Working with RAW files

[gjtoth]

Well, I made the plunge and started taking shots in RAW format. WOW! I find the difference quite startling. Of course, I've saved the PP'ed images to .jpg format and kept the originals as RAW. The files are approximately 10 MEGS each so, on a 1 gig card I can get around 60 RAW files. The camera also automatically saves the image as a jpg file at the same time.

The more I play with this camera, the more amazed I am at it's capabilities! Here are the two sample shots I took.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2147415334_e264f91af2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2146621801_ee9a431360_b.jpg

[dkippen]

Gary -

What do you use for PP?? Nice shots with good depth of field. After my first field trip shooting in jpg, I switched to RAW and never went back. You'll find as you get more comfortable shooting in RAW, you won't need to save a jpg file along with RAW to the card as well. I use a 2gig card and get close to 90 pix/card.

Debbie

[gjtoth]

Gary -

What do you use for PP?? Nice shots with good depth of field. After my first field trip shooting in jpg, I switched to RAW and never went back. You'll find as you get more comfortable shooting in RAW, you won't need to save a jpg file along with RAW to the card as well. I use a 2gig card and get close to 90 pix/card.

Debbie

Debbie, I'm using "RAW Therapee" in tandem with Gimp. I have tried BibblePro and love it but, not the price tag. I don't use Windows, I use a distribution of Linux (Ubuntu) and, although I CAN use Photoshop, it runs dog-slow on my machine. I mentioned to some other folks that since I shoot quite a bit of bird/nature-type things, I'll probably stick with jpg because they move so quickly and my camera is extremely slow processing the RAW data that I miss some nice shots. It's just one of the very few things I find a hindrance with this SP-550UZ. Overall, a GREAT camera, though. The RAW shots should provide me some outstanding still-life captures (flowers, landscapes, etc.) and that's what I'll use it for. Turn, turn, turn.... heh. Still need jpg for Flickr and many of the forums, too.

[Snappers]

So you took the plunge too eh? hehehehe. Well done!
After advice from Peter some time ago, I changed my settings in my camera to Raw +Jpeg. The difference is quite noticable like you say and you have far more options for post processing.

As for capturing the birds, you shouldn't have a problem taking the photo in Raw because as soon as you press the sutter the pic is taken, it is the time after which is taken for processing the shot. Therefore if you want to shoot again very soon afterwards this could be a problem but not for the first shot.

I too have got to look for another card because I was merrily shooting away the other day taking my fish etc and suddenly my camera would not take any more pictures and an error message came up on the screen, At first I did not realise what it was but then suddenly realised I had ran out of room. Thank goodness I was at home and not out on a shoot somewhere. A new card is high on the priority list to purchase.

[gjtoth]

Well, I can always stick with jpg for the birds and RAW for the flowers & such. Or, like you say, get that first shot in on the bird or animal.

[Snappers]

Indeed. As long as before you start to play with your picture (Jpeg) you back it up first then you have an original to go back to.