Image Browser?

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kunger

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Is there an image browser that will read the Epson .ERF Raw file as well as other raw and standard (JPG, TIF) files?

I also shoot with a Nikon D2H in Raw. An image browser that can read both the .NEF and .ERF file formats would be perfect for editing purposes. I have tried several browsers only to find that some will do what I need and some won't. Some will enlarge the .ERF file when you double-click the thumbnail, and some won't, but will be able to do it for the .NEF file.

Basically what I need to do is be able to browse my image files in thumbnail mode and enlarged mode, tag them if necessary, and copy them to another folder. I must have tried about 5 or 6 different browsers. All of them will do different combinations of this with the .ERF file, but can't do this very basic workflow. I know it must exist, but where?

Thanks in advance,

Kevin
 
IGMeanwell said:
Try Irfanview

www.irfanview.com

make sure you get the extension pack

I am not sure how it is with NEF files...
Click to expand...

I'm also using it. It recognizes the thumbnails from the RD-1s, but it won't open the ERF files (even with the extension pack). It recognizes and opens NEF files from D100 and D70s (although conversion quality is nothing to write home about).

Only real cons: does not reopen on the last directory (you have to choose it from a drop-down list with the last 20 or so), does not support drag&drop outside the window (to other programs).

But recognizes ERF thumbnails, it's fast, user interface ok and, best of all, free... 🙂.
 
I use Photoshop Elements 4.0 with the latest Camera Raw update. The browser, Adobe Bridge, does the job. The Epson plugin works with Elements too, so Bridge displays the thumbnail, then opens the Epson plugin, when an .ERF is double clicked.

Ian
 
I use Adobe Bridge (part of Photoshop). Only downside is that it (like other browsers) displays B&W ERFs in colour...

I tend to use Photo RAW to thin my shots out before processing them and passing them in to Photoshop for finishing...
 
Try Photo Mechanic (you can download a trial version). It has both Windows and Mac compatible versions. It also understands RAW+JPEG so you can get a larger view of the corresponding jpeg, which should help in editing.
 
Someone else mentioned it already, but I use Photo Mechanic for sorting both NEF and ERF files. NEFs it will give you a large preview, but for ERF you need to shoot ERF+JPG, and Photomechanic displays them together as one thumbnail and uses the JPG as the large preview.

j
 
I've tried just about everything mentioned here so far. Irfanview is great, but it doesn't allow me to tag any images and copy them to a different folder.

Lightroom is wonderful! Though I'm able to view the larger .erf images, I still can't tag or copy to different folders.

PhotoMechanic would be perfect if I could just view a larger .erf image.

My workflow is such that I copy everything that I have from my memory card to a folder on my Harddrive. View these images in a browser. Tag the images that I want to keep (first edit), COPY these taged images to a different folder, look over these tagged images again, tagging the ones that I want and dropping the ones that I don't want. Repeat this process a couple of more times until I have the Images that I really want to keep.

There's gotta be a program that will allow me to do that with the .erf's.

More suggestions?

Kevin
 
rawshooters handled .erf files pretty well, generating large previews as you loaded a folder. Unfortunately they don't exist anymore after selling out to Adobe. But the software still works if you have it...

But really, Photomechanic using ERF+JPG works transparently for sorting ERFs with large previews. The only drawback is the extra space taken up while you're shooting...

j
 
I use Raw Shooter Essentials, as it's free, got a good browser module, and will do reasonable conversions from RAW.

Pixmantic, who produced it, have been bought by Adobe, but the free download is still available here (link)
 
Like Phil, I use Rawshooter. Those of us who bought Rawshooter Premium are going to be grandfathered into ownership of Adobe Lightroom version 1. It works beautifully with ERF files and is currently on Beta 4.1. It's shaping up into what looks to be a great product and handles ERF files effortlessly!
 
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