Whats Best

[mattchewone]

To shoot in RAW or Jpeg? Is there a huge difference between shooting with them both apart from with RAW you need to do a fair amount of processing afterwards.

Thanks

Matt

 

[Myky D]

To shoot in RAW or Jpeg? Is there a huge difference between shooting with them both apart from with RAW you need to do a fair amount of processing afterwards.

Thanks

Matt

Yep.

While I'd love to be the author of the reply, I asked exactly the same question a few weeks ago:

A: Raw is best - think of it as the negative. You can mess about with it without changing it. Jpeg is like the finished print.

B: It's actual raw (as in "a raw photograph"), not RAW (pedants WILL have a hissy fit about it).

 

[mattchewone]

Thanks. I currently shoot in 'raw' but find get a little fed up sometimes with the time it takes to go through all the photos. I still am learning and taking way to many photos so thats probably why.

Hopefully when i get some decent glass ill get some sharper images and wont have to spend ages looking at which are the best.

 

[Martyn...]

You could always shoot in raw & jpeg, then you have the raw image stored should you have messed up that once in a lifetime image and need to go to town on PP.

I do not think that this takes up much more room on your card either.

 

[Myky D]

I believe you can't take too many photos, and delete nothing.

I know what you mean, though - raw does take ages because the files are so huge.

 

[pete.rush]

From Cambridge in Colour.

So which is better: RAW or JPEG? There is no single answer, as this depends on the type of photography you are doing. In most cases, RAW files will provide the best solution due to their technical advantages and the decreasing cost of large memory cards. RAW files give the photographer far more control, but with this comes the trade-off of speed, storage space and ease of use. The RAW trade-off is sometimes not worth it for sports and press photographers, although landscape and most fine art photographers often choose RAW in order to maximize the image quality potential of their digital camera.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/RAW-file-format.htm

Personally I shot JPegs because I mainly shoot motorsport and aircraft, not printing massive images, happy with the A3 and A2 prints I get with JPegs.

I can see the advantages of shooting RAW, especially for city or landscapes, but the amount of hard disk space, having to convert files, the work flow process and finding a RAW conversion software that produces decent results without costing a fortune etc... etc.., i.e the hassle. I find its not worth the effort for me.

Peter