Just because you can, should you?

Nigey

Nigey

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Edit My Images
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I have just bought the 5D MKII so for my next wedding in a couple of weeks, should I shoot in full sized RAW? My Mac runs way slower loading 24MB files it takes longer to convert them, load them, pretty much everything takes longer to do.

There is also the impact on media cards although that is easier to solve...just buy more!!

If I drop to SRAW1 I get 9.9Mb files. My point is, am I missing something, do I really need 24MB files, or is this just a case of because I can shoot large files, I should? I can't seem to see much difference in IQ between the two sizes so i don't know. I think there really is no point in shooting such large files for a wedding but something inside me says I am missing out?

Not sure if this is more about equipment but it is a question about shooting at weddings specifically. Fell free to shift it if the mods see fit.
 
You should produce the best your tools allow .... so yes - What if they order that massive enlargement ... or you want to crop drastically ... ?
 
Nigey said:
I have just bought the 5D MKII so for my next wedding in a couple of weeks, should I shoot in full sized RAW? My Mac runs way slower loading 24MB files it takes longer to convert them, load them, pretty much everything takes longer to do.
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so basically if you use full size raw your hourly rate drops dramatically.

At what point do you decide you are running at a loss?
If you don't know then you need think about the business side as well as the tog side


Nigey said:
I think there really is no point in shooting such large files for a wedding but something inside me says I am missing out?
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I would agree with you

How big an enlargement would they require before they (not an anally retentive TP'er) would notice
 
I nearly always use the full size in spite of the space/time. I find I am getting a much higher percentage of keepers than I did with my 400D (not surprisingly) and don't shoot quite as many similars although this is a learning process. I also love the ability to crop hard and still get quality large prints if I want them
 
spxxxx said:
You should produce the best your tools allow .... so yes - What if they order that massive enlargement ... or you want to crop drastically ... ?
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I take your point but......I haven't been asked for anything so large before and I am not sure I will. Even having said that I have enlarged a 5mb to A0 before with no problems. So unless its a billboard they are after I am still struggling to see why I need it.

If I have to crop that much to get a workable image I would suggest I really shouldn't be using it?
 
Nigey said:
I take your point but......I haven't been asked for anything so large before and I am not sure I will. Even having said that I have enlarged a 5mb to A0 before with no problems. So unless its a billboard they are after I am still struggling to see why I need it.

If I have to crop that much to get a workable image I would suggest I really shouldn't be using it?
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Just because a 5MB image could be enlarged very well - it won't hold a candle to the detail of a 20+ one ... now maybe the client won't notice ... but maybe they will - not say anything - and then not use you again.

Again - there could be details you want to crop ... quite easy to loose a 1/3 of a frame an thereby reduce your working size t0 5/6MB .....

Really - why do it - you may as well have got the original 5D for the smaller size / same AF and better low ISO work with the same at high ISO
 
I always prefer to use larger files where possible because there will always be one where I need to do some detailed PP work and if I don't want the evidence on show then blowing the image up as big as I can to work in that detail is a must.

If that means bigger files then so be it. Once the album is done I can permanently write them onto a second HD for archive. (Already have a backup or two of all the RAW's)
 
Nigey said:
I take your point but......I haven't been asked for anything so large before and I am not sure I will. Even having said that I have enlarged a 5mb to A0 before with no problems. So unless its a billboard they are after I am still struggling to see why I need it.

If I have to crop that much to get a workable image I would suggest I really shouldn't be using it?
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Then why bother buying a 5d2, why not a second hand 10d? You buy high end pro gear then use it to half it's potential.... tell you what if the big files are a nuscence I'll swop you a 450d for it, the files from that are much smaller and easier to work with. ;)
 
swanseamale47 said:
Then why bother buying a 5d2, why not a second hand 10d? You buy high end pro gear then use it to half it's potential.... tell you what if the big files are a nuscence I'll swop you a 450d for it, the files from that are much smaller and easier to work with. ;)
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Eggs!
 
I think you have to accept that when you invest in a camera producing large images like that, you're going to have to upgrade your PC performance to match it - not to mention you can quickly fill up a lot of hard drive real estate too.

