Sony .ARW raw files

[DigPeter]

I have just acquired a Sony RX100 Mk3.  This shoots raw, .ARW, files, which the camera is set to take.  My workflow is:

Download with Downloader Pro, v. 2.2.6 (dating from 2009!).
This changes name and adds some metadata, including a brief description.
The files are downloaded together with associated XMP files to the computer.

The files are then added to IMatch.
In Imatch the Thumb is displayed in the file window, but the full image is not displayed in the viewer, only the Thumb.
The XMP file shows all items written during download, including Description.  These items are seen in IMatch metadata Browser tab, except for Description.

Sony is enabled in File names preferences.
In Metadata2, .ARW files are set the same as RW2 (Lumix) files, with which the above problems do not occur.

Any explanations?

Does any other Sony user have similar problems?

Do Sony .ARW files have embedded jpg?

[jch2103]

Try running the WIC diagnostics. Sounds like you might not have the proper codec for your .ARW files.

[DigPeter]

Try running the WIC diagnostics. Sounds like you might not have the proper codec for your .ARW files.

Thank you, John.  I get this result "It looks like no WIC codec is installed which can handle this file."  I do not know what I should do now.  I did install a Sony RAW driver which I got form the Sony website.  It now resides in my Program files (x86)folder and contains a folder named microsoft.vc80.crt" and a file "SRFCodec.dll". 

I have found this site http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/download/vista_raw/ , which contains a Sony Raw driver which will work on Windows 7 for my camera, amongst others.

Is a driver the same as a codec?  Can you please say how I should proceed.  I am rather out of my depth, I am afraid!

Thanks.

Later edit   

The full text of the WIC diagnostics is

List of installed codecs:
   Codec 'BMP Decoder' for extensions .bmp,.dib,.rle
   Codec 'GIF Decoder' for extensions .gif
   Codec 'ICO Decoder' for extensions .ico,.icon
   Codec 'JPEG Decoder' for extensions .jpeg,.jpe,.jpg,.jfif,.exif
   Codec 'PNG Decoder' for extensions .png
   Codec 'TIFF Decoder' for extensions .tiff,.tif
   Codec 'WMPhoto Decoder' for extensions .wdp,.jxr
   Codec 'Microsoft Camera Raw Decoder' for extensions .ARW,.CR2,.CRW,.ERF,.KDC,.MRW,.NEF,.NRW,.ORF,.PEF,.RAF,.RAW,.RW2,.RWL,.SR2,.SRW


Testing file 'G:\Digital originals\2015\1509\150907\20150907_Ibthorpe00114.ARW'
   Thumbnail: Codec ''
      (CreateDecoderFromStream failed (88982F50 Unknown error 0x88982F50).) 0x0 pixel in 0 ms.
   Preview: Codec ''
      (CreateDecoderFromStream failed (88982F50 Unknown error 0x88982F50).) 0x0 pixel in 0 ms.
   Full resolution: Codec ''
      (CreateDecoderFromStream failed (88982F50 Unknown error 0x88982F50).) 0x0 pixel in 0 ms.

RESULT: It looks like no WIC codec is installed which can handle this file.

Despite the result quoted, I note that list of installed codecs includes .ARW files.

[jch2103]

Despite the result quoted, I note that list of installed codecs includes .ARW files.

I'm far from an expert, but it seems the world of codecs is dark and mysterious; manufacturers are always introducing variations on their file formats, which 'old' codecs may not be able to interpret. I gave up with manufacturer (and Microsoft) codecs and bought the Fast Picture Viewer Codec Pac, which seems to be well maintained and pretty trouble free. It's currently $10 USD for a single license http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/.

[Mario]

The error is WINCODEC_ERR_COMPONENTNOTFOUND, which means that no codec is installed which handles the file.

Your system has only the Microsoft Codecs installed, which don't handle all variants of the Sony RAW formats.
Please install the codec from Sony (Sony calls thus 'driver'):

http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/download/vista_raw/

See also this thread and my post from yesterday:

https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=4370.msg32439#msg32439

This shows the output of the WIC diagnosis when a Sony codec (driver) is installed.

