Raw?

the great

New member
Hey,

i just saw a few poeple say, "always shoot under raw".

Whats the difference between RAW and the other settings?
 
RAW, is unprocessed sensor data captured at the time you make an exposure. Depending on your camera it'll generally contain 12 or 14 bit color information. To turn that into a useful image software is required. If you choose to shoot in JPG format, that software runs inside your camera to output an 8 bit file.

If you shoot in RAW format, that software runs on your computer and you control it's operation. Because you still have the original 12 or 14 bit file there is a ton more information to work with; giving you a much greater level of adjustment without degrading the file. Things like white balance are applied by the processing software so when you shoot RAW you adjust if after the shot vs. before.

RAW == developing the film in your own darkroom
JPG == taking it to Costco

The caveat is that the files are bigger and the workflow can be a hassle. Applications like Adobe Lightroom and Apple Aperture can make the workflow portion of that moot.
 
Those are all JPG formats; so basically the answer is yes. RAW has the potential to produce a better image but it isn't a panacea. To have better results via RAW files you have to process them properly.

Shooting RAW won't automatically transform your shots and if process them poorly you may end up with an image that is actually worse.
 
By the way, your signature needs a word replaced, it says "It rubs the lotion the its skin, or else it gets the hose again" and it should say "It rubs the lotion ON its skin, or else it gets the hose again" :)
 
Ok, now, i took some pictures of my dads tank, and they were takin in the RAW format...... But when i put my CF card into the printer, (usually the pictures are able to be viewed), i cant view them! Even when i tried to upload them to Photobucket, it wouldnt even give me the option of the pics taken in RAW???

Please help.

Thanks:)
 
Yeah, what Doug said.

I highly recommend RAW for reef tanks mainly because of the lighting and colors involved. I highly recommend RAW for any type of shooting, but especially for reefs. Depending on what lights are used, a blue or yellow cast may effect the whole image. A RAW image could be manipulated for a more neutral scheme with very little effort. When you are done editing, you still have the origional image in a sense.
 
Though I agree with mostly what beerguy had suggested, assuming raw is unprocessed sensor data would be inaccurate. Instead of processing color notation, a complex algorithym system is used in place without being set to a certain color gamut(which jpeg would do). For example, a raw(12-bit) would contain 384 brightness levels while a jpeg(8-bit) only contain 47 brightness levels. Its obvious the raw file is at an advantage as to being more flexible when deriving certain levels of information relating to your desired functions(brightness,WB,clarity,contrat,etc). A more "accurate" representation of raw vs jpeg would be:

RAW = Landscape, Reef Tank, HDR, Portrait, etc shooting purposes with the need of more room to post process

JPEG = Sports, Nature, Conference, Papparazi, etc shooting purposes with the need of speed and cut-time workflow

I'm in no way disagreeing with you completely beerguy, but in case of any hobbyist reaching for a more dedicated lifestyle in photography as myself, I'd rather they understand the matters subjectively as a whole in photography rather than just reef tank shooting.

Cheers
 
You need to process the images on your computer. Your camera came with software that to convert from RAW to an actual image format.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853538#post13853538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the great
Ok, now, i took some pictures of my dads tank, and they were takin in the RAW format...... But when i put my CF card into the printer, (usually the pictures are able to be viewed), i cant view them! Even when i tried to upload them to Photobucket, it wouldnt even give me the option of the pics taken in RAW???

Please help.

Thanks:)
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853303#post13853303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
Depending on your camera it'll generally contain 12 or 14 bit color information. To turn that into a useful image software is required. If you choose to shoot in JPG format, that software runs inside your camera to output an 8 bit file.
You will have to edit the RAW file and then convert it to a JPEG (likely) or TIFF file before it will be of any use to your printer. What camera are you using anyway?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853548#post13853548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NikonGuy
I'm in no way disagreeing with you completely beerguy, but in case of any hobbyist reaching for a more dedicated lifestyle in photography as myself, I'd rather they understand the matters subjectively as a whole in photography rather than just reef tank shooting.

I subscribe to the notion that you need to adjust the level of conversation to that of the target audience. ;)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853538#post13853538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the great
Ok, now, i took some pictures of my dads tank, and they were takin in the RAW format...... But when i put my CF card into the printer, (usually the pictures are able to be viewed), i cant view them! Even when i tried to upload them to Photobucket, it wouldnt even give me the option of the pics taken in RAW???

Please help.

Thanks:)

My buddy beerguy had already mentioned you would need an image software to convert the raw file. Otherwise shoot raw+jpeg in the case you need that picture printed with haste.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853605#post13853605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
I subscribe to the notion that you need to adjust the level of conversation to that of the target audience. ;)

Are you telling me directly that these people are "stupid"? Uneducated enough that they can't get off there butts and research what we are talking about? Saying things like RAW == developing the film in your own darkroom and
JPG == taking it to Costco is really misleading and insulting to us professional photographers(which I assume you are one yourself). What you need to do is stop holding grown adults hands and let them walk across the street on there own. I'm not mad in any sense, but I totally don't understand for the harsh intentions already.
 
Well this sucks, I bought my camera used at a camera store W/out the driver, and the only downloadable driver FOR this camera is for WINDOWS XP!

The only reason i bought this was because its older, cheaper, and if i really like this photography thing,wouldnt you have done the same? oh well.

Thanks everyone. i appreciate it alot. thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853662#post13853662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NikonGuy
Are you telling me directly that these people are "stupid"? Uneducated enough that they can't get off there butts and research what we are talking about? Saying things like RAW == developing the film in your own darkroom and
JPG == taking it to Costco is really misleading and insulting to us professional photographers(which I assume you are one yourself). What you need to do is stop holding grown adults hands and let them walk across the street on there own. I'm not mad in any sense, but I totally don't understand for the harsh intentions already.

The "adult" is 15 and I was making a generalization to illustrate a point. If you're insulted by that it's because you've chosen to be.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853662#post13853662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NikonGuy
Are you telling me directly that these people are "stupid"? Uneducated enough that they can't get off there butts and research what we are talking about? Saying things like RAW == developing the film in your own darkroom and
JPG == taking it to Costco is really misleading and insulting to us professional photographers(which I assume you are one yourself). What you need to do is stop holding grown adults hands and let them walk across the street on there own. I'm not mad in any sense, but I totally don't understand for the harsh intentions already.

I was EXACTLY like you when I started posting in the photography section...just as Doug. Gradually I've learned to drop the professional level photography lectures and adopt a more easily understood approach with less "meat" but more learning in the end.
 
OK, we are grown men(assuming you aren't 15 now). Let's just negotiate to disagree. I just don't want this person getting deeply attached to photography someday and find out that raw is just for personal darkroom and jpeg is only good for bringing to costco. I wouldn't want him blaming "you" for following a guideline he took so considerably personal. I am sorry if I stepped out of line here. This is "your" forum and I will respect you as an admin. But do me a favor sometime in the future please... let that ego go someday. I hope you are also the type that takes critique well also.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13853764#post13853764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
I was EXACTLY like you when I started posting in the photography section...just as Doug. Gradually I've learned to drop the professional level photography lectures and adopt a more easily understood approach with less "meat" but more learning in the end.

Explain to me "professional level lectures"? These types of conversations are very very common even to entry level photographers in the industry. This is a photography forum correct? Well, I apologize for the sense that I was not aware of the matter. I was hoping to promote my book once I will leave in a few more days, but I'm quite concerned that noone here will even be of interest anymore.
 
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