Raw Help

[brotski]

Greetings all, I am having trouble viewing my RAW files using Canon 20D w/ canons file view utility. When i use the RAW + JPEG i see only the JPEG. when shot with just RAW the software shows nothing, however the LCD on the camera shows the photo. what am i doing wrong?

[Peter_AUS]

How are you viewing them, are you transfering the file to your hard drive. Have you transfered the thm files as well as the RAW files or are you just transfering the RAW file only. You need to transfer all the files if you haven't. have you got the current canon File viewer software from canon website. Maybe you would be better getting the DPP program from the canon site you can install it if you have previous version of Canon File Viewer installed already.

Really I would suggest that you look at maybe getting Rawshooter from pixmantec website http://www.pixmantec.com/index2.html or look at Capture One DSLR software from http://www.phaseone.com and download the trial version of either the LE or Pro version (costs $99 or $499 to purchase), trial lasts for 15 days and 30 days respectively and make a decision from there. You will find that you will get better conversions using either of these software, at present my choice is Capture One but RawShooter is currently free for users to use.

Hope that helps.

[brotski]

peter and john, thanks for your advice.
Peter, yes, i do have the latest canon file viewer.
The problem is I can't view them at all. they appear on my cameras LCD ,but nothing on my pc.
I copied the folder from my camera to my hard drive and opened it with the file viewer. there was nothing there(when shooting in RAW only) if i shoot in RAW+JPEG only the JPG files appear.
why can't i see the RAW files???
thanks in advance
brotski

[Photo-John]

Peter's questions and suggestions are good. Workflow is important. I transfer all files, via a card reader, to one folder. I'm not exactly sure how the 20D RAW files work. But with my 10D, shooting RAW + JPEG, only the RAW files (.CRW) appear. The JPEGs need to be extracted.

I don't like the Canon software. I've been using BreezeBrowser to view, manage, and convert RAW files, since I bought my EOS 1D. It's not the fanciest program, but it's inexpensive and works great. I also use Adobe Photoshop CS. But BreezeBrowser is my standby.

[brotski]

John,
I just shot a few in RAW only. Transfered the folder from the camera to my PC. (I downloaded a trial version of breeze browser) opened the folder using breeze browser and nothing is there??
am i missing somthing???

Brotski

[Peter_AUS]

Brotski,

I answered your PM without going back to the thread so ignore the question re camera, obviously it is a 20D. I am surprised that you can view the RAW images. You say you are transfering them, from the camera to hard drive. Are you transfering the correct folder from the CF card. Are you using a card reader or are you doing it directly fromthe camera.

I have a 10D and only use a card reader to do transfers.

Usually the structure of the folders is such that the camera creates a folder with a number for it, like 100Canon, 150Canon, 200Canon, 250Canon, etc and the files are contained within this folder. There should be files with extension on them .CRW and .THM so something like CRW_0235.CRW and CRW_0235.THM as an example. This is exactly what mine look like in a folder I copied from the CF card which was folder 102CANON.

As far as I know the current versions of Breeze Browser, RawShooter 2005 and Capture One DSLR all can convert RAW images.

Can you show a screen shot of your directory when you have copied it over to your hard drive from Windows Explorer.

[brotski]

Peter,
In pure frustration i uninstalled and reinstalled all of the 20D software and volia! The RAW files appear! Both applications work fine (canon's and raw shooter) I like the RAW shooter, thanks. I am guessing that there may have been a driver missing etc....

I have been transfering directly form the camera. What are the benefits to using a card reader?
Should the RAW files look similar to a negitive? The RAWS to me don't look much different than the JPG when shot in RAW+JPG.

Thanks again for your help. This is a great site for newbies!

Brotski

[Peter_AUS]

Good that it is working now.

If your photography is good, then yes there might not be much difference from RAW to JPG. Difference is with RAW you can post process the RAW image much easier as you sort of still have it like it was still in camera and can adjust things like Exposure Compensation, Contrast, Sharpening and not degrade the image, a bit like with using a Negative.

JPG to me is a bit like using a print and working with that info, so adjusting could degrade the image a bit more than RAW, and not so much leaway to adjustments.

Takes a bit of time getting used to RAW images and adjusting over JPG.

As for transfering from Cardreader as apposed to Camera, you don't have to use the camera, waste battery of camera or have hooked to power supply when transfering. Cardreader is more convenient and much smaller than camera. Just a habit I and many others here use a cardreader over using the camera. Also with us 10D users the camera is only USB 1.0 where as 20D and newer cameras are USB 2, so that is another reason we use Cardreaders, as long as the computer is USB 2 as well, which just about all, newer computers are, mine I upgraded to to USB 2 with an add on card.

Yes it is a great site and not just for newbies, us old timers get lots out of it as well.

Don't forget to look at Capture One software, I find it much better for conversion of RAW images over the other ones mentioned. RawShooter is getting there though. It has a very good support forum as well.

[Puerto]

I am having the same problem with my 20D. I was shooting in the AV mode with
raw and I am unable to download my pic's with Adobe software , but I am able to
see them on my camera. Hope someone can help.
Puerto

[Peter_AUS]

Puerto,

Maybe tried waht Brotski did first and see if that solves the issue.

[brotski]

Peurto,

I was having the same issues. I UNINSTALLED all the canon software first, rebooted. Then reinstalled evrything that came with the camera. The image view utility works fine now. Peter also suggested a program RAWSHOOTER which is a free download which works much better than Image view.

Hope this helps

Brotski