Microsoft Camera Codec Pack - Adds RAW support to Windows Explorer and WLPG

[Arthur]

This is similar to the FastPictureViewer Codec Pack, but completely free.

 

Download (Direct Links: x86 / x64)

 

Microsoft has released a codec pack providing native RAW support to both Windows Explorer and Windows Live Photo Gallery. With the pack installed, Explorer will show thumbnails for the RAW files produced by most popular digital cameras, and Windows Live Photo Gallery will offer its full range of editing and metadata manipulation features. The pack is free, and available for both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. (Source)

 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with raw format, it is the uncompressed output from each of the original pixels on the camera’s image sensors. Raw files have several advantages over JPEG files including higher image quality, finer control, and more image information. Think of them as big, digital negatives waiting to be processed.

 

We know from customer feedback that dealing with raw images on Windows hasn’t always been easy. While there is software that works well to convert raw files to JPEG, we have some good news for consumers looking for a built-in Windows solution. Today we’re happy to announce that Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011 now supports raw format images. Just download the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack for Windows 7 and Windows Vista to be able to view raw photo files from more than 120 DSLR cameras in Photo Gallery, as well as in Windows Explorer.

 

Viewing is only part of the story. Photo Gallery will also support editing copies of your raw images. Because raw files are like digital negatives, they’re protected originals, not to be altered or harmed. We know your originals are precious, so if you want to alter a raw image, Photo Gallery makes a copy of the raw original and converts it to either JPEG or the far superior JPEG-XR (or HD Photo) format. With JPEG-XR, all of the quality of the raw original is there so you can fine-tune different editing effects. You can fix red-eye, remove blemishes, or make detailed image adjustments with confidence knowing your original raw file is safe. When you use your raw files to construct an amazing panoramic stitch or Photo Fuse, a new file is generated and you get an even higher quality result than before.

 

With the new codec pack, Windows will now support viewing and editing a wide range of photo file formats including raw, JPEG, PNG, TIFF and more. This new update unlocks the power of every photo on your computer so that your PC is capable of organizing, viewing and editing your digital memories, whether they were shot with a camera phone, point-and-shoot camera, or a higher end DSLR. So keep shooting all those great photos! And if you’re lucky enough to own a camera that supports raw, give it a try. If you’re already shooting in raw, we hope we’ve just made your life a little easier. (Source)

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/HgEBZ.png

[garethEds]

Great link - tried to give rep but system wouldn't let me so have had to thank instead. Gareth