Raw pros and cons

[Snappers]

Hi all,
after reading about lossy formats today in lesson 2 (see other post) I would like to start shooting in Raw, however, what are the pros and cons to this?

I.E. I have been out on a shoot, I get home and I put my memory card into the card reader, I then download the photos to my computer and I can view them straight away in Jpeg. Is it the same with raw?

If I want to edit the file in any way, what software would be best for doing that with?

Any other advice on Raw would be appreciated.

[admin]

Hi Andrew, you have the option on your D70s to shoot RAW+jpeg Basic. Gives you small reasonably good quality jpg file for fast browsing and RAW file for further manipulation if needed.
Get free application from Nikon called Nikon View available for Mac and PC. It enables you to browse, organize and view thumbnails and high res RAW files, jpg files and tiffs. It has simple photo editing tools built in as well. If you set it up it will recognise your CF card when you put it in, renames your files as you wish and transfers them to your computer automatically.

RAW pros:
- Raw files contain the full, unaltered information as taken off the sensor, while in RGB (TIFF or JPEG) ones this information is already converted, for better or worse, using the current camera settings.
- Camera settings are applied only to the RAW image development process, not to the picture itself. These are: color balance, sharpening, contrast, gradation. Therefore you may adjust these parameters as needed during the RAW development, and tweak them to your liking. True, most of these corrections can be applied also to jpg or tiff images, but usually within a smaller range and/or with not as good results.
- the extra bits in the RAW file information may allow you to make better use in extracting the available details from shadows or highlights by adjusting the brightness translation curve(s) or exposure compensation. Still, the detail has to be there to start with, and the photographer has to understand how the tonal curves are used.
- no image degradation after re-saving

RAW Cons:
- larger file size
- RAW processing slows your workflow
- special software required for RAW processing

[Snappers]

Thanks for the reply. I think I understand:o lol.

So, if I set my camera up to shoot in Raw and Jpeg basic, I would still have a Jpeg pic as well as a Raw so basically for every one photo I take I would have two on the memory card, correct?

Also, say I really like one of my photos that I have taken but I dont have time to play with the Raw file. If I was happy with the photo without playing with any of the cotrast etc, Would I be able to print it out as a photo or is this not possible. I hope you understand what I mean by that.

Cheers

[admin]

Thanks for the reply. I think I understand:o lol.

So, if I set my camera up to shoot in Raw and Jpeg basic, I would still have a Jpeg pic as well as a Raw so basically for every one photo I take I would have two on the memory card, correct?

Also, say I really like one of my photos that I have taken but I dont have time to play with the Raw file. If I was happy with the photo without playing with any of the cotrast etc, Would I be able to print it out as a photo or is this not possible. I hope you understand what I mean by that.

Cheers

Yes, for each shot you would have 2 files on your memory card - RAW and jpg.

You don't have to do anything with RAW file in order to be able to print it. From Nikon View for example, you just select the thumbnail or multiple thumbnails you want to print and press Ctrl+P for printing and there you go.

You can download Nikon View from here: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/19659

[Snappers]

Excellent, That's what I wanted to hear:)

My wife says I spend enough time at the computer as it is:p

I'll download nikon view and have a play with it.

Many thanks for your help.http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/88.gif

[ausdg2]

I also now shoot in raw, the drawback with shooting in raw if firstly the file size of the photos will range from 6mb up around 15mb, this will require you to have a faily large memory card if you which to shhot in raw for a long period of time.

Secondly, the problem I found with raw is that I did not have a suitable viewer on my Windows XP system that would show me the images as a jpeg file would, I therefore invested in adobde CS2, CS2 will allow you to view and edit raw images.

The benefit of shooting in raw is that you are not loosing any quality with file compression.

Hope the above helps.

[Snappers]

I also now shoot in raw, the drawback with shooting in raw if firstly the file size of the photos will range from 6mb up around 15mb, this will require you to have a faily large memory card if you which to shhot in raw for a long period of time.

Secondly, the problem I found with raw is that I did not have a suitable viewer on my Windows XP system that would show me the images as a jpeg file would, I therefore invested in adobde CS2, CS2 will allow you to view and edit raw images.

The benefit of shooting in raw is that you are not loosing any quality with file compression.

Hope the above helps.
Thanks Ausdg2,
I currently have a 2gig card but I have been shopping around for a 4gig one.

As you say the second problem was what to view the raw in. I have downloaded the Nikon view which Admin suggested and I also use photoshop so I no longer have those problems. I havn't tried editing any of my Raw files yet but I believe you can do far much more with them in Abobde.

[dallasm]

Hi, I just signed up for this course last night but have been reading some of the post to get a fell of what every is up to.
I have been shooting in RAW over the summer after a photographer I know made the suggestion. I use Photoshop Lightroom to develop my photos in. Real easy, simple, and quick. Cost is about $100.00for the software through Adobe. Works the same as Photoshop CS2 & 3 but cheaper to buy. Can alos move files from Lightroom into Photoshop to be more creative if you need to. You are right, you only get half the shoots using RAW.
Dallas M

[LensBaby]

Snappers with Jpeg even if you love the way they turn out, don't forget every time that you open and close them on your computer you lose a little bit of quality every time. If you are like me, I am always clicking on something that I have taken a photo of. You might already know this so sorry if you do. I just thought I would tell you.

[Snappers]

Thanks Lensbaby,
Yeh, that is the reason why I have changed to Raw. I never knew that about the Jpeg format until I took this course. (see you learn something every day):)

I now have my camera set so it records in Jpeg and Raw so for each pic I take, I have two images. One Jpeg and one Raw.

I still havnt played about much with the Raw files but I know I need to invest in another card for my camera for when this one gets full!:):)

[LensBaby]

Yeah I started with one card, and then ended up buying another, and then at Thanksgiving a place here had the 4 gig on sale for 39.00 so I bought another one. My camera now lets you hold one compact flash and one duo, so if you run out of one card during a shoot another is there already to take over. So I guess those cards will come in handy now. I love shooting in RAW. I also do RAW+j.

[Snappers]

Up to yet, I have not filled my card as I usually download to the computer quite soon after I have taken the pictures, however, I may look at getting an extra card as you never know, plus if one card fails, i have a spare then.
4 gig for 39 dollars, that is good value.

[jonrayner]

This thread has made interesting reading. I have two questions:
1. Is the JPEG file in RAW + JPEG mode the same quality as that of the highest quality JPEG mode (L?)?
2. Could someone confirm that Photoshop Elements 6 can handle RAW files without any extra software/ add ons etc?

Many Thanks in advance

Jon

[Snappers]

This thread has made interesting reading. I have two questions:
1. Is the JPEG file in RAW + JPEG mode the same quality as that of the highest quality JPEG mode (L?)?
2. Could someone confirm that Photoshop Elements 6 can handle RAW files without any extra software/ add ons etc?

Many Thanks in advance

Jon

Here's a quote from an amazon review on the software
"The software will also integrate with scanners twain interfaces if you are into scanning film, and the Fill Light [shadow/highlight] tool is pretty essential for bringing out detail in shadows from any slide/negative scan. Plus Elements can handle RAW camera images, although I use TIFF (Elements can save in any common image format)."
So it would appear that yes it does support Raw files.

As for the Jpeg being the same as a higest quality Normal Jpeg, I dont think it is but you have the Raw file to play with.