How to view RAW CR2 thumbnails in Windows Explorer?

[Timekeeper]

I am sure this question has been addressed a number of times before, but nothing has come up in my search results, so here goes -

I uploaded raw CR2 files from my Canon Rebel XTi to a PC running Windows (probably XP.) Of course, when browsing the files through the "My Computer" function, thumbnail images are not generated for the files. If the files are browsed through Adobe Bridge, the previes images are generated just fine.

Is there a "best way" to view thumbnails of my CR2 files in Windows without having to use an application / only using My Computer?

The last free-software suggestion that I tried actually created a small JPG version of each raw file which was incredibly annoying because I do not want to double the number of files in my library. (Yes, I realize that the Canon XTi can shoot RAW+JPG, but if there is a way to view raw thumbnails, than this, too, is pointless.)

...as for why I would want to view images outside of an Adobe-type application like Bridge? I wouldn't, BUT there are other computers on the network without that software and they would like to be able to browse the image library via Windows' "My Computer" feature.

Any advice would be much appreciated :-)

Tk

[BobF]

You can try downloading the codecs from Microsoft's Pro Photo website. The link will actually take you to Canon's website for the download. Might work, it might not. Does for some, not for others. Worth a try.

[Bobfireman]

It doesn't look like you can do it. Here is a recent thread on this same topic.

[AstroImager]

OK, maybe this is a silly question, but...

Why would people who don't have any software that can actually *do* anything with a RAW file want to *browse* a RAW file?

I mean, I could see having an image repository on your network that held JPGs that anyone in the company can use, and all they'd have to do is browse through them and grab the one they want.  Makes perfect sense.

But browse RAW files and not be able to do anything with them?  Would they have to call you or send you an e-mail and ask you to make them a JPG of the file?  Why not just batch process JPGs from your RAW files, put 'em in a shared directory, and let folks have at 'em?

 

One *big* disadvantage to the Explorer RAW "browse" ability, even if you can get it to work, is that it doesn't understand XMP sidecare files or RAW settings -- so your RAW files won't look right anyway.  If it's a browsable image library you want, I'd really suggest making one with JPGs rather than trying to get everybody to be able to see RAW files.

 

Paul

[ckhd]

Just out of curiosity, have you installed the Canon RAW 1.2 codec released two months ago?

Canon says it works on XP SP2 and Vista. Here are the cameras supported:

EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1D, EOS 5D, EOS 40D, EOS 30D, EOS 20Da, EOS 20D, EOS 10D, EOS D60, EOS D30, EOS Kiss Digital X / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi / EOS 400D DIGITAL, EOS Kiss Digital N / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT / EOS 350D DIGITAL, EOS Kiss Digital / EOS DIGITAL REBEL / EOS 300 DIGITAL

PowerShot Pro1, PowerShot Pro90 IS, PowerShot G9, PowerShot G6, PowerShot G5, PowerShot G3, PowerShot G2, PowerShot G1
PowerShot S70, PowerShot S60, PowerShot S50, PowerShot S45, PowerShot S40, PowerShot S30

If you installed it and it's not working, check to see if you have service pack 2 installed on your XP machine.

[Timekeeper]

AstroImager, those are all valid questions. I am the only one who is currently processing/editing the images for use in various types of media. Other individuals need to "browse" the library in order to make selections for me to work on, and I submit the edited images back to them as a JPG, PSD, etc. In an office full of photogrpahers, everyone would be "browsing" via Bridge, Aperture, etc. But in this real world, a single photographer cannot easily change what has been the common practice of the majority (non-photographers.) Simply put, the library of images has existed long before I came along, and long before the creation of aps like Bridge and Aperture - so the use of Windows Explorer has become more of a "tradition" than anything else.

I do not want to create duplicate JPGs of all RAW images for the same reason that file cabinets do not usually hold the "original" and a second "photocopy" of a single document side-by-side. If a copy needs to be made, it is made at that time, for that purpose - from the original. Given the advantages of RAW files and Bridge-browsing, I think that it would be easier to have an individual spend 30 minutes becoming familiar with browsing in Bridge than it would be to manage 2 versions of every image.

Thank you for pointing out that RAW files wouldn't "look right" in Windows Explorer. I was not aware of this.

I will just keep my fingers crossed and continue to advocate that everyone take a "step forward" in moving away from using Windows Explorer as their prefered browsing tool.

[did I mention that I was a mac person? So you can imagine my frustration, grrr...]

:-)

[BobF]

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ckhd wrote:

Just out of curiosity, have you installed the Canon RAW 1.2 codec released two months ago?

Canon says it works on XP SP2 and Vista. Here are the cameras supported:

EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1D, EOS 5D, EOS 40D, EOS 30D, EOS 20Da, EOS 20D, EOS 10D, EOS D60, EOS D30, EOS Kiss Digital X / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi / EOS 400D DIGITAL, EOS Kiss Digital N / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT / EOS 350D DIGITAL, EOS Kiss Digital / EOS DIGITAL REBEL / EOS 300 DIGITAL

PowerShot Pro1, PowerShot Pro90 IS, PowerShot G9, PowerShot G6, PowerShot G5, PowerShot G3, PowerShot G2, PowerShot G1
PowerShot S70, PowerShot S60, PowerShot S50, PowerShot S45, PowerShot S40, PowerShot S30

If you installed it and it's not working, check to see if you have service pack 2 installed on your XP machine.

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I did. Doesn't work with RAW files from my 40D. Works fine with the 5D, but not the 40D. It's apparently not a perfect solution. That's also the codec I linked to earlier.

[ckhd]

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BobF wrote:

I did. Doesn't work with RAW files from my 40D. Works fine with the 5D, but not the 40D. It's apparently not a perfect solution. That's also the codec I linked to earlier.

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I'm surprised, Bob. Do you have SP2 applied to your XP computer?

[Nearly]

I believe Lightroom would fit your bill perfectly since it seems be be what you need. Check out a trial version and see if it is what you want/need. No matter what you do you need software (I believe you call it only using your computer) and that is what it does so you can have some intellegent workflow. Eventually there may be some freeware, but it does not look that way. The Library seems to be exactly what you need and the Web section may take some looking into?

good luck

Message Edited by Nearly on 04-29-2008 11:22 PM

[BobF]

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ckhd wrote:

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BobF wrote:

I did. Doesn't work with RAW files from my 40D. Works fine with the 5D, but not the 40D. It's apparently not a perfect solution. That's also the codec I linked to earlier.

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I'm surprised, Bob. Do you have SP2 applied to your XP computer?

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I was going to give a smart ass answer like, 'well no, I'm still using Win98 would that make a difference' but instead I'll just say: Yes.

Another option for the OP may be to install a free program like IrfanView on the other computers. That way no money is being laid out (well, they like a donation for commercial use) and the other people would be able to see the RAW files easily. If your colleagues are so intractable and resistant to change that they couldn't adapt to something like this, then management should be questioning whether these people should be working at all or whether Darwin should be playing a role in culling the herd.

Message Edited by BobF on 04-30-2008 08:27 AM