New SLR user, should I shoot in RAW during upcoming safari?

i would vote for raw but jpeg would be fine too

jadrake79 said:

1. From what I gather, in most situations, a RAW file with no pp will
not look as good as a high quality JPEG. Is this difference glaring?

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this is incorrect - a raw file processed in view NX or capture NX will look as good or better as the in camera jpeg

the Nikon software will read the camera information and produce an image every bit as good if not better than the in camera jpeg conversion

jadrake79 said:

Will I look at all of my RAW images and think they are of poor
quality with no pp?

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absolutely not

jadrake79 said:

Postings such as this seem to make me think pp
will be required for most pictures.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=26869473

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not at all

jadrake79 said:

2. Are there certain situations when shooting in RAW is more
important than others (low light, full zoom, etc.). Remember, most
pictures will be of animals on the safari.

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yes, high contrast image - raw will give you more dynamic range

jadrake79 said:

3. How much time does it take for a relatively inexperienced user to
turn a RAW image into a decent looking JPEG?

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can you click a mouse? View NX (which is free) can convert all your raw files into jpegs with a click or two

jadrake79 said:

4. Given what I have said above about my lack of experience with RAW
/ PP (but my willingness to learn)…if you were me, would you shoot in
RAW or high quality JPEG?

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nothing wrong with jpeg and you know the workflow

the D40 shoots in compressed raw so your files are about 2 times as large as jpeg

i think there are two main reasons to shoot in raw

dynamic range

white balance

you can absolutely get more dynamic range in raw - so those little blinking highlights you get on occasion? are not a problem at all in raw

white balance in raw is extremely easy and is very hard to duplicate, if at all in jpeg

basically you can shoot everything in raw - come back, download it, select it all and hit the convert button in view NX and convert all of them into jpeg superfine - just walk away and eat dinner

but the real beauty is when you find that picture you just want to save and print or display and it needs some post processing - that's when you will like raw

and view NX, not just capture NX, can do a lot of things

jpeg takes less space and you can take more pictures in a raw - certainly good advantages for action

on the other hand, if you know jpeg and are happy with the pictures, maybe the safari is not the place to mess around

good luck on your safari!

David

I would shoot in JPG. Learn how to use the Highlights function and you will be able to correct your image very fast in camera. Take a look at my Gallery @ http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1005&thread=26800527

This was with about one week of experience with the D40. I learned a lot from the D40 User Guide from Ken Rockwell.

Happy shooting....

--
Nikon D40 + 18-55/55-200

When people talk about shooting both jpeg and raw, does that mean that the camera effectively stores two copies of the same image (i.e. in different formats)?

Yes

The following may help you to understand RAW a little better.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may need to understand more about RAW before you decide if it is right for you?
Understanding Digital RAW

Press the Shutter Release in your camera, What Happens?

1) Light strikes the CCD

Light strikes the CCD when the shutter release is pressed. Raw data is produced by the CCD. (This CCD takes the place of film in the old film cameras)
This RAW data from the CCD is not yet stored.

2) A RAW data file is produced:

If the Camera if set to RAW, then a raw data file is produced and stored in the camera on the memory card. This file may contain the camera settings (ie: White Balance, Sharpening, Color Mode, Saturation, etc.) but these parameter settings have not been applied to the raw data file. They are stored in the file for reference only and called Metadata. Changing these camera settings will not affect the raw data in the file. The amount of light falling on the sensor will change the raw data and therefore the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and lens filters will effect the raw data. This raw data file is a proprietary file type which is different for different manufacturers. Nikon uses the .NEF extension for their raw data file.

Jpg file produced in camera:

If the Camera is set to jpg, then the computer in the camera uses the camera settings, of White Balance, Sharpening, Color Mode, Saturation, etc. to produce a jpg file on the fly from the raw data. This takes place right when the shutter release is pressed. The camera has its own RAW conversion program, just not as versatile as the programs discussed in the next paragraph, below. Once the jpg file is produced in the camera, changing any in camera settings will only affect new pictures taken. The conversion from RAW to jpg can not be redone, as it can with the raw conversion programs discussed below.

3) Transfer the RAW file to computer for processing:

Once the raw data file is transferred into your computer you can perform post processing (PP) of the RAW data and then save it into another format (tiff, jpg, etc), by using Nikon Capture NX (CNX) or Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), or any other raw conversion program. The conversion parameters you use in these programs can be changed and the conversion of the raw data performed as many times as you like. The raw file is not changed. Only the processing parameters are changed and saved. You can use the same parameters that were set in the camera if you like, but then you end up with the same jpg file that the camera would have produced. These programs instead, offer many more complex parameter changes and adjustments that are not available in the camera. The repeated processing ability and extensive parameter changes are only two of the advantages of these raw conversion programs like CNX and ACR.

Transfer jpg file to computer for editing and processing.

