Instant JPEG from RAW Utility
Here is a great little utility program for photographers that shoot using the RAW format. It is called Instant JPEG from RAW, or IJFR. What it does is extract the native JPEG image that is embedded in camera RAW files.
Most digital cameras embed a JPEG image inside the RAW file to display on the LCD display. This utility gives you access to that JPEG.
Installation and Use
On the Mac OS X platform, this program works as a plug-in for the Macintosh finder. After downloading, you drag the IJFR plugin file to the /Library/Contextual Menu Items folder and relaunch Finder. I never a saw a program that worked this way before. You learn something new every day.
IJFR can extract the native size JPEG or smaller sizes. I tried it on a RAW file from a Nikon D700 . When I shot it, the camera was set to RAW+JPEG. The JPEG out of IJFR was full size (4256×2832) just like the JPEG from the camera. It fact, both JPEGs look the same. The only difference is the camera JPEG is 2.4MB and the extracted JPEG is 1.3MB.
Alternative to Shooting RAW+JPEG ?
This may be an alternative to shooting RAW+JPEG. It seems like you can just shoot RAW and extract the embedded JPEG afterward to get both RAW and JPEG. This is very handy.
The program is free, but you have to register your email at the RAWworkflow.com website. Be sure to download the IJFR pdf manual. IJFR works with both Windows and Max OS X.
Negatives
My only suggestion would be to come up with a better name. IIJFR is not pronounceable.