EOS R7 recommended stuff beyond firmware update

[LoveWeims]

I checked my firmware to be sure it is up to date...but then saw all the other "recommended" stuff

I have an EOS R7 and my firmware is up to date; however, I am quite certain I did not download any of the rest of the "recommended" software and am wondering...what is essential?  I am afraid to download stuff I don't really absolutely need to taking good photos in camera.

I know this is a broad question...but perhaps if someone could point me to the most essential of those "recommended" items I will read carefully the "details".  It is unclear if the recommended "other than firmware" up there is for my PC or for my camera...

Thanks

[shadowsports · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

You don't "need" any of the recommended applications, but some can enhance the experience with your camera depending on what you own.  If you don't have photo editing software then DPP is very good for post-production processing.  If you shoot video and do color grading then downloading the LUTS package Is also an option.  The EOS Utility is good if you want to do remote shooting.  The camera remains a top performer with or without additional software.  

[johnrmoyer]

In addition to what Shadowsports wrote:

The EOS Utility allows one to change some settings in the camera like copy the time of day from the computer or set the camera owner name or for some cameras IPTC metadata.

If one has a Canon lens, then the DPP "digital lens optimizer" is especially good at correcting small aperture diffraction blur. For those cameras that save a DPRAW file, DPP is the only software I know of that does what the DPRAW tool does.

Rawtherapee free software "capture sharpening" does nearly as well as DPP for removing small aperture diffraction blur and works with 3rd party lenses.

If one likes to use JPG files straight out of camera or if one wants something similar to a "preset" for DPP, then the Picture Style editor can create custom picture styles. These picture style files can also be applied to CR3 files in the camera after the photo has been made and a new and different JPG can be saved from the CR3 file in the camera.

[LoveWeims]

I do have DPP and am using it although I understand I should eventually dive into Photoshop/Lightroom.  Will Look at both LUTS (not doing video with the camera yet) and the EOS Utility.  THANK YOU

[LoveWeims]

John, thank you.  All my lenses are Canons.   I do use Picture Style editor now.  Will look to see Rawtherapee.  Been shooting RAW exclusively now, but that reminds me of another question I will pose to the Community.