[Ferdinand]

Peter, I'd strongly recommend the FPV codecs.  They're not expensive and they work.  I was helping by brother getting his NEX working using the Sony codecs and we had no end of trouble.  We uninstalled them and also any MS ones and then installed the FPV ones and they just worked.  Simple.

[sinus]

I agree fully the advise from Ferdinand.

[DigPeter]

Thanks everyone.  I will take a look at that.

[DigPeter]

Please install the codec from Sony (Sony calls thus 'driver'):

http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/download/vista_raw/

Thanks Mario. I have done as you suggest,but it still does not function.  The codec is the same version as the previous one.  I get exactly the same diagnosis message as before.  No mention of the Sony codec.  It seems strange to me that the codec is installed in the Program files folder.  I thought they were housed elsewhere.

[Ferdinand]

This sounds eerily familiar, i.e. much like what we experienced.  Previous comments still apply.

[tonyh43]

I have had problems with displaying .ARW files since changing to Sony a few months ago. I was advised by this group to install the FastPictureViewer Codec which did solve the problem. However since upgrading to Win 10 Imatch  again does not show these files correctly. All other picture browsers do. I have downloaded the Sony driver which is installed in my program files but seems to have no effect. Not sure of what I'm supposed to do with it. I have reinstalled the FastPictureViewer Codec but this also has not solved the problem.

[Mario]

+ Upgrading to W10 sometimes breaks things, e.g installed WIC codecs.
+ Mixing codecs, e.g FPV and Sony and MS is bad and leads to unpredictable results.
+ Windows 10 ships with the Microsoft codecs (no part of Windows), which may replace or override previously installed codecs, because they are in stalled 'last'.

Try to re-install / repair the FPV installation and see if this solves the problem.
Uninstall the Sony codec when you have FPV, before you repair / re-install  FPV.

Microsoft as so often, did make a mess out of the cool WIC idea. They should really supply codecs for all formats, requiring camera/hardware  vendors to supply updates for each new camera. And they should provide an easy way to disable codecs or prioritize them. This would allow users to disable the MS codecs when they install a codec from another company.

IMatch is just the last link in the chain. I think that Microsoft applications default to the MS codecs (hard-codec) and don't use the "Hey WIC, give me a codec for this file format, will ya", which is the official way and also how IMatch does it.

[DigPeter]

Mario- I have uninstalled the Sony driver, installed FPV trial and restarted.  This now displays a Sony .ARW file in Windows Media Centre and live Photo Gallery, but not in IMatch 

Sony ARW is enabled Metadata2 preferences - see attached for settings.

In Imatch the Thumb is displayed in the file window, but the full image is not displayed in the viewer, only the Thumb.
The XMP file shows all items written during download, including Description.  These items are seen in IMatch metadata Browser tab, except for Description.




[attachment deleted by admin]

[Mario]

What does the Wic diagnosis show now?
The metadata options are unrelated to processing image files via WIC.
Did you try to re-create the cache files now that you have a working codec? Shift+Ctrl+F5, re-create cache files...

[DigPeter]

What does the Wic diagnosis show now?
The metadata options are unrelated to processing image files via WIC.
Did you try to re-create the cache files now that you have a working codec? Shift+Ctrl+F5, re-create cache files...

Update cache has put this right.  Thanks.

I attach the wic diagnosis file. Strange  - it states that there is a wic, but that there is not an embedded preview.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Mario]

it states that there is a wic, but that there is not an embedded preview.

That's not unusual. A WIC codec must not deliver a thumbnail or a preview. It must only deliver a full RAW, the other two features are optional. If Sony decided to skip these, IMatch will aways load the full RAW. Or maybe your files do not contain an embedded preview. The codec returns "WINCODEC_ERR_UNSUPPORTEDOPERATION", which either means that it does not support previews, or maybe that the file does not contain a preview.

[DigPeter]

Thanks for the explanation