raw conversion

[biggin]

First off can any tell me if the raw software that comes with the 20d will work on windows me and if so is it any good or is there something free or inexpensive I should get that will work better? Second can someone tell me how to calibrate for focus on the 20d. thank you guys for all the help you give since I joined up!

[tim]

RawShooter (http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.html) - it's free (ignore the "trial" label) and a lot of people really like it.

Calibration is something that can only be done by Canon, not something you can do yourself sorry.

[biggin]

Thanks Tim I will check out rawshooter when I get off work in the morning. Is it better than what comes with the 20d? About the calibration I saw something about doing the ruler test? Do you know about this?

[tim]

I never used the Canon RAW convertor so I can't compare it.

The ruler test is a quick and dirty method to check if you're camera/lens focus properly, you can't fix it if it's not, you have to send it to Canon. A better test is here (http://www.canon-dslr.com/Canon_Jan05/Canon_SLR_Focus_Test.htm).

[Jesper]

RawShooter (http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.html) - it's free (ignore the "trial" label) and a lot of people really like it.

Calibration is something that can only be done by Canon, not something you can do yourself sorry.According to the system requirements for RawShooter essentials 2005 you need at least Windows XP or Windows 2000 with service pack 4. So it will probably not work on Windows ME.

Also, the download website for Digital Photo Professional (Canon's software that you got on a CD with your 20D) says: "This software is exclusively for Windows XP/Windows 2000". I've read that people are using it on Windows 98 and it sort of works, but not all functions are available. You might try it out on your Windows ME system, but it's not officially supported on Windows ME.

[tim]

I missed that point, thanks Jesper, I don't know much about antique operating systems ;)

[lancea]

First off can any tell me if the raw software that comes with the 20d will work on windows me ...
While Digital Photo Pro says it won't, the EOS Viewer Utility probably does because the software manual says it does. It is very limited in what you can do with RAW: you can view your files and save them as jpeg. There's no adjustments available so I guess it just uses the image data to decide on white balance etc. It's only marginally better than nothing.

Download the free trial of BreezeBrowser (www.breezesys.com). It's pretty good (I bought the Pro version) and it runs on Windows ME.

[CappuccinoDavid]

Thanks for the info and program... :cool:

[biggin]

thanks lancea I will try the breezebrowser. Do you know how or where I can get info on the "ruler test" for focus issues?

[CappuccinoDavid]

Does anyone know where I can find software to recover file from a damage CF, I don't have problems yet but just in case. Plus is their any other software for CF?

[lancea]

... Do you know how or where I can get info on the "ruler test" for focus issues?
Use the forums Search function and you should find something. You might have to read through some fairly long threads to find the actual description, but it's the way I always learn more than I intended :)

Here's a couple of focus tests I was looking at last night (I think I found the original links in these forums): www.photo.net/learn/focustest/ and www.canon-dslr.com/Canon_Jan05/Canon_SLR_Focus_Test.htm.

The only test I've done was with dominos placed in a zip-zag pattern. It gave me confidence my lens was focusing properly, and that what I took to be poor focusing was almost always due to the need to use sharpening. I'm still very much coming to grips with RAW processing and sharpening.