Canon digital cameras - view images without proprietary software?

[Fraoch]

For business purposes, I just bought a refurbed Canon A75.

Since it's a refurb, I hope that all the accessories are included. All I really need is the USB cable. But do I need the software?

Do you absolutely need the Canon ZoomBrowser EX software or will the camera be recognized as a mass storage device when you plug the USB cable in?

If the software is missing I'll have no choice, but I'd rather not install the software at all.

Thanks!

[CrowdAds]

[Keri]

Originally Posted by Fraoch

For business purposes, I just bought a refurbed Canon A75.

Since it's a refurb, I hope that all the accessories are included. All I really need is the USB cable. But do I need the software?

Do you absolutely need the Canon ZoomBrowser EX software or will the camera be recognized as a mass storage device when you plug the USB cable in?

If the software is missing I'll have no choice, but I'd rather not install the software at all.

Thanks!

Most likely you will have to install the driver only for Windows to recognize the camera. Then you can use any software (Photoshop etc.) to get the pics off. With My Fuji, Windows even allows viewing of the pics so yours may do the same. Chances are good that you do not need the entire software package installed.

[ABoard]

Originally Posted by Fraoch

Do you absolutely need the Canon ZoomBrowser EX software or will the camera be recognized as a mass storage device when you plug the USB cable in?

My experience is similar to Keri's.

I'm still a film aficianado, but I have used a few digicams, most of which were Canons (same as my 35mm film gear) . Not surprisingly, since I didn't own the cameras, I didn't really want to commit to software installation. All of the cameras have plugged right in without having to install additional drivers or anything at all (certainly you may not get that lucky, but the A75 is fairly popular so it is likely that a pre-installed driver already exists in XP).

If that is the case, as soon as you plug in the camera to a USB port, the built in XP software should pop up after a few moments and:

1. Show you everything that's on the camera's card;
2. Allow you to browse;
3. Allow you to set naming conventions and copy images to HDD;
4. Allow you to delete images from card;

It's basic but it gets the job done.

[Griff]

You can just plug the A75 into any usb port and it will work fine.

[sjkeegs]

I just got an A95 to replace a old camera that got dropped and badly damaged.

Just plug in the USB cable and it'll recognize it and be able to pull the pictures off. Think you may need WinXP for that though.

[Fraoch]

Thanks for the response. I was at the Canon website yesterday and noted the following instructions regarding the camera's WIA driver:

"If you connect your camera to the Computer (OS: Windows XP) with a USB cable, it is not necessary to install the driver as your camera supports PTP and the standard driver of Windows XP.
However, there are some limitations as follows.
In this case, you need to download "Canon Camera WIA Driver 6.2.5 for Windows XP" below."

So yes, it will work.

Now if only they'd ship the darn thing.

[bookwrm54]

Originally Posted by Fraoch

Thanks for the response. I was at the Canon website yesterday and noted the following instructions regarding the camera's WIA driver:

"If you connect your camera to the Computer (OS: Windows XP) with a USB cable, it is not necessary to install the driver as your camera supports PTP and the standard driver of Windows XP.
However, there are some limitations as follows.
In this case, you need to download "Canon Camera WIA Driver 6.2.5 for Windows XP" below."

So yes, it will work.

Now if only they'd ship the darn thing.

Glad you were able to resolve your camera issue. I don't blame you for not wanting to use Canon's Zoombrowser software. The latest version is a piece of junk. I absolutely hate it and don't understand why they ruined it. The last version was much better. I just don't understand why Canon distributes such a crappy program to go with such expensive cameras.

I have been considering purchasing the Canon Rebel XT, but have my apprehensions due to their lousy software program.

[Bofinn]

I use the zoombrowser software because I assumed I had to. So what are you people using in windows without it?

[ABoard]

Originally Posted by bookwrm54

<snip>

I have been considering purchasing the Canon Rebel XT, but have my apprehensions due to their lousy software program.

I am not trying to be smart, just curious.

Why would you choose a camera based on software?

