The camera manufactures make great...
The camera manufactures make great cameras but sub-par software. >>
True, but the problem is they have to provide software when they sell a camera with a RAW capture mode. They spend money developing that software.
Then, someone wants that data for free to make their own software.
I can understand why the manufacturers are less than thrilled. Again, the solution is for everyone to agree on a single RAW format that is generic. Then, all cameras use the same RAW format.
Peter
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http://www.peterkburian.com
Hello Peter > the problem is they have to provide...
Hello Peter
> the problem is they have to provide software when
> they sell a camera with a RAW capture mode.
Actually, they do NOT have to do this.
They can publish documentation for their RAW format, at
much lower cost than developing/maintaining/revving software.
Once they do that, 3rd party software will take care of their
customers' needs.
They can then supply starter/lite versions of such software
with their cameras. Or folks can download such from the
internet. As more and more makers
document their RAW formats, the odds
of solid open-source RAW software also increase.
In the future, allowing 3rd parties to take over much
of your doccing and driver work will be seen as the
win-win-win solution (for manufacturers-customers-3rd party software folks).
cheers ...
-- stan
"but the problem is they have to provide software when they...
"but the problem is they have to provide software when they sell a camera with a RAW capture mode. They spend money developing that software".
Why not supply someone else's software?
With the money they could save by not writing such software, they could perhaps do a deal with Adobe or Corel or ... and supply PSP or PSE3.0 or whatever with the camera.
That deal could ensure that the s/w supplier knows how to get the best out of that camera. Hardly a threat!
(I agree with your last paragraph).