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Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

I used to be a Nikon guy, but I decided to dabble with the Canon Rebel XT a couple of years ago, and so far, I'm pleased. Most of my newer wallpaper images were taken with the Canon camera and a 60mm macro lens. Unfortunately, until now, all of those wonderful .CR2 files sitting in my picture folders didn't display thumbnails, and they weren't viewable in the Windows Photo Gallery. The good news is that Vista provides an extensible platform for camera manufacturers to add support for their RAW file formats directly into the operating system (as an aside, if you want to read more about writing a custom codec, check out the Windows Imaging Component Overview article on MSDN).

Canon released the first version of their RAW codec today, and a few others are also available:

  • Canon RAW Codec 1.0 - choose your digital camera, then click Drivers / Software to find a link to the codec. According to the site, this version works with .CR2 files from the following cameras: EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS 5D, EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Kiss Digital X / EOS DIGITAL REVEL XTi / EOS 400D DIGITAL, and EOS Kiss Digital N / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT / EOS 350D DIGITAL. No support is currently mentioned for files with a .CRW extension.
  • Nikon RAW Codec 1.0.1 - works with .NEF files from the following cameras: D1, D1H, D1X, D100, D2H, D2Hs, D2X, D2Xs, D200, D40, D50, D70, D70s, D80, COOLPIX 8800, COOLPIX 8700, COOLPIX 8400, COOLPIX 5700, COOLPIX 5400, COOLPIX 5000.
  • Sony RAW Codec - works with .SRF and .SR2 files, but I'm not sure which camera models are specifically supported.
  • Olympus RAW Codec - work with .ORF files from the following cameras: E-1, E-300, E-330, E-400, E-500,E-10, E-20, C-70 ZOOM, C-5050ZOOM, C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-7070 Wide Zoom, C-8080 Wide Zoom, SP-310, SP-320, SP-350, SP-500UZ, SP-510UZ.

As an alternative, you can open up Windows Photo Gallery, choose File/Options, then click on the Check for updates button in the General tab. This will lead you to any added/updated codecs too.

For more information on Microsoft and photography, visit the Microsoft Photography Blog.

Published Friday, March 30, 2007 2:27 PM by mswanson
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# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Please specify which of these codecs supports Vista x64

Saturday, March 31, 2007 5:57 AM by barbbowman

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Excellent news. Unfortunately the Cannon add-ons are 32-bit only and will not install on Vista 64-bit :(

Saturday, March 31, 2007 8:43 AM by Grant Gochnauer

# http://activewin.com/awin/default.asp

Saturday, March 31, 2007 11:57 AM by TrackBack

# Nikon does not support x64 either!

Vista x64 is great, but this lack of x64 RAW support is killing me. Can you put some pressure on Nikon, Canon etc. to get this done?

Sunday, April 15, 2007 2:55 PM by naisan

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

What happen with EOS 10D ? This works ?

Friday, April 27, 2007 11:04 AM by Diego

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

indeed no support for x64 again.

Monday, April 30, 2007 8:54 PM by thibaud

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

What would someone make support for 32-bit win only, when every photographer (that's not on mac) will have good/new hardware and fast pc's. Thats just lame.

Friday, May 18, 2007 10:15 AM by Martin

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Being a Photographer, i use x64 fo its faster and more stable functionality in prgarms such as photoshop. How can Canon not make it for the 64bit version of Vista as well? This is getting a bit annoying. Guess i'd ahve tos tick to the fidly Canon software provided with the camera.

By the way mines a 400D.

Monday, May 21, 2007 10:56 AM by anantha92

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

The lack of .CRW support is dissapointing - is there any sign of a future update?

Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:57 AM by robgreen

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

It worked. the codec worked.

BUT.. bugs..

it takes forever to close a preview after you open it. you probably have to wait for the image to load completely before you CAN close it. omg.

Thursday, June 21, 2007 4:52 PM by tejo

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Just got off tech support with Canon regarding the lack of CRW support in Vista. Native support of RAW from the PowerShot and Digital Rebel series is not coming, ever. The tech support agent told me that RAW viewing with ZoomBrowser EX is the only Canon-supported method of RAW management for these cameras. This is unacceptable. Canon has completely dropped driver support for a number of their high-end cameras that are barely three years old. Canon has also provided half-assed camera support in Mac OS X - the RAW spec for my camera, the PowerShot S50, is missing completely from OS X  Tiger.

I am not buying another digital camera until RAW/TIFF uncompressed image support is improved. Here's hoping that Adobe DNG takes off, eliminating these proprietary camera maker formats that have poor driver support.