If you selected a jpg file in camera, then you will transfer this file to your computer for editing, not for RAW data processing which has already been done in the camera. You will use editing/organizational programs such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, (Capture NX also has some editing ability), etc. Each of these programs offers a different set of features and objectives. Some are more editing oriented, others more organizational, and some overlap in features. Some of these programs also accept files directly from the raw conversion programs. But these programs are not to be confused with the raw conversion programs themselves. Each has its own and different objective.

Note: as stated some programs like Capture NX may do both RAW conversion and some other editing features.

Some advantages in using raw data files

1) RAW data is normally in 10 or 12 bit depth, where the converted jpeg file in the camera is 8bit.

2) Raw conversion programs offer many more and more detailed complex adjustments, than available in the camera RAW conversion programs.

3) Conversions which can be applied to RAW data, can not be applied as successfully to RGB data files such as Tiff, jpeg, etc. You have more control over raw data resulting in better processing results.

4) Raw data conversion parameters can be changed and then applied again to the same raw data. If we are not satisfied with our results, we can just tweak the parameters and convert once again.

5) The raw data in RAW data files is not altered. The conversion parameters are being changed and stored with the file (or in an associated file), but the raw data is left unchanged.

Some disadvantages in using raw data files

1) Raw data files are 2-6 times larger than the corresponding jpeg files.

2) Post processing takes some extra time. How much really depends on your demands and criteria. Most raw conversion programs offer batch processing to speed things up when applying the same conversion parameters to multiple images.

see
Thom's Quick & Dirty Guide to RAW
http://www.bythom.com/qadraw.htm

See also
The Advantages and Disadvantages Explained

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/2196/jpeg-vs-raw-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-explained.html

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phipop

hello Ed!

i would say this is not exacty true :
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Only the processing parameters are changed and saved. You can use the same parameters that were set in the camera if you like, but then you end up with the same jpg file that the camera would have produced.
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because when i just convert raw to jpeg with only picture project (yes i know everybody says it is not good but for me it is ok) i get for instance from a 9.8 mb NEF file a 8 Mb jPEG file (this is just an example, but this is true). BUT, it is impossible to obtain a direct jpeg 8 MB file directly out of the camera (d40x). So the compression rate is not the same. I shoot raw (nef) and convert to jpegs all the time, and keep the nefs for then i might buy a better software, in case i do that one day.
thank you
philippe

http://www.phipop.com

Assuming you can cope with the significant increase in storage requirements, there is no reason not to shoot raw and plenty of reasons in favor of raw.

You don't need to learn anything new about shooting raw other than how to select it in your menu.

EVERY digital image requires processing. You can either do this with the rather simple-minded computer in your camera, more or less automatically, when you shoot jpg or you can do it via your home computer using a whide range of software, some of which is VERY sophisticated.

Depending on what software you use, you can quickly batch process your raw images (while you have a cup of coffee or two) and the result will be images that look just like the ones your camera jpg processor makes; the difference is you will have raw files to work with later on. There is really no significant PITA factor with raw, especially when you're working with valuable images.

In the future, if you happen to become more involved in processing/printing, you will be able to use more sophisticated software and/or techniques on your raw files and you will bless the day you decided to capture these once-in-a-lifetime images in raw format. I sometimes go back and look at my jpg images taken in the years before raw was an option and lament the fact that they're small 8 bit files with very few post processing options.

Other than running out of storage space, I can't think of any reason you would be disappointed with your images just because you shoot them in raw; however, I can guarantee that I would be crying for weeks and months if I came back from such a trip and discovered I had accidentally, and unknowingly, recorded my photos in jpg format.

Ask yourself how many jpg images guys like Joe McNally shoot when they're on the other side of the world working for National Geographic.

By the way, look into renting or borrowing a piece of pro glass like a 70-200 2.8 VR for your trip.

Have fun.

Bob
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I would shoot RAW + JPEG.

Ok so the Jpeg is only basic when shooting this way but thats more than ample for 6x4 or 7x5 prints. For your best shots you will also have the RAW file to play with and get it looking spot on and then print larger.

Just make sure you load up with plenty of 2gb SD cards and a couple of spare camera batteries.

--
DSLR - Nikon D40 with 18-70 and 70-300VR lenses
P&S - Fuji V10

Wow, thanks for all of the helpful advice and opinions...I have a lot to digest and consider now!

ScottBT said:

I would shoot RAW + JPEG.

Ok so the Jpeg is only basic when shooting

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i see no reason to do this on a D40 since the basic jpeg is actually embeddd in the raw file and you can find programs that will extract this jpeg

it just wastes more space on your card

also, with view NX, you can create a jpeg with batch convert that will be the same or better (less compression)

David

You know, you needn't shoot all RAW or all JPEG. Although not many people do it, but actually I'd shoot RAW only when there's a real beautiful portrait or scene that you will want to spend more time on to process later. Don't worry about the quality of your JPEGs, I'm sure that it is excellent. I've tried to print 75x50cm from JPEG Normal (not even Fine oh my god!) on my D80 and got absolutely fine prints.

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http://donandre.ipernity.com