New 7D & PS

[snowfalldesigns]

Okay, I got my new 7D a few days ago and I've been practicing all day with it. I go to open my RAW the files in CS3 and they aren't compatible - I get an error box that says they aren't the right kind of files.
Any thoughts? They work in my Canon software so I can still work with them but I prefer CS3. I tried formatting my CF card but those images didn't work either. Speaking of formatting, I was reading my owner's manual yesterday for the 7D and it says you should format a new card before using it. I had never read that before - is it necessary?

[Maggie_M]

You need to go to the adobe site and download the camera raw plug-in for the 7D.
I'm not sure if it works in CS3 however, give it a try.
camera raw | Adobe Photoshop CS5

[snowfalldesigns]

Thank you - I've been searching through some forums and they suggested the same thing but it didn't work. I looked through the older version updates and downloaded the latest one that is compatible with CS3 but there was an error in converting the files....now I'm just confused! Every time I start with these updates, I start going in circles...
Maybe I'll spend the $199 and upgrade to CS5. Or am I reading that one wrong too?

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by snowfalldesigns

Thank you - I've been searching through some forums and they suggested the same thing but it didn't work. I looked through the older version updates and downloaded the latest one that is compatible with CS3 but there was an error in converting the files....now I'm just confused! Every time I start with these updates, I start going in circles...
Maybe I'll spend the $199 and upgrade to CS5. Or am I reading that one wrong too?

I don't think CS3 ACR 4.6 is compatible with the 7D. If you don't want to upgrade then just download the latest DNG converter from Adobe and convert your raw files to DNG.

You should be able the open the DNG files with your CS3.

[snowfalldesigns]

The first thing I tried was the DNG converter 4.6 and it says that there is an "error in parsing the files"
When I try to install 6.3, it says the update is not applicable.

[OsmosisStudios]

You cant open 7D files in CS3. You'll need CS4 or CS5. You could opt instead for Lightroom or Aperture instead.

[snowfalldesigns]

Yeah, I've been reading a lot of very angry messages from Adobe customers about this issue...buying the 7D was a stretch - now I have to get updated software too??

[oldwolf]

That's kind of messed up how Adobe does that. You could always use DPP and convert it to a tiff or jpg.

After years of doing that in DPP I finally got Lightroom 3. Love it. Still have CS4 but hardly ever use it. I use PSP X2 more but I seem to get a lot of my work done in LR3 though. LR3 was a good investment in my opinion. If you have an earlier version of LR then you can just upgrade it for cheaper.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by snowfalldesigns

Yeah, I've been reading a lot of very angry messages from Adobe customers about this issue...buying the 7D was a stretch - now I have to get updated software too??

It's called the Photoshop Tax. It happens with many new cameras. I know I can still open RAW files from most current cameras, but I know there will be a time in the near future where my copy of CS4 will need to be updated and replaced.

[snowfalldesigns]

Photoshop Tax...that's a good term for it! I'm considering LR but I don't have an older version so I will have to purchase the full version. Thankfully, I can process the RAW images in DPP...I just don't like it as much as Bridge. Is LR worth the extra $100 over getting PS updated?