Canon software?

[Resoman]

I'm a new 20D owner (this is my fourth Canon digital camera) and I'm wondering what y'all think of the software that's bundled with the camera.

I haaven't installed any of the software yet, and I'm reasonably content downloading my pictures with a card reader and viewing them in Breeze Browser, which I used with my D30 for raw conversions, as well.

I'm interested in hearing users' opinions of the Canon software, to determine whether or not to install it. I'm running out of hard drive space and would just as soon not install more software, unless it offers something.

Also, is there any advantage (speed?) in downloading pictures via the supplied cable, as compared to the card reader approach? I started using the card reader when I got my D30 some years ago, and have continued using it out of habit.

Thanks in advance,

Gary,
Texas

[CyberDyneSystems]

DPP is a great little tool for a freeby. I big improvement over what Canon used to bundle.
If you don't allready have another option.. (even if you do) you may as well try it out. It may be all you need.

As for attaching the camera.. don't bother :) A card reader is definately a better approach. You may want to attach the camera once if you want to alter the exif info to include your name etc...

Other than that.. use a card reader.

[Canuck]

Well, I can't speak for the 20D; but the 10D software is slow as molasses in January on the North Pole! Elements 2.0 is a good starter, PSCS would be way too much for a new person who has no experience tweeking pics. I guess if that is all you have, convert all the pics you take to TIFF (if shot RAW, (no loss of quality, but are huge files) then tweek them in PSE 2.0 and go from there. If you shot them jpeg, skip above step and proceed to tweeking in PSE 2.0, which is what I did for a long time.

Most definitely get a card reader, otherwise, like converting RAW pics to TIFF, you will be waiting a long time.

//sarcasm=on
You might consider watching TV whilst it works! :) :rolleyes:
//sarcasm=off

[Mark Kemp]

I would stick with Breeze browser.

I will probably get it myself soon because I have the same 2 cameras as you and this causes a problem.

Zoom browser will handle D30 RAW files but not 20D
EOS viewer will handle both but its horrid and you have to download each sub directory from a card one at a time.
DPP is OK but won't work with D30 RAW files again.

I am just making my mind up whether to spend an exorbitant amount on Photoshop CS, or wait until Paint Shop Pro finally give a discounted upgrade path to version 9 for existing users or just keep PSP8 and get Breeze browser as well. (or Capture one or ACDSee)

[Jonny]

You may want to attach the camera once if you want to alter the exif info to include your name etc...



You can do that??? Theres something i never knew.. Pleased can you tell me more, can u set the camera to always include your name in the exif??

thanks

[dhbailey]

Yes, you can, but you need the Canon software to do that. By the way, if you do install the Canon software, go to their website and download the latest versions of the software. DPP's new version is a big improvement over the one on the CD that ships with the camera.

You can place your name in the EXIF of the camera by attaching your camera with the USB cable and running either the EOSViewer or ZoomBrowser that came with the camera. There is a menu item to alter the camera settings.

[PacAce]

Well, I can't speak for the 20D; but the 10D software is slow as molasses in January on the North Pole! Elements 2.0 is a good starter, PSCS would be way too much for a new person who has no experience tweeking pics. I guess if that is all you have, convert all the pics you take to TIFF (if shot RAW, (no loss of quality, but are huge files) then tweek them in PSE 2.0 and go from there. If you shot them jpeg, skip above step and proceed to tweeking in PSE 2.0, which is what I did for a long time.

Most definitely get a card reader, otherwise, like converting RAW pics to TIFF, you will be waiting a long time.

//sarcasm=on
You might consider watching TV whilst it works! :) :rolleyes:
//sarcasm=off

Ever try downloading the new updates for your slow Canon software? :)

[evilenglishman]

I installed the software to put my name into the exif then removed it all as i think its all pretty crap really.

[Canuck]

Ever try downloading the new updates for your slow Canon software? :)

Via dialup or broadband? I know what you mean! Ok, so we have found something slower than molasses in Jan on the North pole! :) :rolleyes:

[PacAce]

Via dialup or broadband? I know what you mean! Ok, so we have found something slower than molasses in Jan on the North pole! :) :rolleyes:

No. Actually, what I meant was that the new software updates from Canon (EVU 1.2 and DPP 1.5) are a lot better than the original software that came packaged with the 10D.