Why does my PC import JPEG and RAW files (and what's the difference)?

RikkiGTR

RikkiGTR

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Rikki
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Just started using my new [to me] Sony A500 today.
I exported some photos onto my PC for the first time, then noticed all of the pictures were doubled-up in the folder, as JPEG and RAW files.

Why? What's the difference?

This is probably the most basic of questions, and I would be almost embarrassed to ask, except it states clearly in the sub-forum header that I can ask anything.
 
You camera is set to RAW+Jpg.
A jpg is a pre processed file that the camera creates. RAW is the pure data captured by the camera for you to process as you wish.

The Jpg file will be much smaller than the RAW, meaning all that data has simply been thrown away. With a RAW you can adjust the exposure, the white balance, add sharpening, noise reduction etc etc with no detrimental effect to the image,as the data is all there in the file to be manipulated.

I always shoot in RAW only and advise everyone to do the same, but some people dont want the hassle of editing all thier photos, so are happy with the JPGs that the camera produces.
You can change the setting on the camera to shoot JPG only or RAW only if you want to.
 
You must have your camera set to save in jpeg and raw. So basically your camera is saving a copy in each format of one shot. Go in to the camera settings and you can change it so then it will only save the selected format.
 
TCR4x4 said:
You camera is set to RAW+Jpg.
A jpg is a pre processed file that the camera creates. RAW is the pure data captured by the camera for you to process as you wish.

The Jpg file will be much smaller than the RAW, meaning all that data has simply been thrown away. With a RAW you can adjust the exposure, the white balance, add sharpening, noise reduction etc etc with no detrimental effect to the image,as the data is all there in the file to be manipulated.

I always shoot in RAW only and advise everyone to do the same, but some people dont want the hassle of editing all thier photos, so are happy with the JPGs that the camera produces.
You can change the setting on the camera to shoot JPG only or RAW only if you want to.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I like the sound of that; saving only in RAW format. I'll try that out and see how it goes. I can always switch back if I don't like it.

EDIT: In my settings, I can choose between:

RAW
RAW & JPEG
Fine
Standard

I understand RAW and JPEG now, but what are Fine and Standard?
 
Last edited:
They are different levels of compression/quality/size of the JPG files.

If you shoot in JPG, always select the higest quality and size which will be Fine.
If you shoot in RAW, these settings wont apply.
 
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