Program for the initial viewing of raw files

Seems that you've already decided on the option that you want to pursue, but for quick viewing and culling of images I use BreezeBrowser Pro.

There are several advantages to using BBP over other software:
1. The code based on Canon's SDK and optimized for Canon cameras so it opens Canon RAW files faster than any other viewing application I've used (and I've used almost all of them). If you shoot only Canon cameras its really worth the investment.
2. It's one of only two applications apart from ZoomBrowser that shows focus points. The other one is an EXIF editor named PhotoME. It has always puzzled me that Canon does not include the ability to see the focus points used in DPP. In my opinion it is critical to see focus points when decided whether or not to cull an image.

Both BreezeBrowser Pro. and PhotoME are windows only - but thanks for posting .

hollis_f wrote in post #6627045
Nope!

While I love LR for processing raw files it's not too good for the initial viewing and culling of images. That's because you've got to wait for it to import all the images before you can view them.

I'm looking for the same sort of thing as the OP to run on my new Netbook. I'm going to try out ACDSee Pro first, then Irfanview. Does the latter display the actual rawfile of the embedded jpeg?

If you're going to be doing processing in LR anyway then the time it takes to cache thumbnails isn't a big deal, as it has to be done some time. When I get home from a wedding I copy my cards to the PC, check the copy worked fine, set Bridge up to create thumbnails, go have a shower and something to eat, it's ready before I am.

FedkaTheConvict wrote in post #6629244
2. It's one of only two applications apart from ZoomBrowser that shows focus points. The other one is an EXIF editor named PhotoME. It has always puzzled me that Canon does not include the ability to see the focus points used in DPP. In my opinion it is critical to see focus points when decided whether or not to cull an image.

DPP 3.5 shows the AF points.

tim wrote in post #6629828
If you're going to be doing processing in LR anyway then the time it takes to cache thumbnails isn't a big deal, as it has to be done some time.

I'll be using the Netbook while away on holidays etc. So it'll only be used for photo storage and culling. The only processing I plan to do is on a couple of images at the very most.

All images will be transferred to the desktop PC for proper processing in LR when I get home. So I really don't want to have to import all the images on the Netbook. I want a package that will easily let me step through images as fast as possible, to display selected images at a decent quality (i.e., using the raw data, not the embedded jpeg) and to be able to do some processing, even if it is slow and psinful.

hollis_f wrote in post #6634276
I want a package that will easily let me step through images as fast as possible, to display selected images at a decent quality (i.e., using the raw data, not the embedded jpeg)

If that i what you want to do, its already been said, have a look at PhotoMechanic it is very fast.

Dammit the problem, with POTN is google loves it, when you google terms similar to a thread name the thread comes up first!

I'll ask Lloyd what software he used, it's fast and quite cheap IIRC.

Lloyd got back to me quickly! Apparently this program reads JPG images embedded in the RAW file, so it's REALLY fast.

http://www.pixort.com/

r.morales wrote in post #6629803
Both BreezeBrowser Pro. and PhotoME are windows only - but thanks for posting .

True, but since the original poster never explicitly said which platform he was using its safe to assume its Windows since he/she also mentioned using Windows Live Gallery.

tzalman wrote in post #6630414
DPP 3.5 shows the AF points.

But that version hasn't been made available for download by Canon. Perhaps someone with a newer camera can rip their CD software and make it available but my preference would be to get it from Canon's website.

hollis_f wrote in post #6634276
I'll be using the Netbook while away on holidays etc. So it'll only be used for photo storage and culling. The only processing I plan to do is on a couple of images at the very most.

All images will be transferred to the desktop PC for proper processing in LR when I get home. So I really don't want to have to import all the images on the Netbook. I want a package that will easily let me step through images as fast as possible, to display selected images at a decent quality (i.e., using the raw data, not the embedded jpeg) and to be able to do some processing, even if it is slow and psinful.

Netbooks only use Windows XP or Linux so I'm assuming you're going with Windows. Regardless of the software you choose there will be some delay since RAW files are not a rendered format and must first be converted before they are displayed. Some software do this faster than others but none of them are instantaneous. For Canon cameras, again the fastest I've used in BreezeBrowser because it is based on the Canon SDK, but organized in a more logical manner than either ZoomBrowser or DPP.

tim wrote in post #6636624
Lloyd got back to me quickly! Apparently this program reads JPG images embedded in the RAW file, so it's REALLY fast.

http://www.pixort.com/

Pixort does read the embedded preview files and not the actual RAW data. But it appears its no longer under development; the last released version 1.5.5 was way over a year ago (I downloaded that version on 5/17/2007 and it was available for some time before that date). That might be problematic for people with newer cameras.

FedkaTheConvict wrote in post #6637076
Netbooks only use Windows XP or Linux so I'm assuming you're going with Windows. Regardless of the software you choose there will be some delay since RAW files are not a rendered format and must first be converted before they are displayed. Some software do this faster than others but none of them are instantaneous. For Canon cameras, again the fastest I've used in BreezeBrowser because it is based on the Canon SDK, but organized in a more logical manner than either ZoomBrowser or DPP.

tim wrote in post #6636624
Lloyd got back to me quickly! Apparently this program reads JPG images embedded in the RAW file, so it's REALLY fast.

http://www.pixort.com/

Guess you didn't read my post huh?

hollis_f wrote in post #6634276
I'll be using the Netbook while away on holidays etc. So it'll only be used for photo storage and culling. The only processing I plan to do is on a couple of images at the very most.

All images will be transferred to the desktop PC for proper processing in LR when I get home. So I really don't want to have to import all the images on the Netbook. I want a package that will easily let me step through images as fast as possible, to display selected images at a decent quality (i.e., using the raw data, not the embedded jpeg) and to be able to do some processing, even if it is slow and psinful.

Another option that I use ( I should have mentioned this one earlier) is Directory Opus; which is a replacement file manager for Windows. I use it to preview RAW thumbnails but you can also zoom it to view RAW files at full size; the only thing lacking is the ability to see the focus point used.

The neat thing about Directory Opus is that the RAW Viewer plug-in is based on DCRAW; arguably the best and fastest RAW converter. Many programs including Photoshop incorporate DCRAW into their code: See the list of software that use DCRAW code here: http://www.cybercom.ne​t/~dcoffin/dcraw/

If you can find a GUI front end to DCRAW that would be your best bet especially since DCRAW is open source.

tim wrote in post #6637111
Guess you didn't read my post huh?

I did read your post; I was simply confirming that Pixort uses the preview and not the actual RAW data.