Hi, Guest
12-13-2009, 02:58 AM
torradan is on the right track...
RAW (or NEF for NIKONS) is basically the raw image sensor data. It's the picture before any processing can hit it.
normally, when you shoot in JPEG, the camera applies white balance, ISO, and the other settings to the image and interpolates what the picture should be from this information. Doing this downconverts the pixel depth of the image to 8bit (from 16, 24, or whatever your camera natively supports) and applies a lossy compression algorithm.
When shooting in RAW, you get just the raw information from the image sensor. You or your software will apply the whitebalance and other post-exposure processing to the image. You then have the option of saving the file to the lossier jpeg compression, or less lossy like .tif or .png (I prefer png, but black's for one doesn't like those files much).
In reality, if you have your settings the way you want them on the camera, shooting in jpeg is fine. It saves a lot of memory and processing time, and the quality (in fine mode) is more than adequate for prints.
If you want to keep your post-exposure options open, then RAW gives you that flexibility, but takes more time to get a finished product from your pictures.
Personally, I like to shoot in RAW. It atones for a lot of little sins without degrading the final shot.
RAW (or NEF for NIKONS) is basically the raw image sensor data. It's the picture before any processing can hit it.
normally, when you shoot in JPEG, the camera applies white balance, ISO, and the other settings to the image and interpolates what the picture should be from this information. Doing this downconverts the pixel depth of the image to 8bit (from 16, 24, or whatever your camera natively supports) and applies a lossy compression algorithm.
When shooting in RAW, you get just the raw information from the image sensor. You or your software will apply the whitebalance and other post-exposure processing to the image. You then have the option of saving the file to the lossier jpeg compression, or less lossy like .tif or .png (I prefer png, but black's for one doesn't like those files much).
In reality, if you have your settings the way you want them on the camera, shooting in jpeg is fine. It saves a lot of memory and processing time, and the quality (in fine mode) is more than adequate for prints.
If you want to keep your post-exposure options open, then RAW gives you that flexibility, but takes more time to get a finished product from your pictures.
Personally, I like to shoot in RAW. It atones for a lot of little sins without degrading the final shot.
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