Photagraphy pros....

[Nick Chapman]

I need your photography expert advice.

Shooting in RAW mode. Does this take the place of setting up the camera? I guess I'm not quite sure I understand exactly what RAW mode does, but from everything I see, it just bypasses the camera set up, so you can use post processing on the computer. Is this correct?

What about shooting in RAW on different dial settings(AV, TV, P, etc...)? How does that all fit into the RAW shooting?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

After playing with the RAW mode a bit more, I can definitely tell a huge difference in image quality, I just don't understand what exactly it does.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

RAW is a type of file format that the camera uses.

Basically, the image starts out as a RAW file and is then converted to JPEG.

In general, RAW files are large in size. So, they take up more space and take time to save.



To edit RAW files, you need to use Photoshop or a comparable program.

I switched to using RAW files and then convert them in Photoshop to JPEG. The RAW files seem to be better for editing purposes.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

I understand that. But what does it do differently? Here are two exact same photo's. First one is shot in L mode(large), and the other is shot in RAW mode. Notice how the RAW picture is much finer in detail, much crisper and just a better picture? No post processing was done aside from resizing.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Pulled this off Ken Rockwell's site:

"Raw records usually with 12 bits, but a linear 12 bits. JPG uses only 8 bits, but these are after the log and gamma conversion, and thus preserves the 12 bit precision at the shadow levels where it's important."

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Here's another example, first one shot regular, and the other shot in RAW

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

I think I may of just found my preferred shooting method

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Yeah, I agree with you. The RAW definately has more detail and isn't as whited out as the standard shots.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Man, I wish I would have discovered this a while ago. Now all of my pictures seem just par compared to what I can shoot.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Those are some great shots Nick. I guess I need to check and see if my Camera does this (doubt it though, it is fairly entry level).

[ColonelCash]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Any DSLR should have the ability to shoot RAW images, although you will need a very large memory card if you want to shoot in RAW all the time. RAW = uncompressed images = more disk space. Most professional photographers shoot in RAW, lends itself to better correction and large scale printing. Hope that helps.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Any DSLR should have the ability to shoot RAW images, although you will need a very large memory card if you want to shoot in RAW all the time. RAW = uncompressed images = more disk space. Most professional photographers shoot in RAW, lends itself to better correction and large scale printing. Hope that helps.

Yeah, 1400 regular photos on my 8g memory card. Only 319 when set on RAW

Since I really don't need to take 1400 pictures, and I'll get so much better image quality, I think I'm going to start shooting RAW from now on. I can't wait to test this out with a vehicle in the sun. It'll be interesting to see how it'll turn out.

[Murr1525]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Yeah, need a few real world shots.

Might really make the fine swirls stand out though...

[MDetail]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

Shooting in RAW allows you to edit parts of the image you may have missed when setting up for that shot while still keeping the image quality in tact. Say you left your White Balance on Tungsten on a Cloudy day. You can use a program such as Adobe Lightroom, or Adobe Photoshop to change the White Balance. You can change the exposure and many other options when using RAW. I usually shoot in RAW+Large Fine. You can definitely see a difference in your shots.

[Bunky]

Re: Photagraphy pros....

RAW is similar to the negative in print photography. The JPG is the print. The JPG is generated based upon what the camera maker has decided for "cooking" the image (white balance correction, exposure, image size, sharpness, etc). If the RAW is significantly better, it just means the incamera JPG generation is not optimizing the picture very well. The RAW format obviously has more information since it is a bigger file and something does get lost when creating a JPG. Some cameras allow you to tailor the JPG quality as one might do in Photoshop. From your pics the in camera JPQ tends to darken pics more and the white balance is different.