Archos Multimedia and RAW files

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
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Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root

To the best of my knowledge I only supports JPEGs, BMP's and TIFF's.

Bjarne

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
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Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
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Click to expand...

--
Bjarned

Thanks Bjarne

Would you happen to know of a similar product that supports RAW files?

Cheers

Noodle

Bjarne B. Dollerup said:

Bjarne

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

--
Bjarned

Click to expand...

--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root

Used it on a trip to Peru with my D60.

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

The Archos device does not support display of RAW format, and I don't think many devices of this kind can or will. My understanding is that RAW is not a standard format, and various companies (Nikon, Sigma, etc.) may call a format "RAW" but they are completely incompatible. RAW format is dependent on the camera's internal architecture. In fact, I believe that the various Nikon camera models which produce RAW format produce different kinds of RAW.

As for how robust it is, it has rubber shock absorbers on the corners and comes with an el-cheapo padded carrying case. You could always buy/make a better case for it.

There is a very active support group for this device here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archosmultimedia

Rennie

Neil Crick said:

Would you happen to know of a similar product that supports RAW files?

Cheers

Noodle

Bjarne B. Dollerup said:

Bjarne

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

--
Bjarned

Click to expand...

--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Neil, you might want to consider the V-MP3H. It has 2.5" LCD screen and although it does not support RAW in a sense of displaying the image on the screen however the files will be copied to the device's hard disk and you can even verify it by checking the last file copied being displayed on the screen to ensure that the copying process was done correctly before erasing the images in the CF card. I have tried that with my Canon D 60 which has RAW format and it works. Downside is that it is bulky, heavy (almost 500 grams with internal battery and HD) and has MP3 and VCD features which you might not care about.

By the way, if you go to Chiengmai, there is a place called Pyre about 60-80 km from Chiengmai - a nice peaceful little town with hot springs and lots of hill tribes people. The road to get there from Chiengmai is quite windy through mountains so it takes good 2-3 hours drive. Also visit Chiengrai, Mae Hong Son and Pitsanulok while you are up north. Good luck on your trip. Pui

BorisBob said:

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hi Pui

Thanks for the ideas (and to everyone else too). I'll keep in mind your ideas for Thailand too, I'm still in the planning stage. I also hope to get take the road up to Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle, then take a boat down the Mehkong.

Cheers

Noodle

Pui said:

By the way, if you go to Chiengmai, there is a place called Pyre
about 60-80 km from Chiengmai - a nice peaceful little town with
hot springs and lots of hill tribes people. The road to get there
from Chiengmai is quite windy through mountains so it takes good
2-3 hours drive. Also visit Chiengrai, Mae Hong Son and Pitsanulok
while you are up north. Good luck on your trip. Pui

BorisBob said:

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root

Check out this:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/efilm-vista.shtml

This is Delkin's device. I believe that they either support RAW now or that they are close to supporting RAW.

Bjarne

BorisBob said:

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Bjarned

Rennie Petersen said:

The Archos device does not support display of RAW format, and I
don't think many devices of this kind can or will.

Click to expand...

As far as I know, only the Nixvue Vista ( http://www.nixvue.com/products/Vista/ ) or its twin brother Delkin PicturePad ( http://www.delkin.com/products/picturepad/index.htm ) support viewing RAW files. As the RAW format is camera specific, check out the Nixvue website (see firmware updates) for a list of supported cameras; the SD9 might not be one of them.

With the latest firmware (1.1.4) installed, the Archos now can display RAW files in directory listings (so you can verify they are copied onto the hard disk correctly. I suppose the problem with copying RAW files from a card to the Archos is also solved (can't check that at the moment), but at least there is a workaround: copy the directory that holds the files instead of copying all files in a directory.

Member said:

As for how robust it is, it has rubber shock absorbers on the
corners and comes with an el-cheapo padded carrying case. You could
always buy/make a better case for it.

Click to expand...

I've had it with me all the time on a four-week trip, and it didn't seem to have suffered from it.

--
Frank

Sorry you had problems copying raw files to the Archos. I am at the end of a 2 week European trip and my 128mb CF from a Canon G1 copied each and every raw file. You have to copy the root directory if you have jpg and raw files on the same card. Otherwise the Archos unit will only copy the jpgs.
The Archos has been great to use. Can't wait to get home and start printing!
Happy Travels!

BorisBob said:

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Yes, I was using the previous version of the firmware. 1.1.4 seems to
support RAW (copying at least).

Mark Fogleman said:

BorisBob said:

Not only does it not display RAW, it doesn't even copy them
from the Flash to the HD.

So - had to shoot only JPGs.

Regards
Boris.

Neil Crick said:

Hi All

I'm quite interested in the Archos for storing pics from a
forthcoming 17-day trip to north Thailand (as well as a bit of
soothing music too), but I have a couple of questions.

One concerns its handling of RAW files. The screen will be useful
for checking the safe transfer of images, but will it display RAW
or only .jpg on the screen. I might just plunge for an SD9, and it
only shoots in RAW.

Secondly, how does it score on the robustness scale? It's going to
be joggled around in a backpack, so it'll need to be fairly tough.

I've looked at the website and it seems there's no way to ask the
company these questions, so I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks very much.

Noodle
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Noodles Galleries (early days yet)
http://www.pbase.com/wossname/root
--------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

We have two products that allow you to use a Pocket PC to transfer images to inexpensive hard drive storage (Pixfer) and view the large thumbnail (570 pixels wide) in raw Nikon NEF files (PocketLoupe). It is nice since the Pocket PC screen is 3 or 4 inches on the diagonal, so you can actually see the image and zoom in on details. We're working on Canon CRW viewing support for PocketLoupe now. See http://www.glasslantern.com for details, or let me know if you have any questions.

later,
-jeff

--
Jeff Blum, CEO
Glass Lantern, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.glasslantern.com

Frank R... said:

Rennie Petersen said:

The Archos device does not support display of RAW format, and I
don't think many devices of this kind can or will.

Click to expand...

As far as I know, only the Nixvue Vista
( http://www.nixvue.com/products/Vista/ ) or its twin brother Delkin
PicturePad ( http://www.delkin.com/products/picturepad/index.htm )
support viewing RAW files. As the RAW format is camera specific,
check out the Nixvue website (see firmware updates) for a list of
supported cameras; the SD9 might not be one of them.

With the latest firmware (1.1.4) installed, the Archos now can
display RAW files in directory listings (so you can verify they are
copied onto the hard disk correctly. I suppose the problem with
copying RAW files from a card to the Archos is also solved (can't
check that at the moment), but at least there is a workaround: copy
the directory that holds the files instead of copying all files in
a directory.

Frank R.. said:

As for how robust it is, it has rubber shock absorbers on the
corners and comes with an el-cheapo padded carrying case. You could
always buy/make a better case for it.

Click to expand...

I've had it with me all the time on a four-week trip, and it didn't
seem to have suffered from it.

--
Frank

Click to expand...