Viewing CR2 (RAW) files.

[Andrew]

Hi all,

I am new to DSLR and have a Canon 40D.

Before with pictures in JPEG format from digiscoping I used to whizz through them on Windows and delete the wheat from the chaff quickly. Windows won't open CR2 files.

I am struggling to find a way to view CR2 files speedily when I get home. So far I have found I can flick through them in the 'Zoom Browser' supplied by Canon but the zoom buttons do not work to allow me to see the finer detail and assess the picture.

I know I could batch process them all on DPP but I would then be viewing them as processed JPEGs which I feel defeats the point of bothering with RAW?

Has anyone got any advice please?

Many thanks,
Andrew.

[Lisa W]

The disk that came with your camera should have a copy of DPP (Digital Photo Professional) on it. Load that into your computer and you'll be able to view and do some editing - to include binning the ones you don't like.
Hope this helps.

[postcardcv]

I use DPP to sort my images - open all of them up with the Quick Check tool - you can then flit through them at full size or 50% mag and tag them. I tend to tag the rubbish with one number (then afterwards you can bulk select them and bin them) and any images I particularly want to look at with another number. You can get an update to allow Windows Viewer to show the images but it will only display the embedded jpg.

[Andrew]

Thanks, I used DPP all of today and have just downloaded DPP 3.6. I clearly need to play around with it some more judging by what you both say.

Thanks again.

[tjsimonsen]

I check my CR2 files in IrfanView http://www.irfanview.net/
The newest version has no problems with 350D or 40D files.

Thomas

[Highcountry]

I use Lightroom 2 which is outstanding for viewing and culling.

[Nikon Kid]

To check my raw images I open up the thumbnail's in DPP, I then double click to view, then double click to zoom in, and if I want to zoom in
again, I right click and hit 200%, this way you can view which ones are very sharp, I then delete the ones that are useless, thats most of them. ;)

[Roy C]

DPP has a feature called 'Quick check tool' (alt + Q) where you can flip through all the images and give them a check mark score, say '3' for deletion. When you have gone through all the images you can just delete all the selected files in one lump. There is also a zoom tool built in to the quick check tool.

BTW when you are viewing these un-converted Raw files what you are actually seeing is a small jpeg file that is automatically embedded into every Raw file.

[jpwone]

For quick previews I use Faststone Image Viewer.

It is free and it is very fast compared with other viewers. It also supports dual monitor setups. It has some very useful tools built in (file re-naming etc).

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

[Lisa W]

I use Fastone to view images after uploading and they've been "sitting" in my picture area - it is indeed very fast for viewing, and you can delete directly from it. You can also move to editing software like Photoshop from it.
Didn't think of it yesterday as I was giving him something I thought he already have.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the extra advisory replies, much appreciated.

I have gone back to DPP and found it a breeze now. It has been all a bit much learning to use a new DSLR without having to learn new software too but DPP appears much easier than I thought. More time and it will get more so.

Thanks again to all replies.