Reasons to use RAW over best quality JPEG

RAW is a 'container' format - the RAW file includes all information from the sensor, and must be processed into a format you can actually see, like TIFF or JPG. This can be done in-camera by the 'JPG engine', (which is just a RAW converter with pre-sets, some of which you can tweak with the camera menus), or in post with a stand-alone RAW converter like ACR.

For me the biggest single reason to use RAW is the ability to have full control of white balance in post processing, but in general working with RAW file in post gives you maximum control of the final image.

Even high quality JPG settings throw away a lot of information, that's why the files are so small.

That being said, JPGs from modern cameras are really, really good and all most will ever need.

Pete

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