Uploading RAW images from SD Card to Computer

Fleck03 · 06-26-2018, 11:21 AM

I've been shooting my K3 for a couple years now... and have been capturing all my images on two SD cards -- one for JPG and one for RAW+. How do I upload all of the RAW files to the computer (HP laptop)? I don't have a lot of time to do a bunch of post processing, so I've just been using Picasa for all my JPG image uploading/processing... and i'm not sure if Picasa supports RAW or not. My guess is no... Any recommendations/assistance would be appreciated.

**roberrl** · 06-26-2018, 11:42 AM

I use standard Windows cut and paste to take the images off the SD card into a folder(s). This works if you have a card reader in or attached to your PC or if you have the camera attached via USB cable.

Then you have wide choice of RAW editors, both free and fee that will work on the files/folders some of which include organisational abilities for those files and folders.

LensBeginner · 06-26-2018, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by roberrl

I use standard Windows cut and paste to take the images off the SD card into a folder(s). This works if you have a card reader in or attached to your PC or if you have the camera attached via USB cable.

Then you have wide choice of RAW editors, both free and fee that will work on the files/folders some of which include organisational abilities for those files and folders.

I'm not sure regarding cut+paste.
I remember someone advising to use copy+paste then delete, because - and I don't know if that's Os-dependent or what - there was a difference in the way the two operations are handled.
Can't remember exactly, but it was something like in cut operations a file is copied, then deleted, then the next file etc. and there was a higher number of accesses that could put more stress on the flash memory.
I apologise in advance if that's incorrect, but it's the best I can remember. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong (and I'll continue to look for that discussion that I am presently unable to find).

Fleck03 · 06-26-2018, 12:18 PM

Ok...thanks... I've explored the problem a little bit further and found out that I can view all the images on my SD Card when I push the "playback" button on the camera; However, when I put the SD card into my computer, I can't see those same pictures on my card at all... oddly enough, all the pictures I can view on the SD card in the camera are JPG...but for whatever reason, I can't view those same pics on my SD Card when I put it in the SD slot on the computer... I'm baffled...

**twilhelm** · 06-26-2018, 12:30 PM

Did you shoot Raw DNG or PEF? Most systems don’t have the codec for PEF by default.

**jpzk** · 06-26-2018, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

I remember someone advising to use copy+paste then delete

Idem: I was told to use this .... can't remember why but that's what I've been doing for years now, with no issue.

Fleck03 · 06-26-2018, 12:36 PM

All the pics I can view on my SD Card while in the camera are JPG's.... but when I put the same SD card in the computer, I can't see any of the pictures when I view the contents of the SD card ...

LensBeginner · 06-26-2018, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by Fleck03

All the pics I can view on my SD Card while in the camera are JPG's.... but when I put the same SD card in the computer, I can't see any of the pictures when I view the contents of the SD card ...

You can't see the files in Explorer, or can't open them?
If it's the latter, you just need to install PDCU or another RAW viewer/developer.

Fleck03 · 06-26-2018, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

You can't see the files in Explorer, or can't open them?
If it's the latter, you just need to install PDCU or another RAW viewer/developer.

When I put the SD card in the computer, I can't see the JPG files through Explorer at all...but I can view all the pics when the SD card is in the camera...

at first I thought it was a RAW issue, but the pics are all JPG images....

LensBeginner · 06-26-2018, 01:00 PM

Looks like the computer can't read the card properly, try copying them from the camera with the USB cable.

Fleck03 · 06-26-2018, 01:23 PM - **1 Like**

Yeah... I can’t find the USB cable... ughh...

**twilhelm** · 06-26-2018, 01:26 PM

Ok. I have two SD cards that gave me this issue. The only way to get the photos to the computer was with the USB cable, and it didn't matter whether it was jpg or raw files. It wasn't worth the hassle and I bought new cards.

**paulh** · 06-26-2018, 01:45 PM

I always copy/paste the files from the SD card to the PC. Once I'm certain the files are copied, only then do I reformat the SD card. I never "delete" files from the card - this can create problems. FWIW I use a USB card reader.

**UncleVanya** · 06-26-2018, 02:27 PM

Cut + Paste can lose files easier than copy + paste if there is any interruption in the copy process. That alone is a good reason to use copy+paste or an import program that verifies files before deleting.

---------- Post added 06-26-18 at 05:32 PM ----------

Originally posted by paulh

I always copy/paste the files from the SD card to the PC. Once I'm certain the files are copied, only then do I reformat the SD card. I never "delete" files from the card - this can create problems. FWIW I use a USB card reader.

Correct. Deleting files can leave fragmented space. Deleting files is more likely to lead to minor file system corruption. But if you only need to remove a few - don't hesitate the loss of functionality isn't worth the extra steps in most cases. Generally format, but don't say NEVER for erasure.

Adam · 06-26-2018, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by Fleck03

I've been shooting my K3 for a couple years now... and have been capturing all my images on two SD cards -- one for JPG and one for RAW+. How do I upload all of the RAW files to the computer (HP laptop)? I don't have a lot of time to do a bunch of post processing, so I've just been using Picasa for all my JPG image uploading/processing... and i'm not sure if Picasa supports RAW or not. My guess is no... Any recommendations/assistance would be appreciated.

The easiest would be to copy the files from the SD card to a folder on the computer using your OS's file manager. Since you are splitting the files, you'd have to copy from both cards.

