Version 1.0 build 50 now supports the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D50, D70s and D2001 cameras.

RAW image capture is preferred by many serious-minded photographers to preserve all the subtle color and detail possible from digital cameras. However, until now it has been impossible to view thumbnails and previews for RAW images in Windows without use of special software.

The Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer enhances the Windows XP photos experience by providing thumbnails, previews, printing, and metadata display for RAW images from most Canon and Nikon digital cameras. This tool enables advanced digital photographers to organize and work with RAW files directly in Windows Explorer in much the same way as with JPEG images. No more guessing which image is which!

Version 1.0 build 50 of the RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer supports most models of Canon and Nikon cameras capable of RAW capture, including the latest professional models such as the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D2x. (A complete list of supported cameras is provided in the readme file and in the related white paper.)

It also includes fixes for a number of known issues in the original release of the software, including the TIFF file locking issue. In addition, there is a new Save As button.

Photographers wishing to view RAW files on Windows XP should consider downloading Windows Live Photo Gallery, which supports a wide variety of RAW formats utilizing RAW codecs. Each camera manufacturer provides their own RAW codec enabling Windows Live Photo Gallery and other applications to view and process RAW files. The Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP is limited to cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D50, D70s, and D200 cameras. Unfortunately, it is unable to support newer models.

Note: We've taken care to ensure that this tool operates as it should, but it is not part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer.

¹Support for Nikon D200 includes display of thumbnails and embedded previews, but not rendering in highest quality.

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