camera brand—including Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, or Panasonic—offers native in-camera AVIF recording in any production model.

• Sony: Modern Alpha bodies (such as the A7 IV, A7R V, A1, and A9 III) feature native 10-bit HEIF capture alongside RAW and JPEG, supporting both 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 subsampling. Sony has shown no public roadmap for implementing AVIF.
• Canon: Beginning with the EOS-1D X Mark III and expanding across the EOS R mirrorless lineup (EOS R5, R6 Mark II, R3), Canon utilizes 10-bit HEIF (.HIF) specifically for HDR PQ capture. AVIF is entirely absent.
• Nikon: Models such as the Z8, Z9, Z6 III, and Zf support 10-bit HEIF shooting for high dynamic range scenes. Nikon does not offer AVIF capture.
• Fujifilm: Fifth-generation cameras like the X-T5, X-H2, X-H2S, and GFX 100 II include native 10-bit HEIF support, but standard firmware does not include AVIF.
• Panasonic & OM System: Panasonic features HLG photo modes in select Lumix cameras using conventional containers, while OM System remains reliant on JPEG and proprietary RAW. Neither supports AVIF.

Why Camera Makers Chose HEIF Over AVIF

The complete absence of AVIF in standalone digital camera hardware is driven by hardware architecture and production timelines:

1. Leveraging Existing Video Encoders: Dedicated camera processors (such as Canon's DIGIC, Sony's BIONZ XR, and Nikon's EXPEED) already integrate dedicated hardware silicon to encode H.265 (HEVC) video. Because HEIF uses the HEVC compression standard, implementing HEIF capture requires minimal extra processing overhead and no additional hardware development.
2. AV1 Hardware Encoding Constraints: AVIF relies on the AV1 video codec. Encoding AV1 is significantly more computationally demanding than encoding HEVC. Integrating real-time AV1 hardware encoding into camera image signal processors (ISPs) would require substantial silicon redesign, increased power consumption, and higher thermal loads.
3. Firmware Maturity: Camera development cycles are multi-year projects. When manufacturers began planning the transition away from 8-bit JPEG around 2018–2020, HEIF was already an established standard backed by the MPEG group and adopted widely by Apple, whereas AVIF was still in its infancy.

Current Workarounds

For users requiring AVIF delivery, the current workflow relies entirely on desktop software. Raw processors and image editors such as Adobe Lightroom, darktable, and open-source command-line tools like libavif allow photographers to export camera RAW files directly to 10-bit or 12-bit AVIF for web publication and archival purposes. Until camera manufacturers integrate dedicated AV1 hardware encoders into their primary image processing engines, native AVIF capture will remain unavailable in standalone camera hardware.