I just got a new canon rebel T1i, and brand new to the DSLR world. Question: is the canon included software necessary? I already plugged the camera in my mac and the pictures downloaded flawlessly with iphoto, without having installed any of canons software yet. If Im going to eventually get adobe elements, what does the included software do? The instruction manual advises me to install the software, but is it really necessary?
If you are using iPhoto as a tool to sort images that is fine, and I wouldn't really recommend the Canon software to compete with it. The real use of the supplied software is in its raw image converter. One thing you must consider is that Canon makes Digital Photo Professional strictly for its own cameras, making it potentially the best software available. While DPP does a very nice job of working with Raw files, in my honest opinion if you end up grabbing Elements, which is a very capable application, Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) will work just fine for manipulating cr2 files. Despite being an approximation compared to the Canon software, the usability and interface associated with ACR simply puts DPP to shame as a whole.
On the other hand, if you are shooting JPG then I would say DPP is essentially useless. Though you should be shooting raw either way. :P
I will say however, that many capable photographers fully rely on DPP and create beautiful images with it. Plus, its free! My advice would be to install DPP and at least check it out, as well as grabbing the free demo of PSE and seeing which is for you. Its a win-win situation.
Jordan
Originally Posted by jcrowe87
I bet my reply starts some debate as if we have not seen it here already.
Why shoot raw. I never do. If you capture your image with correct exposure you do not need raw. JPEG work flow is easyer and quicker.
I have never loaded DPP. I use PSE 5. My customers love my work.
Check out the 6 lies of photography . Lie #3 is about raw vs jpeg.
Bottom line, the computer, camera, etc.. are all tools. Shooting basics still apply with digital as with film.
Mark
Mark
Mark, you definitely will start something with this...[]
I've seen that 6 lies of photography before. It has some good points, but "Lie #3" isn't one of them.
RAW shooting gives you latitude that a jpg cannot (since it's a "cooked" image, with the camera throwing away lots of data right out of the box).
Let the debate begin!!
I cannot argue with you saying that under the correct conditions JPGs produce images of any worse quality than raws.
I have a few reasons why I choose to shoot raw I suppose...
1. I am not always entirely sure of exactly what my conditions are, haha. If I was working in a studio situation at all times setting my own lighting conditions and shooting static subjects I would maybe use JPG. As it happens though, I am not, if I am outdoors (or moving from indoor to outdoor and vice-versa) and lighting conditions are changing often I would rather worry about my subject than my white balance for instance.
2. Raws are not compressed. I want to know that I am getting as much out of the camera as possible, I just wouldn't feel right having files that I know are already modified before I even get a look at them.
3. Memory is cheap, and getting cheaper all the time. While it may seem frightening that raw images are often 5-6 times the size of their JPG counterparts, I don't see it as much of an issue. With portable hard drives always coming down in price, we all have TB of data storage at our disposal at a very reasonable price considering what we pay for gear.
4. The recovery of detail from raw images continues to amaze me. Obviously we all aim to get the right shot the first time, but from time to time mistake happen, and I just feel that shooting raw provides a get out of jail free card. Why wouldn't I use it?
I am sure others could add other reasons for their choice, but this is all that comes to mind for me at the moment. Do understand I am in no way against the choice to shoot JPG alone, and I know many images have been and will continue to be captured this way. Maybe you JPG folks are just braver than me. []
Jordan
OK, I'm in the process now of installing the software. However, I am not installing the image browser, since I want to continue using iphoto, is this correct?
I would say thats a good plan. Make sure you pick up EOS Utility though, as mentioned, since it can be used to enhance the functionality of your camera. It can do things such as allow tethered shooting, change picture styles, or just update firmware.
Jordan
It won't hurt to install it. I did, and you can still choose to use iPhoto as the default if you prefer.
Mark, I should have asked this with my previous post.
PSE is an editing software. What are you editing? Unless, you just use the Organizer to organize your photos....
I am a part time professional shooting weddings and portraits. I shoot only JPEG, organize and edit photos in PSE 5.
Mark
Mark
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