Microsoft and Canon have confirmed an issue related to the way Windows Vista handles Canon RAW files that end in .TIF. One of the incompatibility aspects that have plagued the first month of Windows Vista availability is the fact that the operating system rendered useless images in proprietary format when users attempted to modify the pictures' metadata.

Now, the Microsoft PIX team revealed that .TIF Canon RAW images from 1D and 1Ds cameras present similar issues on Windows Vista operating systems that do not feature the Nanon RAW codec.

"If a user adds metadata to one of these files, using the Windows Photo Gallery or the Windows Explorer, the file will be corrupted. This is because the Canon RAW files from these particular camera models appear to be standard TIFF files, and the Windows Imaging Component invokes the standard TIFF codec to handle them," explained a member of the Microsoft PIX team.

Microsoft informed that the Photo Info tool is not impacted. The Vista TIFF codec cannot manage Canon RAW files adequately as they fail to conform to the TIFF spec. The Canon RAW coded interprets the files differently than the TIFF codec.

"Microsoft and Canon have identified the issue and are testing a patch to address the problem. We will provide download information once the patch is released. In the meantime, it is recommended that users not import or add metadata to their 1D or 1Ds RAW files ending in .TIF using the Windows Photo Gallery or the Windows Explorer. Canon will be releasing their RAW codec for Windows Vista soon," added the member of the Microsoft PIX team.