RAW Conversion

[StephenBatey]

Card readers are generally said to be faster than connecting the camera directly; card readers vary in spped; and if you're using a USB1 port (for example) anything will be horrendously slow.

How are you transferring the images?

And, if you're relying on Windows' time estimate, that can be very far out. I once had a a 7 hour transfer complete in 5 minutes...

[LaPistola]

I plug the camera via USB into the PC then Adobe Bridge copies, converters to DNG and even asks at the end if I would like the memory card erasing. My memory card stores around 700 raw files and is often full yet I have never waited more then 2 hours for them to copy and convert.

As you say you have an old processor which will not let you install modern software, I would say your MAC's performance is to blame here. It may speed things up for you a little (don't expect it to half the time) if you first coped the CR2 files to the PC's HDD via a card reader and then used the DNG converter to convert them on your HDD. This will cut out some of the limits your USB hardware may have although logically it should take the same time but as your preforming one task not two, the computer can give more resources to just the one task.

[Ashleyj]

I always use the card reader built into my PC to transfer the raw files, I have never connected my camera to the computer.

A full 4Gb card (200+ images) transferred and converted to DNG format normally takes less than five minutes.

But like Stephen has already pointed the time estimate by Windows can be way out. A job that initially says it will take hours will quickly be adjusted downwards as soon as the task starts.

Best thing to do is just go for it - I'm sure it will never take 7 hours!

[DigiDiva]

I put card into a reader that connects to usb. Dont have windows as its a mac. It took 5 hours. Bloody crazy!!!!!

[wave01]

yes five hours is far to long can you tell me what type of MAC you have and its operating system

[2Beers]

I know this doesn't help but surely a decent PC or Mac is an essential piece of kit these days for any digital Photography with cameras increasing in pixel density year on year.

I am assuming that the Mac that DD has is pre intel mabye even 6 or 7 years old probably with 2GB of Ram which will probably be its max so upgrade is not really possible also the processor will most likely be around a 2Ghz.

Its possible to build a reasonable PC for around £300 these days.

Sorry I know it doesn't help when money is in so short supply these days and day to day living takes priority

[StephenBatey]

My best guess is that it's USB1, which is slow. My old computer couldn't run anything other than USB1, and copying files to a USB external disk took days (literally - computer running 24 hours a day).

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

I put card into a reader that connects to usb. Dont have windows as its a mac. It took 5 hours. Bloody crazy!!!!!

What model Mac? Go to the Apple Menu, -> about this Mac -> more info. I know you have an older one, it may only have USB 1 ports!

[DigiDiva]

HAHA its about 10 years old and up until December 2011 it was being used profesionally for a TV/Film editing company. Maybe I need to shoot less in RAW!

[wave01]

that explains it. it will be usb 1 and if you work that usb 2 is approx 40x faster then your 5 hours becomes 7.5 minutes