Rebel XT - _MG files for CR2 & Firmware update

[MacHeadCase]

Hello all!

I bought myself an EOS 350D at the beginning of May 2005 and I simply love it!

I recently started experimenting with it, playing with the CFn custom settings. After that, my RAW files started to be saved as "_MG_number.CR2" instead of "IMG_number.CR2" on my CF cards.

With .jpgs, everything is ok i.e. files are saved as "IMG_number.JPG". I was wondering if the firmware update could possibly fix this truncated, weird file naming for the RAW files? Or if I need to do something entirely different than the firmware update to fix this?

Also, I downloaded but have not installed yet the firmware update that is available for the EOS 350D. Before installing it I would like to make sure that all the EOS 350D users that have installed it are happy with it. Has anyone here experienced any problems with this firmware update after the installation?

Thank you for your input. :)

[Hobbes330i]

Setting the color spce to Adobe will make the camera create files with the "_MG...". Change it back sRGB, it will go back to "IMG...".

I have loaded the new firmware and have not had any issues. Make sure your battery is fully charged when you do the upgrade.

[MacHeadCase]

Setting the color spce to Adobe will make the camera create files with the "_MG...". Change it back sRGB, it will go back to "IMG...".

I have loaded the new firmware and have not had any issues. Make sure your battery is fully charged when you do the upgrade.

Thanks for your reply, Hobbes330i!

So... This is not a bug but a feature? :lol:

Kidding! I remember I did set it to Adobe RGB thinking the colour would be more precise and cause less problems if I were to print some of my pictures. So you know your Canon camera very well! So this "_MG..." is not indicative of something horrible is about to happen then?

As for the firmware update, I will try to install it later this week then and i will make sure I follow your recommendation! Thank you again! :)

[robertwgross]

So this "_MG..." is not indicative of something horrible is about to happen then?

It is also told to you on page 62 of your manual. Do you doubt it also?

---Bob Gross---

[MacHeadCase]

To be honest I have trouble with allergies to chemicals at work that attacked my eyes. Reading the small print is quite painful sometimes. So the booklet that came with the camera is read to me by my friend.

I'll be sure to scold my friend for not having read that to me! And will direct the person to page 62, thank you. And thank god for auto-focus and changing the font size in Safari! Thanks for your input, robertwgross! :)

[robertwgross]

Now, there is an idea.

Some population of Canon users will always have trouble reading the fine print in Canon manuals. Canon could publish a special edition of the manual with large type.

In fact, if you want to, you can make your own. Get the PDF file off the Canon web site. Once on your computer, print out that PDF file onto full page size paper (which is larger than the regular Canon pages). Instantly, you have a manual with large type.

---Bob Gross---

[MacHeadCase]

Thanks for all your kindness. I will make sure to print in bigger type this booklet.

Can't say from what was read to me that the book is very informative in explaining "why" though. I had no experience with digital cameras before and I find some explanations are lacking.

[robertwgross]

When I purchase a new camera or flash unit, I get the normal Canon user manual to read. That is such a compact size that it fits into a camera bag nicely, but it can get lost there.

I take the PDF file and print out the critical parts on small paper in order to fold up and keep inside my camera bag for reference, and then I print out the whole thing on full page size paper. I keep the full size in my briefcase and re-read it on odd occasions over the next few months of ownership. (I never know when I might have to wait someplace for a half hour.) After six months of ownership, I should have the thing mastered, so then I move the full size copy to my camera reference book shelf.

---Bob Gross---

[tzalman]

MacHead Case -
Until you have gained more experience and learned about Color Management, keep your camera set to sRGB. Images in AdobeRGB will not look right in any computer application that is not color managed and are therefore not appropriate for web posting or sending to somebody by e-mail. Moreover, most mass-production commercial print labs will assume that everything they receive is sRGB and therefore not print AdobeRGB properly. Unless you are shooting highly saturated colors, like flowers or plastic toys, sRGB will give perfectly good results.

[lowmagnet]

What tzalman said.

In colour control terms, the Adobe RGB space has a larger gamut, meaning it can represent more colours than sRGB. aRGB is a decent color space if you're a bridge/photoshop user. Just don't forget to convert the picture to sRGB as your last step in saving, or some people won't see things the way you do.

In reading elsewhere on the web, setting aRGB doesn't affect your raw file, but it does affect your histogram -- it will show you the 'blinkies' in the more permissive aRGB colour space gamut, so you could possibly squeeze a bit more out of your photo. sRGB spikes sooner than aRGB. I realllly wish they had a ppRGB setting in-camera then it could show what I actually work in :/ That's what I get for being ahead of the curve I guess.

[MacHeadCase]

Thank you for your very informative reply, lowmagnet. I really appreciate your input! :)

I bought a couple of books that explained in a lot clearer language (and easier to read type) the concept and I have chosen to go with Adobe RGB for colour space.

[KCMO Al]

I'm really enjoying this forum. Great help and tips. Thanks for the suggestion of downloading the manual from the Canon site. I'm contemplating purchasing a 5D and this will be a great way of confirming that purchase and giving me a head start. I now have something to read on the way back from Europe next week.

[farrukh]

I know this is an old thread, but I just got a 20D this weekend I found the whole _MG thing to be annoying. So, I wrote an Applescript Droplet that will take a folder of images and change the "_" to "I". Since the thread was started by a Mac user, I figured I'd offer it here.

Download the file from my site (http://web.mac.com/rigdon/iWeb/Site/ImageHelpers.html)

Basically you drag the folder on top of the droplet and it changes the image names for you.

This won't damage the file. The Adobe RGB profile is embedded into the image; the filename is only a visual way to remind you that the file is Adobe RGB. If you do all your work this way, you don't need it.

Hope you like it!

Thats Good.

[GeorgeKxxx]

I have a rebel xti and am also experiencing the pain in the ass _MG vs IMG file names during the same photo shoot. I notice that this happens when I shoot with ISO 1600 then switch to another ISO. Consequently my file names are not sorted properly when I download and I have to manually change them to either all _MG or all IMG. This is a bug not a feature. This is something, I'm sure, a good programmer can fix in the firmware.

[tzalman]

I have a rebel xti and am also experiencing the pain in the ass _MG vs IMG file names during the same photo shoot. I notice that this happens when I shoot with ISO 1600 then switch to another ISO. Consequently my file names are not sorted properly when I download and I have to manually change them to either all _MG or all IMG. This is a bug not a feature. This is something, I'm sure, a good programmer can fix in the firmware.
Also? The OP four years ago had a XT and was simply unaware that the suffix is supposed to change when the color space changes. You have an XTi and are reporting a malfunction, one that apparently has not been reported before, otherwise you would not have needed to hitch a ride on an inappropriate old thread. Start a new thread with a descriptive title.
Welcome to POTN.

[jxg]

probably not going to get a firmware update on that one :-)