The software usually consists of:

Components With Value (may have no alternatives available):
- Driver (may or may not be needed as discussed here);
- Special Feature / Hardware Access (e.g., Intervalometer / Remote Control)*

Components Of Questionable Value:
- Image Acquisition, Browsing and Organization;
- Image Editing / Stitching;

The "Questionable Value" software that ships with the hardware, regardless of brand, is:

- Most often second-rate compared to the other commercial and freeware offerings;
- Sometimes as good as low / mid-end alternatives;
- Rarely (if ever) as good as the high-end alternatives.

Also regarding the category of software I have labeled "Questionable Value", most people already have favorites that they use even if they don't own a digital camera.

I suppose if a $200 digital camera came with Photoshop and Cumulus (photo organization software), I might let my decision be swayed by that (if I didn't already own the software). But, considering that an "SLR" digital like the Rebel ties you in to a whole system of lenses, flashes and accessories that can be used with other same-brand camera bodies (even film-based bodies) as you upgrade, software seems to be of very little / no consequence.

* Example of "Valuable" Software

The first attached image shows my Canon EOS 3 with Invervalometer / Remote Control accessory attached. At its simplest level of functionality, the accessory acts as a remote electronic shutter release; at its most sophisticated, it allows the camera to be set for unattended exposures over relatively short or long time periods (e.g., set the camera to take an exposure every 15 minutes over a 6 hour period and you have images of a flower blooming). The Rebel XT (and others) have a digital intervalometer / remote control used by tethering the camera to a PC / laptap (see second attached image).

I took the EOS 3 image using a cheap Canon A400 (surprisingly effective for simple, limited situations) and the Canon software screen shot was obtained from an excellent review of the Canon Rebel XT here:

Full Review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/

Page With Info About The Intervalometer:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/page17.asp

Final note ...

Despite all the generalities presented by me earlier in the post concerning software, most of the software reviewed in the above article doesn't look too bad, especially if you currently have "zero" software and / or are unfamiliar with the available alternatives. Whether this is the currently shipped software, I can't say.

[ABoard]

Originally Posted by Fraoch

Oh no, you misunderstand me.

My query / response was to "bookwrm54" (see the quote in my post).

[Fraoch]

Originally Posted by ABoard

My query / response was to "bookwrm54" (see the quote in my post).

Whoops - for some reason I didn't see half the posts in this thread?

?

[Fraoch]

Originally Posted by Bofinn

I use the zoombrowser software because I assumed I had to. So what are you people using in windows without it?

If it's anything like my last (dead) digicam, Windows will recognize the camera as a mass storage device and add it as a separate drive with a new drive letter.

You then just open it up and browse through the images inside, copying them and deleting them as appropriate. You can use Windows' slideshow function or open the images in any photo-editing program.

I'm currently using The GIMP but I also have an old version of Corel Photo-Print (version 8). Both these are light years ahead of the stuff you'll find with a consumer-level camera (even the 1998-vintage Corel program).

And, of course, GIMP is free.

[FB]

i used the "windows scanne and picture wizard"

works great

[Jorrell]

You always have the option of taking the memory card out and reading it with a memory reader.

[ronbo 613]

I rarely plug my digital cameras directly into the computer. I've found a USB card reader sidesteps nearly all connection problems and allows the use of nearly any photo editing or viewing software.
As far as software goes, I hardly use what comes with the camera. I use Ulead Photo Explorer for checking out the photos, Photoshop and PhotoImpact for editing. I use different cameras all the time, I just keep using the software I'm familiar with. When you use a card reader, it's all the same. For free photo viewing software with limited editing features, I'd suggest Ifranview.
Not buying a Canon camera because of "lousy software"? I don't know about that. The software that came with my EOS20D, the EOS Viewer Utility and Digital Photo Professional, image viewers and editors that allows you to work with RAW images and convert them to other formats, are very useful tools. Both of these programs have integrated with my Photoshop6.0, otherwise, I would have had to purchase a newer version.
For an all around digital camera that costs about $200.USD new, you'd be hard pressed to find a better unit than the A75.