RAW or JPEG

[Madmonkey]

I'm new to digital photography, but I am confused as to why an image taken in RAW format appears less sharp than one in JPEG format on my G5? I would have thought it would be the other way round. Why is this?

[sdommin]

I'm new to digital photography, but I am confused as to why an image taken in RAW format appears less sharp than one in JPEG format on my G5? I would have thought it would be the other way round. Why is this?

When you look at a RAW photo in your camera, you are actually looking at a very small "thumbnail" photo that the camera creates for you. You are not looking at the RAW photo itself. These small thumbnails have the file extension of "THM".

[scottbergerphoto]

In addition to what has been said, Raw files are not subjected to any in camera processing except a very small amount of sharpening(canon doesn't say how much), until you tell the raw converter how to convert it. So if you convert a Raw file and don't apply any sharpening, contrast, or saturation in the conversion, it will not look as good as a JPEG processed by the camera. That is the main reason for shooting Raw. You decide what to do with the image in post processing.
Scott

[Madmonkey]

OK guys, that's great. I've tried downloading the images using the Zoombrowser EX software and comparing the JPEG and RAW image converted to TIF, and I can't for the life of me see the difference - even at 800% magnification - but the JPEG uses a lot less memory.

I guess that's the point 8)

[scottbergerphoto]

Raw gives you the ability to use Adobe RGB, which has a wider color gamut(captures more available colors) then sRGB, which is what jpegs are limited to. Raw file also contain more of the original image data and allow for more image editing/correction then JPEG.
Scott

[civis]

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/RAW_Image_Format_01.htm

[John_T]

Perhaps as important as having control over "development" through RAW, you can convert to TIFF or PSD and thereafter edit, rotate, save, whatever endlessly in a lossless medium, whereas a JPEG will start crumbling after the first rotate and/or second save.

You also have the RAW "negative" to go back to when you want to start "development" all over again in perhaps a radically different way from the first time because of so much you have learned in the meantime. Why lose a keeper to JPEG?