Downloading RAW images

this I doubt. would love to see these e-mails. LOL. Sorry, but maybe you gave them as much info as you posted here. CALL THEM while sitting next to your pc. Call the tech support line. you never know. it just might work.

Gee - I hope you don't drive a car or a bike. Guess having to pay for fuel would make you angry as well - after all, the manufacturer sold you a car that they said would get you from one place to another.

A card reader downloads the images much faster than the camera so the time saved would soon repay any initial outlay on a card reader. $20 is probably way more than one would cost from most computer stores or even ebay.

So your IT friend couldn't get it to work either. Guess he connects cameras to computers running canon software many times a day. Just because someone works in IT doesn't make them expert in all things computer related.

Try downloading all the latest software for the 20D from canon, ZoomBrowser, Digital Photo Professional, EOS Capture, Camera Window and the latest drivers for the 20D. Uninstall everything canon related then install the latest downloads then give it another try.

Have you checked the drivers? Part of the package you got with the camera was a CD which contained the Canon Drivers needed for your PC to "see" the camera. Bad or incomplete driver installation will result in the behavior you might be seeing now. Get the CD out of wherever it was stored, and re-install it. If it asks you to "overwrite" a file, do so.

The drivers are NOT a program. They are instructions to your operating system to go look for something particular. IF you have already tried this, just ignore my post. After you have installed the drivers, download some proven and well tested RAW software, like Microsoft RAW reader (just google that and you will get a link) or Raw Shooter Essentials (google also). They are free.. they work for virtually everyone, and they should work for you.

While this recommendation is not a "miracle cure" any respectable IT person would have to check the drivers FIRST.. before anything else. Remember that Canon's RAW file is NOT the same as anyone elses RAW file. RAW files are proprietary to each manufacturer, and require the special drivers to work.

I have the 20D and just had to re-install the software on a new PC. It went down without any problems and I've attached the camera and actually used the PC software to take photos via the camera. I also shoot raw, but ya know, I have never tried to download images directly from the camera. I use a card reader and the new box has one built in. If I get a chance a bit later I'll give it a try.

Hmm, just posted a reply on one of the other threads. I'll give it a try a bit later and see what I get since I just re-installed the Canon software for my 20D on my new PC. As I mentioned, it all worked but I don't download with it.

jhopkins: Can I assume you've downloaded and installed the latest software updates from Canon? You have installed the latest updates for Windows XP yes? Have you checked the communication mode your camera is set to? (Not sure what they are on the 20D but on the 350D they are basically print or PC and on the 30D they are PC or WLAN). There "should be" no reason your 20D can't download RAW files to your PC but without more information it's hard to say why.

JCR: Your post made me laugh, I'm a nurse in A+E and it's not uncommon for a GP to say "Hold the phone to your chest" and then send them in with a diagnosis! Usually a wrong diagnosis but hey, at least they didn't have to actually visit the patient! :s

In one of your posts on this matter (https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=1556564&po​stcount=3), you state that you can download jpg files successfully, but not raw files.

What file extension are you expecting for the raw files?

Hint: look for .cr2 files.

Well, I'll be dipped. It doesn't work for me either. The jpg is there but no raw file.

Personally, I think you are better off using the card reader. It is a much more efficient method for me. You can use the card reader as another drive letter and not have to go through the hoops that you have to using the Canon software. I haven't downloaded using Canon software in a few years now.

I hate to sound simple: you do have the camera set to RAW, correct?

Well, no, I don't. I have it set to raw plus jpg....

I also tried it set to just raw which is my normal mode and could not even see the file. I took the card out of the camera and using the card reader I could see the raw file.

I just reloaded my software in the past couple of days so let me go get the latest drivers and give it another try.

Update - I downloaded Canon's latest drivers, installed them, plugged the camera into the USB port, turned on the camera, installed the camera pointing it at the new drivers, and I can now see raw files in the Canon Viewer software and I can drag and drop them to a folder on my machine. But that is one butt-ugly way of moving pictures.

If I bring up explorer and look at the Canon20D that is shown I can NOT see raw files in the Canon folder that is displayed. The jpg files are visible.

So the moral of the story is - don't do that, buy a card reader.

Check the communication mode on the camera.

Just another point to consider....

I used to use a direct camera connection, but downloading with a card reader is so much faster, so I never do that anymore anyway.

I almost always use a reader, but it's important to be able to have the capability to download straight off the cam - you never know when you'll need it.