Comments on: RAW vs. JPEG: Who wins?

By: Harry Jackson jr.

Harry Jackson jr. — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:55:46 +0000

Interesting take on Raw vs. JPG. But it didn’t discuss how these formats effect the destination of photos.
I shoot for newsprint and when lucky, a slick page mag now and then. I’m also just starting to shoot stock photography for stock businesses. The only destination that accepts JPEG are newsprint publications. (Check out Trail of the Week, stltoday.com for example.)
– I find RAW converts to TIFF, which is the format of choice for most of my destinations . And a couple of stock photo places want files starting at 25 mb and rising to 125 mb and 360 dpi minimum. And some publications want some other weird stuff that only Photoshop can prepare for their own printing technology and JPEG just won’t stand up to it. The newsprint publications just want 200 dpi JPG and the names spelled right.
– I like to finish my photos in16 bit color and I’m experimenting with 32 bit color, although I can’t see a difference in 32-bit and 16-bit color. (that 32 bit is one of the wierd things I get.) But in TIFF, it stands out immensely going from 8-bit to 16 bit. (almost not noticeable from 16 to 32 bit, although I’ve been told there are technical reasons to go 32 bit for some publications.)
– A problem with JPEG is that every time you press the save button, the colors change. Until I learned about destructive editing, I thought I was taking tacky photos. But if a photo requires a couple of generations of editing and sharpening, I’ve been hard pressed to end up with the photo I shot.
– If you must, Bridge can open JPEGs into the RAW editor.. You can do all of your editing there and output it as a TIFF or DNG and save all the details with no color or tonal deterioration.
– A last-resort option is to shoot in RAW medium or medium large. I use that for (ugh) sports and I still get some pretty chubby TIFF files as well as the depth of colors that RAW delivers.
– Another way to use RAW for action is I use my 7D for action because it focuses and shoots faster in both formats. The 5DII is still a tank — albeit worth it for the picture quality it delivers.

By: kauaikid

kauaikid — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:27:17 +0000

I try to shoot RAW most of the time, but for sports I’ll use JPEG. I love the control I have in the post process when shooting RAW. Even when I believe I have everything perfect in a shot, I will invariably find LR3 or PS CS4 can improve on perfection!!!

By: John Walton

John Walton — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:47:58 +0000

Hi Vic,
Seen great bird photos shot in Raw and seen great bird photos shot in Jpeg!
With my new Canon 7d it takes about 4mins to edit a large raw shot, thats when it doesn’t jam up my pc. When like two days ago I shot 250 bird pictures it takes forever to edit Raw with Canon DPP, even if three quarters are deleated. Adobe Elements 7 won’t take L Raw. Large jpeg is better than medium raw for me.

By: mn shutterbug

mn shutterbug — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:24:29 +0000

I just accidentally came up with another reason to use RAW + Jpeg. I just got back from shooting some fall images along with a chipmunk. The color was crappy on all of them. So, I used the RAW images and went with those. Upon checking my camera, I saw that I had somehow changed the WB to shady, and I wasn’t in shady situations. If I wouldn’t have also had the RAW images, I would have had nothing to salvage, at least not properly.

By: Kiwi

Kiwi — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:05:28 +0000

I use RAW in very particular, controlled situations. But on-the-go, or travelling, I like to use JPEG. Why? I can put much more photos on my memory card! The most important thing is composition… I have rarely encountered a situation where I went, “gee, I wish I shot in RAW instead of JPEG.” My colors and exposure came out fine, I tweaked the photos a little, and I think they were perfect, just what I wanted. Next important thing is lens of course, and then anything is fair game after that. If you are a person who loves experimenting with photoshop/lightroom, then I suggest RAW. Just use whatever you feel most comfortable with…

By: Eric Circuns

Eric Circuns — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:46:45 +0000

I don’t get it!, RAW, JPEG, use whatever makes you happy.

By: muthuswamy.A.

muthuswamy.A. — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:01:10 +0000

I shoot large fine jpeg mode in Nikon D 200 and result is good.The pictures I shot first in
this camera is not converted and blocked since Iam not having raw file conversion
software.If you can send a software other than NX of nikon to my email id downloadable
it is more welcome.Thanks.

By: mn shutterbug

mn shutterbug — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:37:49 +0000

I always shoot RAW + Jpeg, just to be on the safe side. In 95% of the shots, I’m quite happy with jpg’s, but there are those times, typically due to bad lighting, that the RAW file has saved my butt by allowing me to salvage the blown highlights. Even shooting birds in flight, the slower write speed hasn’t hurt my keeper rate.

By: 07.23.11 Workshop Shooting Raw vs Jpg | Eyes of Hawaii Workshop Tutorials

07.23.11 Workshop Shooting Raw vs Jpg | Eyes of Hawaii Workshop Tutorials — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:55:12 +0000

[...] Raw vs JPEG: Who wins? [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:41:07 +0000

I’ve read a ton on this subject and the best article is this one. http://enticingthelight.com/2010/06/01/raw-vs-jpeg-an-end-to-the-war/

It’s like using a flash or not, it’s just another tool. Use raw for certain situations and jpeg for others. That’s what a good photographer does.