Canon 7D support, when?

Question

When can we expect a release for the full support of the Canon 7D RAW files?
As a software developer I don't understand why Adobe doesn't work with Canon/Nikon/Sony etc to support any new camera before it gets released?
Thank you,

Answer 1

ChodTheWacko wrote:
Unless the CR2 format is finalized for a camera, it doesn't benefit anyone for Canon to release specs for it.
However, once the camera is released, It is surprising that Canon isn't more open about it.  Not having
ideal day one support is unfortunate but I suppose unavoidable.  But possibly never getting it at all is just ...... odd.
No...it's typical. You don't understand the timing of these things. While Canon may (or may not) provide Adobe a preproduction camera or sample files, clearly Adobe can't base final work on preproduction models. Things change in cameras, firmware and files formats right up to the last moment. So, unless Canon goes out of their way to provide Adobe one of the first cameras in-country to test against, Adobe CAN'T even START working on decoding the raw files and supporting the camera till the camera ships...
Depending on when that may fall in the already set schedule for new Camera Raw versions (to support yet even MORE new cameras) the wait for new camera buyers could be a couple of months...
I know for a fact the Camera Raw engineers try very hard to get new camera support in as soon as possible–even going to the extent of putting in unofficial and preliminary support such as with the Canon 7D. But the bottom line is that until the camera makers change either the way they release cameras and new file formats, there will be a delay between the release of a new camera and 3rd party support for that camera.
And whining about it (and claiming because one happens to be a software engineer that the situation doesn't make sense) does absolutely ZERO to resolve the issue. The ACR engineers aren't gonna be able to get this stuff done quicker than what they are already doing...
There is a real good solution already out there. DNG If the camera makers offered DNG as a file format option, new cameras would automatically get Camera Raw support out of the box without any time delay between camera release and Camera Raw updates.
So, if you want to have any impact in the current situation, I suggest you all go complain to Canon, Nikon and the like who continue to spawn off new undocumented, proprietary raw file formats for each and every new camera–which is the root problem of this whole situation...
But do everybody the favor to learn about and fully comprehend the situation before you lay the blame at Adobe's doorstep.