My 7D won't capture RAW?

Is it me? I'm still learning how to set up and use my 7D and today fancied having a go working with RAW files. I set the camera to capture both JPEG and RAW files using the menu system. However, when I connect the camera to my PC and look for the files, as far as I can tell, there are pairs of images but both are JPEGs.

In Windows Explorer, I see a list of the files on the camera but each pair shows up as one JPEG and one with no file type. However, the file sizes are identical at 5.79MB or so. Surely the RAW files should be much larger?

When I right-click on the supposed RAW files and select 'Properties', it says it is a JPEG. Finally, when I view the pics using DPP, it says they are all JPEGs!

What am I doing wrong?

Your settings seem...off maybe.

Here is how I would set it up on my 7D.


Go to the menu.

On the First tab, there is a quality item, go to it.

Use the TOP DIAL to select RAW, mRAW and sRAW are smaller in pixel count, so you probably won't want that.

Use the BACK DIAL to select the first icon,it is a rounded semi-circle and a big L.

Leave the menu.

Don't use the "RAW JPEG" button, as this will stop your camera from taking a RAW if you already have it set to take a RAW.

I recommend, once you get the hang of RAW, turning off the jpeg setting. You probably won't need both. RAW files are 18mb, on top of that you're adding 5mb for the JPEG...this is a HUGE amount of space in your library these will be taking up.

sbattey wrote in post #12152745
Your settings seem...off maybe.

Here is how I would set it up on my 7D.


Go to the menu.

On the First tab, there is a quality item, go to it.

Use the TOP DIAL to select RAW, mRAW and sRAW are smaller in pixel count, so you probably won't want that.

Use the BACK DIAL to select the first icon,it is a rounded semi-circle and a big L.

Leave the menu.

Don't use the "RAW JPEG" button, as this will stop your camera from taking a RAW if you already have it set to take a RAW.

I recommend, once you get the hang of RAW, turning off the jpeg setting. You probably won't need both. RAW files are 18mb, on top of that you're adding 5mb for the JPEG...this is a HUGE amount of space in your library these will be taking up.

That's how it's set up now. Curiously, I just tried again but let the EOS Utility download and open them up and now I can see RAW files. Eh? Maybe, when I was transferring from the camera using Explorer then opening in Photoshop Elements, the files were getting converted into JPEGs?

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12152767
That's how it's set up now. Curiously, I just tried again but let the EOS Utility download and open them up and now I can see RAW files. Eh? Maybe, when I was transferring from the camera using Explorer then opening in Photoshop Elements, the files were getting converted into JPEGs?

Explorer may not have been able to see the raws.

Always import RAWs, as they will need to be edited anyway - why not have it done all at once?

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12152767
That's how it's set up now. Curiously, I just tried again but let the EOS Utility download and open them up and now I can see RAW files. Eh? Maybe, when I was transferring from the camera using Explorer then opening in Photoshop Elements, the files were getting converted into JPEGs?

You have discovered the answer yourself. Windows cannot identify CR2 files when reading directly from the camera without the the EOS Utility interface. It can see them if they are on a drive, either HD or removable (card reader).

tzalman wrote in post #12152798
You have discovered the answer yourself. Windows cannot identify CR2 files when reading directly from the camera without the the EOS Utility interface. It can see them if they are on a drive, either HD or removable (card reader).

Microsoft Windows - the parallel universe.......

Now I've figured out how to import RAW but having problems editing them in Elements.

Don't worry, I don't expect you guys to help me at this stage. I would't understand what you're saying. I just need to start at the beginning and work through it. Once I've progressed from the WTF? stage, I'll be back for some advice!

Thanks.

What version of Elements do you have? If it's not a recent version, it will not support a 7D Raw file. Try to run the Elements Help/Update utility and see if it gets the proper version of Camera Raw up for you. You can check the Adobe Camera Raw site for details about supported cameras and you can also manually update Camera Raw but only if your version of Elements supports it.

I strongly recommend that you also install/use the Canon Raw processing software Digital Photo Professional (DPP) as you get started in the Raw "adventure" -- it's great for getting a "feel" of things!

tonylong wrote in post #12153019
What version of Elements do you have? If it's not a recent version, it will not support a 7D Raw file. Try to run the Elements Help/Update utility and see if it gets the proper version of Camera Raw up for you. You can check the Adobe Camera Raw site for details about supported cameras and you can also manually update Camera Raw but only if your version of Elements supports it.

I strongly recommend that you also install/use the Canon Raw processing software Digital Photo Professional (DPP) as you get started in the Raw "adventure" -- it's great for getting a "feel" of things!

I have Elements 9, which I think is the latest version, and I have checked for updates. I also have DPP - came with the 7D.

I'm at the very bottom of a steep learning curve! So far, I can't achieve a better result starting with a RAW file, compared to what I get starting with a JPEG. Histograms still confuse me. I know what they mean, it's just that no amount of fiddling seems to improve photos - even those with obvious problems. I'll keep going though, 'cos I know the truth is out there!

Maybe you would appreciate lightroom 3? Check it out. The histogram can deceptive. If you know the shot is exposed properly, don't pay attention to it.

A bad photo is sometimes just that - a bad photo. Try again next time. We can't save them all, but learning how to use manual mode can help

Well, it takes time to sort things out! Like you said, Elements 9 should be able to handle things, although you may need to update Camera Raw -- if you open Camera Raw preferences from the Elements main screen, what version does it show?

In the meantime, the Canon software is great to get started with!

And, check into our RAW Conversion Thread to get a great view of what people are doing with Raw processing!

tonylong wrote in post #12153129
Well, it takes time to sort things out! Like you said, Elements 9 should be able to handle things, although you may need to update Camera Raw -- if you open Camera Raw preferences from the Elements main screen, what version does it show?

In the meantime, the Canon software is great to get started with!

And, check into our RAW Conversion Thread to get a great view of what people are doing with Raw processing!

How do I do that?

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12153408
How do I do that?

Help > About Plug-In > Camera Raw...

Look for 6.3.0.79 or something like that.

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12153056
...So far, I can't achieve a better result starting with a RAW file, compared to what I get starting with a JPEG....

One thing to check right from the start is what camera profile is set. When I started using ACR in Elements I really didn't like the results and then I discovered that the default was set to Adobe Standard. My experience is that I prefer the look of Camera Standard usually but sometimes other profiles look better. In fact, Adobe Standard will (for me) often improve the look of an underexposed image. (This screenshot is from a 7D file, FWIW.)

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Rimmer wrote in post #12154555
Help > About Plug-In > Camera Raw...

Look for 6.3.0.79 or something like that.

That's the version I have. Thanks.