Canon EOS 300D, Rebel, CF Repair, Covington

From: W. Wat son (wolf_tracks_at_invalid.inv)
Date: 01/20/05 

Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:19:42 GMT

Thought I'd throw this into the thread while the link is still fresh in my
"Copy". Came across Covington's astronomy page on the digital EOS.
<http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/dslr/EOS300Dastro.html>.

I accidentally erased my CF and a discussion of how to recover was taken up
in the thread titled " Battery Drain on Canon EOS Digital Rebel". I tried a
trial version of PhotoRescue suggested there, and reported on it as a
somewhat obscure part of that thread. The net of the trial is that it did
recover the images, but if I really wanted them, I would have to pay $29.95
for the software. I expressed some dismay at that approach to marketing,
but see others have a similar policy. I mused about why Canon and other
camera mfgers didn't provide it. More grumping below in the second to last
paragraph. Ah, the pentultimate paragraph. :-)

I thought I'd give Lexar, the CF mfger, a call. And found two things: They
have a software product called Image Restore for $29.95 (phone contact) and
they also have the same product for free (got this from an e-mail I sent
them). Interesting marketing. From the descriptions, I don't see any
difference. Here's the link to the free version
<http://outbox.lexarmedia.com/son-download042107/PcIR2.0.zip>. It's 8Meg.
It does work. Maybe it's better on Lexar cards. I have no idea. I suggest
reading the pdf that comes with it. See the Start Menu for Lexar. Also see
what the pdf has to say about removing the CF and turning off the reader.
Look at the Preference under File. You may want to uncheck thumbnail. If
you don't you get thumbnails.

Well, it just finished my second attempt (without the thumbnail checked),
and looks like it delivered the goods. I don't think it restored the images
on the CF, but they are certainly on my HD.

Start of grumpa-grumpa.
It seems there's a lot of emphasis by mfgers to provide minimal manuals. I
guess that's good for writers. Some of the software I've seen of late,
actually for some time, looks like they really never considered the public
might want to use it.
End of grumpa-grumpa.

Well, now I can put the CF back in the camera, and try some solar pictures
while the sun is still up. A very unusual event here in Calif. 

-- 
              Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
                  (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
                   Obz Site:  39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet
                       Most vehicle/deer accidents occur at sunset.
                          Vehicle deer whistles are ineffective.
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