x100: sooc jpeg

i've always shot raw, ever since my first raw-capable digicam, the nikon cp5700, right till now with my d700. on the x100, i've been shooting raw+jpg, but for the first time, i'm bravely trying out just sooc jpeg. and guess what? i kinda like it! shooting in jpeg vs raw is a bit like shooting with prime lenses vs zooms. what seems at first to be a restriction (when using primes), actually becomes a liberation as you exercise your creativity. i find that with jpegs, you become more involved with considering your intention before capturing the moment. the nifty mechanical control dials and hybrid viewfinder make setting up your shot a breeze.

i think the sooc jpegs have amazing quality. i'm now spending almost zero time on editing and post-processing, plus i get a boost in shot-to-shot speed, and i still have that magic button called "raw" if i needed help in certain situations. i also use the ovf most often. i'm learning that through this, i need to be loose about framing. this makes me concentrate on the expression i'm after. i switch to the evf if i needed accuracy. the quick review through the ovf is important as it gives an indication of how well the white balance, exposure and focusing were set.

have a look below at a few sooc jpegs i took recently in malaysia (no editing whatsoever), and do share some of your experiences if you've tried the sooc jpeg approach. thanks.

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1. iso 800 1/600s f8 velvia



2. iso 400 1/60s f2 velvia



3. iso 1000 1/60s f2 velvia



4. iso 1000 1/60s f2 b&w+gr



5. iso 500 1/60s f2 astia



6. iso 800 1/60s f2.5 astia



7. iso 400 1/125 f2.5 astia



8. iso 250 1/60s f2 astia



9. iso 200 1/800s f2 astia nd-filter built-in fill flash



10. iso 400 1/550s f2 astia 5fps



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http://harun.zenfolio.com

Wow, these are all really nicely done!
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harun said:

i think the sooc jpegs have amazing quality. i'm now spending almost zero time on editing and post-processing, plus i get a boost in shot-to-shot speed, and i still have that magic button called "raw" if i needed help in certain situations.

Click to expand...

I feel exactly the same way. The out of camera JPEGs are just stunning, why wouldn't I use them? If I encounter a scene that I am sure I will need to work on in post, I use the RAW button to get a couple of RAW shots off and then go back to JPEG. I am doing this less and less as time goes on though and learning to trust more in the X100's JPEGs.

These images are amazing, I am feeling quite envious at the photo opportunities people are having in far-flung locales! Perhaps we should start a photographer exchange program.

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http://harun.zenfolio.com

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http://harun.zenfolio.com

Great shots
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Kind regards
Matt