It might be easier just to store both file formats on one card, therefore.

06-26-2018, 11:21 AM	#1
Fleck03 New Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 6	Uploading RAW images from SD Card to Computer I've been shooting my K3 for a couple years now... and have been capturing all my images on two SD cards -- one for JPG and one for RAW+. How do I upload all of the RAW files to the computer (HP laptop)? I don't have a lot of time to do a bunch of post processing, so I've just been using Picasa for all my JPG image uploading/processing... and i'm not sure if Picasa supports RAW or not. My guess is no... Any recommendations/assistance would be appreciated.

06-26-2018, 03:23 PM	#15
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Originally posted by Fleck03 I've been shooting my K3 for a couple years now... and have been capturing all my images on two SD cards -- one for JPG and one for RAW+. How do I upload all of the RAW files to the computer (HP laptop)? I don't have a lot of time to do a bunch of post processing, so I've just been using Picasa for all my JPG image uploading/processing... and i'm not sure if Picasa supports RAW or not. My guess is no... Any recommendations/assistance would be appreciated. The easiest would be to copy the files from the SD card to a folder on the computer using your OS's file manager. Since you are splitting the files, you'd have to copy from both cards. It might be easier just to store both file formats on one card, therefore. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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06-26-2018, 11:42 AM	#2
roberrl Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 346	I use standard Windows cut and paste to take the images off the SD card into a folder(s). This works if you have a card reader in or attached to your PC or if you have the camera attached via USB cable. Then you have wide choice of RAW editors, both free and fee that will work on the files/folders some of which include organisational abilities for those files and folders.

06-26-2018, 12:16 PM	#3
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by roberrl I use standard Windows cut and paste to take the images off the SD card into a folder(s). This works if you have a card reader in or attached to your PC or if you have the camera attached via USB cable. Then you have wide choice of RAW editors, both free and fee that will work on the files/folders some of which include organisational abilities for those files and folders. I'm not sure regarding cut+paste. I remember someone advising to use copy+paste then delete, because - and I don't know if that's Os-dependent or what - there was a difference in the way the two operations are handled. Can't remember exactly, but it was something like in cut operations a file is copied, then deleted, then the next file etc. and there was a higher number of accesses that could put more stress on the flash memory. I apologise in advance if that's incorrect, but it's the best I can remember. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong (and I'll continue to look for that discussion that I am presently unable to find).

06-26-2018, 12:18 PM	#4
Fleck03 New Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Ok...thanks... I've explored the problem a little bit further and found out that I can view all the images on my SD Card when I push the "playback" button on the camera; However, when I put the SD card into my computer, I can't see those same pictures on my card at all... oddly enough, all the pictures I can view on the SD card in the camera are JPG...but for whatever reason, I can't view those same pics on my SD Card when I put it in the SD slot on the computer... I'm baffled...

06-26-2018, 12:30 PM	#5
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	Did you shoot Raw DNG or PEF? Most systems don’t have the codec for PEF by default.

06-26-2018, 12:36 PM	#6
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by LensBeginner I remember someone advising to use copy+paste then delete Idem: I was told to use this .... can't remember why but that's what I've been doing for years now, with no issue.

06-26-2018, 12:44 PM	#8
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by Fleck03 All the pics I can view on my SD Card while in the camera are JPG's.... but when I put the same SD card in the computer, I can't see any of the pictures when I view the contents of the SD card ... You can't see the files in Explorer, or can't open them? If it's the latter, you just need to install PDCU or another RAW viewer/developer.

06-26-2018, 12:50 PM	#9
Fleck03 New Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Originally posted by LensBeginner You can't see the files in Explorer, or can't open them? If it's the latter, you just need to install PDCU or another RAW viewer/developer. When I put the SD card in the computer, I can't see the JPG files through Explorer at all...but I can view all the pics when the SD card is in the camera... at first I thought it was a RAW issue, but the pics are all JPG images....

06-26-2018, 01:00 PM	#10
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Looks like the computer can't read the card properly, try copying them from the camera with the USB cable.

06-26-2018, 01:23 PM - 1 Like	#11
Fleck03 New Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Yeah... I can’t find the USB cable... ughh...

06-26-2018, 01:26 PM	#12
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	Ok. I have two SD cards that gave me this issue. The only way to get the photos to the computer was with the USB cable, and it didn't matter whether it was jpg or raw files. It wasn't worth the hassle and I bought new cards.

06-26-2018, 01:45 PM	#13
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,301	I always copy/paste the files from the SD card to the PC. Once I'm certain the files are copied, only then do I reformat the SD card. I never "delete" files from the card - this can create problems. FWIW I use a USB card reader.

06-26-2018, 02:27 PM	#14
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	Cut + Paste can lose files easier than copy + paste if there is any interruption in the copy process. That alone is a good reason to use copy+paste or an import program that verifies files before deleting. ---------- Post added 06-26-18 at 05:32 PM ---------- Originally posted by paulh I always copy/paste the files from the SD card to the PC. Once I'm certain the files are copied, only then do I reformat the SD card. I never "delete" files from the card - this can create problems. FWIW I use a USB card reader. Correct. Deleting files can leave fragmented space. Deleting files is more likely to lead to minor file system corruption. But if you only need to remove a few - don't hesitate the loss of functionality isn't worth the extra steps in most cases. Generally format, but don't say NEVER for erasure.