Photography format - RAW or JPEG ?

[saupatel]

Hey, just wanted to know everyone's opinion on what is the better format to take pictures ... RAW or JPEG? For night shots, RAW is the best format (so i can correct colors easily in the DPP software for Canon). But for other normal pics what format is better?

regards,
Saurabh

[cf73]

I think RAW is the best format as it gives you the most flexability in processing the image on the computer. But having said that it takes a lot of time, uses up a lot of memory on the card and takes longer to write the files to the card. This could be a problem if you are taking a lot of photos. I have a 1GB card and get over 250 images on there in JPEG, in RAW I would only get about 90.

I always use JPEG.

[Airbus_A320]

RAW. More flexibility to edit shots afterwards. Get a high speed card and you won't have a problem with write times. And yes the file sizes are much bigger but if you get some 4gb or 2gb cards you should be fine.

[Top_Gun]

RAW, memory cards are so cheap now there's no reason not to. Watch some of the flyers and you can pick up some 4GB cards around $80. I don't like to go bigger than that because I don't want all my eggs in 1 basket....

[turbotraker]

RAW now, but started off using JPEG. If you're not happy shooting in RAW, stick to JPEG for a while. Or try shooting in RAW and JPEG (get more cards), gives you flexibility of both until you get the practice.

Only use JPEG now if I am feeling lazy.....

[saupatel]

I have 2 SanDisk Extreme 4GB cards which gives me around 700 pics. I got the second card for $40 which is really cheap. SanDisk had a rebate through ADORAMA last month.

[Olli Vainio]

I've never shot JPEGs. I really don't see the point of letting the camera decide on what kind of photo I want to get.

[Simpleboy]

JPEG mostly, i can get the result i want from the camera so its a space/time saving thing for me. Then again, RAW has its advantages, which i use when i need to, but for something such as shooting planes id rather have a larger buffer than the tiny extra control later

[LX-A343]

Started as JPG, learnt my lesson and don't switch back from RAW since about .... errr ..... many years.

JPG is a nothing more than a RAW file converted to JPG in your camera. I prefer to do this conversion myself. The RAW file has far more informations, than the JPG. I then edit in 16bit mode, saving to a 8bit JPG at the very end of all editing.

[tinymoon]

At first some of VNAS spotter including me start shooting with RAW but we all switch to Jpeg as it save time to edit and other storage reason. I will shot RAW when there is a special event in order to make sure all information about my shot and in term of PS later

[B7772ADL]

I shoot 95% jpeg. Why? Simply cos I don't need the extra flexibility and extra work when i'm resizing something down to 1024x763 which is going to end up online and be further compressed by upload scripts. I don't have the patience most of the time to sit there for hours on end doing extra work to the photo.
If it necessitated that I use RAW then I would, but for now I have no reason.

[jid]

I shoot RAW all the time now, 4GB Sandisk EX III are £22 now. I sell a lot more shots now and having a RAW image gives me a lot flexablilty with the finished product.

[Kilroy1313]

I shoot 95% jpeg. Why? Simply cos I don't need the extra flexibility and extra work when i'm resizing something down to 1024x763 which is going to end up online and be further compressed by upload scripts. I don't have the patience most of the time to sit there for hours on end doing extra work to the photo.
If it necessitated that I use RAW then I would, but for now I have no reason.

Hi, I completely understand what you mean and its also a choice how you spend your money and time.
1) It is very frustrating to post-proceed your pic's which after aren't accepted at JP or elsewhere.
2) You will have to spend more money if using RAW, because your hard disc will be filled up much faster.
3) depends on the camera you use, you'll loose a lot of time to get the shot on your memory card - meanwhile you would have made a whole series of more shots in JPEG format... and maybe miss THE SHOT !
BUT if ever, ever once you want to rework these JPEG files for an other purpose than displaying in the internet (imagine you want make a poster of one of your best shots), than there may be NO WAY anymore to do this. JPEG is definetely limited in quality (maybe with a high end professional camera this may be ± equalized compared to a cheaper model with less pixel resolution). - I started a few years ago with TIFF (the Sony camera did not allow RAW), and now I make much in RAW with the known inconveniences. It only pays up with the broad band of possibilities you have to rework later.
My advice: you don't have to twist completely, but maybe you try on not moving stuff (displayed or standing planes) taking the one or other time with RAW, maybe you take them off your hard disc by saving them to disk... ? --- And maybe, you'll never regret this...

[seahawk]

I only shoot RAW if it counts. Say airshows or something. A normal day at the usual airport is not worth the effort for me. Especially as I did not find a limitation in a good jpeg as yet, if saved at htbe best quality settings in camera and with in camera post processign turned down.

[kukkudrill]

These days I shoot mostly RAW, but I do find myself questioning whether the extra editing is worth it since the advantages of shooting RAW are negligible really when you're outdoors in good sunlight.