Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

digital media player for canon digital slr and mac

by glshooter Dec 11, 2005 8:03AM PST

i have been looking for a digital media player to store and view Canon RAW Image files (as well as music and videos). i would also like to be able to record and view video like the Archos AV500. A sharp LCD is a must. does this product exist?? Epson's P2000 supports RAW image files, but doesn't record video. Archos AV500 records video, but doesn't support viewing RAW image files...none of the Archos products support RAW. Cowan A2 doesn't offer enough GB to be practical (i want 80-100GB min). I heard Zen can be iffy when used with a mac. am i asking for too much?? if the Archos AV500 supported RAW image files, that would be ideal!! does this product exist??? Any word on if Archos will ever support RAW image files?? any input would be helpful, finding it hard to get info on these products. thanks for your time, GL

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
and this fits into the Mac forum, how?
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Dec 11, 2005 9:58AM PST

would you like me to move it to the MP3 player or some other forum?

P

- Collapse -
is this for personal or professional use ?
by grimgraphix Dec 11, 2005 4:38PM PST

If it's professional use and portability is the issue then get a powerbook or an iBook and write it off... If it's personal use then just convert the files over to a format the Archos or other media player of your choice will play. Have you tried contacting Canon ? Or tried over at the photography forum ?

Personally calling Canon would be my first choice since the issue is not necessarily a question of compatibility with a mac.

Interestingly enough, I have some friends in the used video game business that are in wonder over how many nifty hacks are available for the Sony PSP. While the screen is small it is extremely sharp. The unit will also take flash memory cards as well as a certain small video disc format that (I am lead to believe) the person on the street can burn. Don't quote me on all this but my friends were really excited about the possibilities. Of course if I was to buy a Sony product right now I would look to buy used as you won't catch me buying Sony stuff ever again or at least until they confess to their root kit sins and repent ! Devil

grim

- Collapse -
need more suggestions
by glshooter Dec 13, 2005 11:59AM PST

it will be for both. i already have a powerbook, but don't want to lug it around with me when i am shooting in the field. the reason i would like to be able to VIEW RAW image files in the field is to check focus (the lcd on my camera is small and not very good for this) and overall framing, but mainly for focus. Archos is not compatible with the RAW format, so therefore, you cannot view them on their players. from what i have gathered, you can download the files, but you cannot view them.

- Collapse -
I googled...
by grimgraphix Dec 13, 2005 12:36PM PST

"portable media player that displays RAW images" and imediately got a result for the PQI mPack P800 Portable Multimedia Player that supports RAW format...

check it out at http://www.mobiletechreview.com/mediaplayers/PQI-mPack-P800.htm.

I found it really interesting that they mention it does not have the screen sharpness you find on the Sony PSP (something I mentioned before - please boycott sony by purchasing second hand) but again you may need to be a knowledgable hacker to adapt it for your purpose. To quote the reviewer "It can't match Sony's PSP screen, but it is indeed better than many of the other portable media players on the market."

It supports...

"The mPack P800 supports the following file formats*:
Audio: MP3, WMA, AC3, AAC, WAV, OGG
Photo: JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, RAW
Video: MPEG1/2/4, XviD, WMV, ASF, AVI
*PQI does not give specific details on each supported format"

then there is the Arcsoft total media player with RAW image viewer... http://www.arcsoft.com/products/totalmediaportable/#1

It goes on but here is the original google search URL...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en&q=portable+media+player+that+displays+RAW+images&btnG=Search

good luck and let us know what you think is the best bet. I may need one for some of my "holiday photos" nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean govnor ? Devil

grim

- Collapse -
thanks
by glshooter Dec 14, 2005 10:09AM PST

thanks, this is what i was looking for. i tried google, but called it a digital media player. thanks for the help

- Collapse -
update
by glshooter Dec 14, 2005 10:52AM PST

well i checked out the two links, and both look good at first glance. however, from the discussion on the pqi site, there are a few dissapointed customers. i guess the firmware is not being updated and many fear that pqi is going to abandon the m800 alltogether. also, it doesn't say anywhere if it is compatible with mac osx. i am still waiting to hear back from arcsoft about their PMP, i am unsure if it is compatible with mac osx, and also, you may not be able to get a video recorder AND RAW image viewer in the same player. the website lists different "types" of the product making it unclear what the player can actually do. i'll let you know what they say. thanks for the links, GL

- Collapse -
Oh Well...
by grimgraphix Dec 14, 2005 11:23AM PST

I really would contact Canon or try and find a Canon users group for such a specific item. Their would also be specialized sites like Steve's Digicam that always seem to have the inside scoop on sutch stuff as well

good luck

grim

Back to Mac OS forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info