The benefits are enormous though, it's a no brainer for me predominantly shooting birds - the large files give me the best images and the best cropping quality.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Then why bother buying a 5d2, why not a second hand 10d? You buy high end pro gear then use it to half it's potential.... tell you what if the big files are a nuscence I'll swop you a 450d for it, the files from that are much smaller and easier to work with. ;)
Click to expand...

For the multitude of benefits other than the large file size. I still have a 5d MKI if needed as my back up, I have never needed file sizes larger than the 12 mb I get with that. All I am saying is that there is a significant increase in file size and just because its on the camera do I really need to use it? I can see the benefit when shooting wildlife with such a small subject at a great distance. The ability to crop at 24MB would be great. But as I said, this is for weddings.

The additional time will be quite significant in processing, even just having to load say 800 images will take a lot more time then before, not to mention my creaky machine to open them in LR or PS. To be fair, I could easily solve that by upgrading my Mac but again, I am only doing this because of the large file size.
 
I have the 5D mkII. For weddings I shoot in SRaw1 (~11 megapixels) for the critical shots as this gives similar resolution to my second body (a 30D).

Shooting in full raw mode is IMO overkill for a wedding as you are unlikely to be producing massive prints - and even if you do, any "romantic" soft focus filters that you apply will likely negate the additional detail. The additional storage and processing time element IMO negates the small benefit producing images at full res.

Personally i'd only shoot full resolution raw for the one off shots if I thought I needed the extra detail, if I was producing images for stock (as they are the correct resolution for the likes of Alamy straight out of the camera) or for studio work. I do however shoot at full resolution JPEG most of the time.
 
Nigey said:
For the multitude of benefits other than the large file size. I still have a 5d MKI if needed as my back up, I have never needed file sizes larger than the 12 mb I get with that. All I am saying is that there is a significant increase in file size and just because its on the camera do I really need to use it? I can see the benefit when shooting wildlife with such a small subject at a great distance. The ability to crop at 24MB would be great. But as I said, this is for weddings.

The additional time will be quite significant in processing, even just having to load say 800 images will take a lot more time then before, not to mention my creaky machine to open them in LR or PS. To be fair, I could easily solve that by upgrading my Mac but again, I am only doing this because of the large file size.
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I think you missed the wink at the end of my post.
The point I was making is if you upgrade equiptment you might as well use it's full benifits, the fact you haven't needed a larger file before doesn't mean you wont get asked for a really large enlargment one day, plus the more data you have before editing the better.
Sadly as you replace one thing others need upgrading as well, maybe it's time to buy a new computer.... if not the 450d offer still holds.
 
It would seem a bit of a split call, I have to say I do like the idea of shooting at the lower size then upping it if required. I think I will shoot this next wedding at full size and see what happens, what difference it really does make and make a comparativeon the cost implications.

Swanseamale47, let me think on your offer for a while.......:thinking::suspect:

ramyad said:
Agree wholeheartedly. I was able to crop some images and still end up with large images worthy of big prints.
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So what about HD video? Should I also utilise that as my camera does that too. Not something I know very much about at all but its another tool that camera has. I am not trying to be funny in any way but I don't see that just because you have the ability to do something means that you you should.
 
Why not mix and match as the job dictates. Use full res for your big group shots to get the additional detail - and on the really special shots that the couple may want blowing up onto canvas. Then switch back to medium res jpeg for the candids to save space and time

You could use the hi def video for the ceremony - if you arent allowed to take actual photos. The image quality should be good enough for you to be able to take screen grabs and produce passable prints, or content for an album.
 
Moonhawk said:
Why not mix and match as the job dictates. Use full res for your big group shots to get the additional detail - and on the really special shots that the couple may want blowing up onto canvas. Then switch back to medium res jpeg for the candids to save space and time

You could use the hi def video for the ceremony - if you arent allowed to take actual photos. The image quality should be good enough for you to be able to take screen grabs and produce passable prints, or content for an album.
Click to expand...

Agree about the mix and match for sure, but I just am not comfortable with video just yet, and boy, what a way to eat your cards!!
 
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