Canon RAW Codecs, and other manufacturers.

If your running a 64 bit system on either VISTA/WINDOWS7 and you also use a Canon digital SLR thats perhaps not a recent model, you may be having troubles viewing RAW files in Windows explorer or some other windows based programs. Not a problem for many as there are other image viewers out there you can use. But if you would like to be able to see thumbnails of your RAW files as you browse the folders they are stored in then there is a solution.

http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/

Its not freeware, meaning its not free. Its donationware meaning your expected to make a donation of your choosing at your discretion should you install like it and continue to use it and lets face it its a worth a couple of quid for the convenience it gives us.

BTW Canons standpoint when I phoned them this morning is that my camera was designed, manufactured and retailed before 64bit systems where..so they dont intend to release updated codecs for any models except for currently on the shelves cameras. In fact, I was told by technical support that it would be impossible to make a codec for 64bit systems because of this.

This works with both of canons RAW formats..CR2 and the earlier CRW raw files and I'm using it right now for both file types and a 64Bit win7 operating system.

This codecs support other manufacturers too Nikons NEF and NRW files, along with many other manufacturers RAW formats (21 in total), so its worth a look.

Hope this helps someone.

Steve...