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Old 10-10-2010, 08:10 AM
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Default HELP please about RAW files?
Hello

Can anyone help me out, i have a Sony Alpha 300 and after reading about someones "moon" photography and that they shoot in RAW i have been trying the format out. Problem i have is that i cant see the images on my PC all at once to see what one to open or edit. I have downloaded the RAW program from Sony but this only lets me open one picture at a time, and when i cant see the thumbnail i dont know which one i am opening.

Please can you tell me if there is a better program for this and how i can get it, i did look on Google but the one i found was quite costly and i worry about paying out for programs incase i have PC troubles and loose it!

Hope you can help me out OH and while i am on this subject my Sony has 4 shooting modes
RAW
RAW & JPEG
Fine
Standard
I have been useing Fine for last year thinking this was best, i now use Standard for most of the time days out and holiday etc, unless i am in Photographer mode, is this the correct way?

Thanks Paul
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Old 10-10-2010, 08:34 AM
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Windows does not generate a preview for RAW files.
Picasa is possibly the best free viewer, but is a poor RAW editor.

You need a raw editor such as lightroom if you want a good raw workflow tool
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Old 10-10-2010, 08:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gturner View Post
Windows does not generate a preview for RAW files.
You are, in fact, incorrect.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927530

Free-Codecs.com :: Download Sony RAW Codec 2.0 : Sony RAW Codec works with .ARW, .SRF and .SR2 files.

Download, Install, Enjoy!
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Last edited by TheDarkReaver; 10-10-2010 at 08:44 AM.
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Old 10-10-2010, 08:51 AM
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Been wrong a lot lately - but even with the codec I haven't been able to view CR2 files.

The best is to shoot RAW and Jpeg.
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Old 10-10-2010, 08:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gturner View Post
Been wrong a lot lately - but even with the codec I haven't been able to view CR2 files.

The best is to shoot RAW and Jpeg.
That because it's a codec for Sony ARW files, which the OP asked for and which does work because it's on my computer right now.

You want Free-Codecs.com :: Download Canon RAW Codec 1.7 : Canon RAW Codec is a software plug-in that enables the import and display of RAW images taken with Canon cameras.

I'm not sure if these will work with Windows 7 though.

I have seen this http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/ , but it does cost.
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Old 10-10-2010, 09:02 AM
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I know it is for Sony and have tried the canon version in past. Going to give it another try now, this my be an updated version.
I hate picasa so it would help to have a quick reference tool for RAW, especially on my notebook.
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Old 10-10-2010, 09:07 AM
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Well I did think so but you did make it sound like you'd just tried to use the Sony one

If the free ones fail for you, you could always try that codec pack. Money back if it doesn't work, or so they claim.
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Last edited by TheDarkReaver; 10-10-2010 at 09:27 AM.
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Old 10-10-2010, 09:09 AM
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Thans for the very fast help so far, i tried the links i can now see the previews but i still cant open the file on this pc, have i done something wrong...?
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Old 10-10-2010, 09:13 AM
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Well you need to use the Raw editor that came with your camera to open them up and edit them. If you want to just view them full screen then open them with Windows Photo Gallery like you would any other picture.

If it's not set to open by default (which I suspect may be the case here) then right-click and then click 'open with' and select Windows Photo Gallery or Sony Image Data Converter SR or whatever you want to use. From there you can also select a default program to open RAW images with.

It sounds like you're not really sure about the RAW format itself, what's the difference over JPEG etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_image_format This wikipedia page has some info, which includes the pros and cons of the format.
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Last edited by TheDarkReaver; 10-10-2010 at 09:29 AM.
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Old 10-10-2010, 09:37 AM
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retried it - not working at all for thumbs/ preview or picture viewer (xp2)
my main PC has 7 ultimate and haven't even bothered as Lightroom does all the work.
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