iPod, viewing RAW files?

[billh]

Does anyone know in an iPod can be used to download SD cards from an Epson RD-1, and if so, can the downloaded RAW files be viewed and deleted, then those remaining transferred to a MAC later? Also, can the RAWs from a Canon 1Ds2 be downloaded and viewed on an iPod?

 

[Stephan]

Nah mate, cant do it. It cant read any kind of raw format anyway and if it did it doesnt have the power for files that big 😉

 

[jlw]

Does anyone know in an iPod can be used to download SD cards from an Epson RD-1, and if so, can the downloaded RAW files be viewed and deleted, then those remaining transferred to a MAC later? Also, can the RAWs from a Canon 1Ds2 be downloaded and viewed on an iPod?

You can save SD card files onto an iPod using a card-reader attachment, and then later move them onto your computer, but you won't be able to view the raw data on the iPod. Actually, I don't know of ANY portable viewer that lets you do that -- even Epson's own P2000 viewer won't show you the actual raw files, only the embedded JPEG previews.

[In case that tempts you to consider a P2000, which I know has gotten a lot of glowing reviews: I own one, and although it's useful, I'm somewhat disappointed in it as a field-review device. If I'd doing a studio shoot and need to check the raw files to make sure they look good, it won't do that -- I still need to lug along a laptop computer. Most of its trick features -- slide show, image rotation, etc. -- don't work at all on raw files. Even the ability to zoom is very constrained compared to what it can do with JPEG files.

This makes the P2000 useful for dumping files off SD cards, and getting a rough preview of your shots, but really no use for quality assurance. Also, it's considerably larger and bulkier than an iPod, and its file-management and media-playback capabilities are lousy. I'll keep using the P2000 for storage as I shoot, but I'm seriously thinking of buying an iPod as a more compact, better-designed device to carry around for media playback.]

 

[sevres_babylone]

jlw, thanks for the info about the P2000. I am (still) thinking of getting one, and didn't know that it was just reading embedded jpegs. A question though for Epson: why isn't there an easy way to download the embedded jpegs so you can easily view them on a laptop P2000 size without having to use a raw converter?
As for the iPod, alas I replaced my stolen one a couple of months before they made them all "photo." However, I don't have a whole lot of regrets because from what I've read, two big drawbacks are that transferring from cards is s-l-o-w, and it really eats up the iPod battery. There are discussions from time to time on the Computers, Cameras, Phone branch of Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum:

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/index.cfm

 

[jlw]

A question though for Epson: why isn't there an easy way to download the embedded jpegs so you can easily view them on a laptop P2000 size without having to use a raw converter?

Little-known quirk: If you change an Epson raw file's extension from "ERF" to "DNG," you can view the embedded JPEG image in iView MediaPro without any further conversion. (This might work with other file viewers, too, for all I know.)

However, changing the extension keeps the Epson raw plug-in from recognizing the file -- so you have to change it back to ERF before you can actually open it. Still, might be useful for some purposes.

 

[RML]

If you're looking for an image tank, I can recommend the Apacer Share Steno. I have one. It came with an 80 GB 2.5" disk for a measly 180 euro. The Apacer case itself is about 70 euro (here in Holland , that is). It seems the disk is easily replaceable, so you can dunk in a larger one when the need arises.

There's no internal card reader but attaching a small one works perfectly. And the USB2 OTG (on the go) slurps up a 1 GB card in a couple of minutes. The battery lasts for plenty of downloads. I got it at the same time I got my R-D1 and sofar I've only recharged it twice or trice.

It doesn't have a preview option, just a teenytiny B&W display that you use to select the mode of operation (download, explore disk, explore USB device, delete, etc).