What Is an MOS File?

This is a photo taken from a Leaf digital camera—you can convert it to JPG and other image formats

What to Know

  • An MOS file is a raw image captured by a Leaf digital camera.
  • You can view one with RawTherapee or Photoshop.
  • Convert one to JPG and other image formats at CloudConvert or with Filestar.

This article explains what an MOS file is, how to open one, and how to convert one to a different image file format.

What Is an MOS File?

A file with the MOS file extension is a raw image file produced by cameras such as the Leaf Aptus series. The file is uncompressed, so you'll find that it's usually a bit larger than more standard images like JPEGs or PNGs.

MOS also stands for some technology terms that have nothing to do with a file format: Microsoft Office specialist, My Oracle support, mobile office system, mobile operating system, and maintenance out of service.

How to Open an MOS File

The default photo viewer in Windows is one free MOS viewer. RawTherapee is another that works in Windows, Linux, and macOS. Paid programs like PhotoshopPaintShop Pro, and Capture One work, too.

Camera Raw window in Photoshop

Another option is File Viewer Plus, but the free version doesn't support MOS files, so you have to pay to use it with Leaf Raw Image files. It also only works with Windows 10 and newer Windows versions.

Mac users can view an MOS file with ColorStrokes, in addition to Photoshop and Capture One.

How to Convert an MOS File

Most, if not all, of the programs above that can open MOS files can most likely convert them, too. Just open the file in one of those programs and then look for a File > Save As, Convertor Export menu option.

If you try a conversion that way, you can most likely save it to formats like JPG and PNG.

Another option would be to use a free image file converter like CloudConvert, which is an online MOS to JPG converter (the conversion works through your browser). Some other options on that site include converting from MOS to BMP, TIFF, GIF, ICO, PNG, and PDF.

EPS, WEBP, ODD, PDF, and PSD (plus common formats like JPG and GIF) are some other formats you can convert an MOS file to. The Filestar MOS converter works great for this.

If you need to convert the file to DNG, use Adobe DNG Converter.

Still Can't Open the File?

Be careful to not confuse another file format for an MOS file. Some files use similar looking file extensions even though the formats are unrelated.

MODD and MOV files are just two examples. If you really have a MODD or MOV file, follow those links to learn more about the formats and which programs can open and convert them. The software that works with a MODD or MOV file isn't the same as the programs necessary for using MOS files, and vice versa.

MSO is another really similar file extension that's most likely either a Microsoft Office macro reference or an inline email attachment, both of which are likely used with a Microsoft Office program.

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