R.A.W.: R.ight A.nd W.rong

[ScottC12]

I have been using RAW exclusively for over a year now and decided to take some .jpg shots at my nephew's first b-day party today just for the heck of it. Man, they turned out really well! I used RAW for the post-processing control and the ability to "save" a bad shot. Maybe its experience that has made me a better photographer, but I really liked the way the turned out and saved A LOT of time in post-processing. Its been said before, Im sure, but now I'm re-thinking RAW! Thoughts/suggestions/recomendations?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[balarila]

Been shooting JPEG before but have now started on RAW and finding the time to PP is worth it.

I'm about midway reading the "Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2" by Bruce Fraser and finding out how much better I'm improving my pictures. I strongly recommend the book. A great read.

I guess it's also me. I sort of enjoy PP as I feel it's an extension of the whole creative process; i.e. photography does not end when one presses the shutter.
--
I'd rather add life to my years than years to my life.

 

[Greg Kovacs]

I desperately need:

• freely selectable white balance
• + - 2 stops of exposure
• the noise reduction I choose to execute
• the great workflow provided by Capture One or RSE

I archive the digital negative and develop the exact JPEG I need for my chosen output with the appropriate sharpening.

Greg

 

[ScottC12]

I do agree. I also like PP. It is nice getting the family shots done fast though. I have a feeling that it really will depend on what I am shooting from now on. Tough lighting, important shots, landscape etc. = RAW. b-day parties = .jpg. I was surprised and happy that I didnt regret shooting in .jpg today.

 

[ScottC12]

One though: Its pretty annoying that RAW is so much softer than .jpg though.

 

[nweibley]

I dont know what this "softer" talk is. Once my RAW files are run through smart sharpen in CS2 they always sharpen better and more effectively than my Jpegs.
--
-----Nate

 

[Anthony de Vries]

I agree, JPG can get you perfect results.

RAW obviously allows full controll. But when you understand you camera, and you're shooting in nice conditions, then the in-camera JPG processing can do wonders.

Of course, part of the post-processing work, you allready actually do by selecting the proper contrast etc....

 

[roon_smits]

Maybe you think that RAW isn't that good, because if you have set your in-camera parameters in such a way that you dont have to modify the JPG's shapne'ss and saturation during post-processing, you might think that JPG is better, but still RAW gives you more flexibility. RAW is afterall your digital negative.

Ronald
--
http://www.studio-sl19.com

 

[tocar]

I've experimented with RAW and JPEG and in reality if I'm just going to print 4x6s and a 8x10 occasionally I do JPEG. The camera is amazingly accurate as far as exposure in JPEG.

 

[coolpixboy]

RAW workflows may be good at teaching you how to properly expose certain scenes. once you get used to doing in your RAW converter that experience can translate to when you actually shoot.

I, however, shoot RAW mainly because I'm not a master and don't always get exposure right.

Also, RAW converters are constantly getting better so its good to be able to exploit that.

 

[Bill Ley]

I have my XT set to shoot both the RAW and JPEG file. Is there a disadvantage to doing this? I thought about just shooting raw, then from there batch process into JPEG's. Now you guys are getting me even more confused

 

[NathanT]

The consensus seems to be: depends on what you're shooting.

That's my camp as well. Indoor sports shots (volleyball, basketball, etc.) are always raw. Those are such hard shots!

Outdoors: nearly always jpg.

Flash: depends on the importance and the bounce-ability.

 

[Manjade]

I don't do much RAW -- only when I feel the lighting is tricky or I don't think I am good enough to sort it out

generally I shoot JPEG because I want to improve my skills as a photographer (and not as a saver of bad shots!)

It's like learning the hard way: if you get it wrong, you've lost it, but it makes me think a lot more about my shots rather than just winging it and knowing I can probably make something out of it later in RAW-conv.

RAW is great, and can be VERY useful, but I prefer JPEGs

--
AJ

http://www.pbase.com/manjade

 

[Socos]

I pick and choose when I use raw. If I am shooting something low light, or with high dynamic range I use raw, if it is a controlled shoot where I am taking senior pictures in the shade or something I just shoot JPG.. It does save the time.

I find the advantage with raw when I have a challenging shot that requires special consideration.