Digital Photography – The Connected Home

Microsoft RAW Codec and Windows Media Center

Posted July 27, 2011July 27, 2011 barbPosted in Connected Home, Digital Photography, Media Center, Microsoft, Windows 7, Windows Live, Windows Media Center

Yesterday (see previous post) I wrote a little about the newly released Microsoft RAW Codec. One of the first things I did was try my latest batch of Nikon RAW NEF files from a balloon festival earlier this month. I had so-so results, especially inside Windows Media Center, where thumbnails appeared, but after selecting an individual image file, WMC could not display it. This set of images was shot with a D7000 DX camera, in order to take advantage of the longer reach of FX lenses used with it. I normally carry both a D700 and a D7000.

As it turns out, for whatever reason, the Microsoft RAW Codec does not support the D7000. I’m not sure why, since Adobe and others now support it, and the D7000 has been available since mid October 2010.

Anyway, if you have a supported camera, the new codec most definitely is supported inside Windows Media Center if you want to view your RAW images there. You won’t get detailed EXIF info in View Details, but you certainly can display your images on a large screen. The screen capture below shows one of the folders (highlighted) from an Orchid Show I attended in 2009 where I shot with my D700 and the Nikon 105mm Macro lens. Thumbnails appear as expected.

(more…)

Microsoft Now Offers limited RAW Camera Support

Posted July 26, 2011July 26, 2011 barbPosted in Digital Photography, Windows 7, Windows Media Center

Today Microsoft released a Codec Camera Pack which brings (long overdue) limited support for various RAW formats from the major camera vendors. While most RAW shooters use more substantial tools (Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.) for manipulating images, Microsoft has provided a download for both 32 and 64 bit Windows that allows viewing RAW formats in Windows Live Photo Gallery and some basic image manipulation, mostly rotate and resize. You can, however, copy a NEF to JPG format and edit it inside WLPG, but that is not the same as editing a native NEF (or other RAW format file) inside Lightroom, Photoshop, etc. This may be good enough for casual photographers.

Below is a screen shot in Windows Explorer Tile view of some Nikon NEF RAW images which is where I looked first. Note the generic Windows Live Photo Gallery icons, but please read further

(more…)

My Photography Site has Been Updated

Posted July 23, 2011July 23, 2011 barbPosted in Digital Photography

I’ve had a separate site for my photography for quite some time at http://barbbowman.net and I’ve just given it a major makeover. I’m using a Flash based gallery for desktop users, but iOS users now see a separate, touch enabled site thanks to Onswipe.

Microsoft Photosynth for iPhone (Wow)

Posted April 18, 2011April 18, 2011 barbPosted in Apple, Digital Photography, iPhone, Microsoft

Available in iTunes now. A free app that stitches panoramas and guides you through every step of the way. Integrates with Photosynth.net (LiveID required) where you can further edit your creations.

Tap the screen to display the centering frame guide and follow the prompts for each successive shot and tap finish when done.

(more…)

RAW Image Support – W7/Media Center 32/64 bit

Posted September 22, 2009April 17, 2011 barbPosted in Digital Photography, Software

I feel like I just hit the jackpot.

I’ve been bemoaning the lack of support for Nikon NEF 64 bit support for as long as I can remember inside Windows Explorer. And I’ve been wishing for RAW support for NEF inside Media Center forever.

I’m happy to say that there is a really nice solution.

The free image codec pack at http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/ had all the answers and gave me the brass ring.

Here’s a snippet from their web site on what is supported:

Raw Image Formats
Extension(s)	Name	Autorotate	Metadata	Remarks
*.dng	Adobe Digital Negative	Y	Y
.cr2, .crw	Canon Raw Image	Y	Y
*.raf	Fuji Raw Image	Y	Y
.3pr, .fff	Hasselblad Raw Image	Y	Y
.dcr, .kdc	Kodak Raw Image	Y	Y
.raw, .rwl	Leica Raw Image	Y	Y
*.mrw	Minolta Raw Image	Y	Y
.nef, .nrw	Nikon Raw Image	Y	Y	Can be configured to skip raw conversion and always use embedded previews.
*.orf	Olympus Raw Image	Y	Y
*.rw2	Panasonic Raw Image	Y	Y
*.pef	Pentax Raw Image	Y	Y
.arw, .sr2, *.srf	Sony Raw Image	Y	Y
Additional Features
Extension(s)	Name	Remarks
All formats	WIC Thumbnail provider for XP	Provides support for thumbnail views in Windows XP Explorer (SP3), for all the above formats and all existing WIC-enabled codecs.
All formats	WIC Import Plug-In for Photoshop	Enables Adobe Photoshop to directly import images from any installed WIC codec. The plug-in is available as a separate download in 32-bit only at this time (so it won”t work on Photoshop CS4 64-bit edition for the time being).

I shoot Nikon RAW NEF. And I have full support now inside Windows 7 RTM. Explorer thumbnails, even inside Windows Media Center. Here’s the proof. Worth 3,000 words and a whole lot more.