Shame on the camera companies for eliminating RAW from point and shoot cameras, forcing us to save in the ancient JPEG format.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:44 PM by Mike Steinbaugh

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

What a bad news to hear that RAW is not supported. Indeed it is a shame for the camera companies not making drivers for the latest technology they produce. Do you think this problem will be fixed till the end of this year?

Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:02 AM by Forex Blog

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

If Canon does not release RAW support for Vista. I will not be buying another Canon product.

They do not support any Software for Vista as ultimately their drivers do not work. I have 3 canon bodies and multiple lenses. My newest body is less than 3 years old and still under warranty.  I wonder if I have a claim that non functional support is voiding the warranty, might be worth a claim in court.

or at least multiple people attempting to make Canon realise they cannot dump customers whilst utilising their products.

It is funny as I was planning on buying a new body next year, might sell all my gear on ebay and go for Nikon. At least they support their old RAW format.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007 4:17 AM by Peter

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

We are working on a 64 bit codec for Canon's CR2 on Vista x64.

The current beta version is available at http://www.ardfry.com/cr2-codec/

Friday, April 04, 2008 9:41 AM by David Blake

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

YES, IT's WORKS !!!

Ardfry works fine under Vista 64 bit and support Canon RAW CR2 !!!!!

Wonderfull !!!

Friday, April 04, 2008 3:20 PM by Luis

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

It works, but...it's not FREE! Why should I pay for it only because I have 64bit OS??? I know it is only 20 USD, but I live in Czech Republic, Europe, and I don't have a credit card which is commonly accepted worl-wide for  credit transfers...

SHAME ON YOU CANON!!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:27 AM by Tomas Jakubec

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

I completely agree with Tomas. And I WON'T pay for something that should be in the software package of a high-end hardware! And lol on those who buy it from any 3rd party..AND FOR A BETA version hahaha.... can't say anything else..

btw shame on you Canon!

Friday, July 04, 2008 12:34 PM by luky

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Agreed.  I would never pay for this!

x64 raw support is something that should be free from Canon.  

Wednesday, July 09, 2008 3:13 AM by Skip

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Still, no Vista x64 support.  If Canon can't, or won't do it, I'll have to address where my loyalties lie (that Nikon D3 does look sweet!).

Dave

Friday, August 01, 2008 11:52 PM by David Pastern

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Canon / Nikon should be paying ardfry for that software and giving it free to their users, if they cannot be bothered solving the issue themselves.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 6:17 AM by Alun James

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Canon needs to support Vista x64.  I'm going to switch to Nikon if they won't.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:06 PM by David

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

All you canon guys threatening to move to Nikon if Canon doesn't release a Vista x64 codec - Nikon doesn't have a Vista x64 codec either, only a x86 codec, just like canon.

I have Nikon and Canon bodies, lack of x64 support is annoying, I will agree to that!

Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:46 AM by Dave

# CR2 under Vista x64

check http://www.baldursoft.de/cr2.php for how to view cr2 in windows foto gallery under vista 64 bit

Friday, September 26, 2008 1:30 AM by Alex

# re: Canon RAW Codec for Windows Vista Released

Guys n Girls,

You don't need to buy the codec to get support!!!

You don't need to wait for Canon either. Unless you want to.

While this is annoying you can get it to work pritty easily. Follow the steps below and you will get support for the Canon codec. It may no be 100% functional but it will be dam close.

Steps required.

1. Install the 32bit version of the codec you want. I used the 1.3 version with vista 32bit support(64bit not supported). URL ---> http://support-au.canon.com.au/contents/AU/EN/0200034303.html

2. Make a 32bit explorer launch shortcut. This will effectivly enable you to use 32bit apps that integate with 32bit versions of windows. Note, this will only enable 32bit windows explorer integrated apps for the ONE windows that is stated!!!! So you have to view your photos and everything from that one windows. Or lauch more 32bit winows from the shotcut. To make the shotcut is easy. Simply right click on a blank space on your desktop. Select 'New' -----> 'Shortcut' -----> Enter the following text '%windir%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate, /root, c:'. Obviously if you want it to open to a different directory than 'C:' you can modify it.

Now your done. To start viewing your CR2 files just lauch a 32bit explorer window with the shortcut and navigate to your photos.

Done. If you don't believe me try it for yourself it only takes a minute. Screen shot of it in action here ----> http://www.users.on.net/~jpetz/images/screen1.jpg

Sunday, October 05, 2008 4:45 AM by Jarrod

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