Image Capture - What does Support for Canon XSi Really Mean?

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Level 1

79 points

Image Capture - What does Support for Canon XSi Really Mean?

The 10.5.4 update was supposed to include support for the Canon XSi Raw format. That support doesn't appear to apply to image capture. I shoot Raw + Large/Fine jpeg and image capture brings all the images over to the Mac with no error messages when I connect the camera. The jpeg images are OK, but the raw images are all corrupted - iPhoto says the files are bad and can't open them - and the Canon Digital Photo Professional application shows a distorted image and can't convert the files to jpeg. I had to install the Canon utility program to transfer the raw images successfully. Once the images are on the Mac, then iPhoto can open the raw files. So, what exactly does "support for the Canon XSi raw" mean? Does it just apply to iPhoto and Aperture? Seems strange not to also support Image Capture. Incidentally, the Canon web site says Image Capture doesn't work and says to use the Canon software.

iMac Aluminum 2.8 24Inch and MBA 1.6 HD, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 4, 2008 6:14 PM

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Answer 1

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 4, 2008 6:32 PM in response to DRedfearn

Supporting a file format is not the same as supporting a particular piece of hardware.

I'd follow the manufacturer's recommendation and use their proprietary software to work with their product, and use MacOS to work with the files the product creates.

Message was edited by: dechamp

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Answer 2

orangekay

Level 5

4,085 points

Jul 4, 2008 6:47 PM in response to DRedfearn

Few people use Image Capture for anything. Why can't you just plug the card into a reader and copy the files over?

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Answer 3

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 4, 2008 7:04 PM in response to orangekay

I agree. I've got a usb memory card reader plugged in most of the time and don't like to run down camera batteries just to get the pictures off the memory card.

I don't see why iPhoto would have any problem importing the Raw images directly from the card to it's database.

I believe the changes in 10.5.4 merely lets a Mac use the files without needing a proprietary reader program like Nikon tried to use years ago.

Message was edited by: dechamp because I can't speel sometimes. 🙂

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Answer 4

b99

Level 2

292 points

Jul 4, 2008 7:33 PM in response to orangekay

I am one of the "few". I have used Image Capture for about 4 years and haven't had any problems with it at all. I also take photos in raw and large jpeg format, but using a Rebel XT. I prefer to use Photoshop Elements to do my processing and to put my photos in my Picture folder where I have straightforward control over them. I do use iPhoto for some organization and for producing slide shows, and I realize that I could download using iPhoto and still use Photoshop Elements for processing.

I also have a USB card reader but to use it means removing the card from the camera regularly and often and I'd just as soon leave it in, except for necessities.

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jul 4, 2008 8:10 PM in response to DRedfearn

You might post this in the iPhoto forum too - iPhoto '08 - http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1192

LN

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Answer 6

DRedfearn Author

Level 1

79 points

Jul 5, 2008 12:15 PM in response to dechamp

Yes, I understand that (technical) distinction, but Image Capture has worked fine for me with earlier Canon cameras. If this was just support for iPhoto and Aperture it should be labeled as such, but the actual documentation for the 10.5.4 updates says "Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras" and the document describing Raw support says "Mac OS X Leopard provides system-level support for digital camera RAW formats from the following cameras.
Products Affected
Mac OS X 10.5
Supported by Mac OS X 10.5.4 or later
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss Digital x2 / EOS 450D"

The key language here is "system level support" - which I had assumed included importing the raw images. Image capture recognizes the XSi and moves the jpegs just fine - it's not clear to me why raw files would be any different.

Anyway, as others in this thread have mentioned, just using a SDHC card reader works fine - and is faster. You just have to remove the card for the transfer.

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Answer 7

orangekay

Level 5

4,085 points

Jul 5, 2008 12:21 PM in response to DRedfearn

"Support" means that the built-in raw decoder knows how to handle raw files formatted by that camera. I have no idea why copying a JPEG would be any more difficult than copying a raw file, but again, Image Capture is something of a vestigial holdover from 10.0 and nobody really uses it for anything, so it's probably never tested.

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