RAW images

[photoik]

I shoot a lot of sports action shots. I have a Canon D60. I usually shoot in JEPG "large". Does a pro- sports photographer shoot in "RAW"? How do you handle those big files?

[robertwgross]

1. Get some large CF cards.
2. Use a card reader to the PC.
3. Use various software that has batch processing of different functions.

In my D60, I've never shot anything except for RAW.

---Bob Gross---

[photoik]

Thanks a lot. :D I guess I'll go and get used to the RAW files. I do have batch processing software.

[IndyJeff]

Photoik if you walked down the sidelines at the Super Bowl, you would no doubt find some guys shooting RAW but i think the majority would be shooting jpeg. RAW slows down the buffer for one thing and guys shooting sports not only want as many FPS but as large a buffer as they can get. In my D60 on jpeg I can get 3FPS and a burst of 8 then about 1 FPS up to 14 frames. In RAW the FPS are slowed to about 1 1/2 FPS, at least on my camera.

I do know that last year at Indy we were given specific instructions to shoot L/F jpeg. Any RAW files would not be processed.

[Vegas Poboy]

I'm cureently in a sports photography class and it all depends on the sport you're shooting. It sucks to miss a shot when shooting RAW & waiting for the cameras buffer to clear. Large Jpeg has been the best file for me shooting most fast action sports.

[FotoPhreak]

Thanks a lot. :D I guess I'll go and get used to the RAW files. I do have batch processing software.

Batch processing software? Is this similar to PS actions where you can perform similar/multiple operations with the press of one button?

[photoik]

What I understand, batch processing software is when you can convert multiple files (instead of single), like Tif to JPG.

Another advantage shooting RAW is obviously that I can use a higher ISO (800 - 1000) and I still get great pictures. On the weekend I'm shooting a couple futsal games and I'll play around with RAW and JPG. Sure I'm not happy with a slower buffer.

[robertwgross]

In my D60 on jpeg I can get 3FPS and a burst of 8 then about 1 FPS up to 14 frames. In RAW the FPS are slowed to about 1 1/2 FPS, at least on my camera.

In your second sentence, did you mean 1-1/2 FPS AFTER the burst of 8 or did you mean 1-1/2 for the whole thing? Your text implies the latter, but on mine, it works like the former.

---Bob Gross---

[theoldmoose]

What I understand, batch processing software is when you can convert multiple files (instead of single), like Tif to JPG.

Another advantage shooting RAW is obviously that I can use a higher ISO (800 - 1000) and I still get great pictures. On the weekend I'm shooting a couple futsal games and I'll play around with RAW and JPG. Sure I'm not happy with a slower buffer.

The batch procession software that most folks are referring to is Capture One:

http://www.c1dslr.com/

Depending on the level of C1 software you get, you can batch up to "N" number of RAW conversions in the background, while you tinker with the exposure and color balance settings on the next few. Pros that need to process a lot of images will tend to spring for the more pricey package, which gets you other features like color profile editing, etc. The more cheap of us amateurs who have Digital Rebels have scooped up on the $49 DR edition, which can only batch 10 photos at a time (except you still get unlimited batching of JPEG previews), before waiting for the queue to clear, etc.

C1 makes working with RAW a *lot* less painful, than using the FVU software that Canon provides, or even the RAW plug-ins for PhotoShop. It's easy, for instance to 'click' color balance one RAW, then apply the same color balance settings to an entire group of photos with a Windows-like shift-click selection process, then dump those photos into the processing bin, and go on to the next batch. Once the initial previews are generated, changes to a preview are displayed almost instantaneously, as opposed to FVU, where the RAW file is repeatedly processed over and over for every change you make to the preview.

If you work with RAW, you need C1. Don't listen to folks that complain that RAW is slow, unless/until you've tried C1 (free trial downloads available). And no, I don't work for C1 :P I just think they have a decent product, that solves a lot of problems for someone working in RAW. There is also a review on Luminous Landscape:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/1ds/capture-one.shtml

Having said all that, if you are shooting sports, you may wish to stick with L/F JPEG. The ability to churn out a lot of shots in quick order, with a minimum of fuss, may be your ticket.

Your remark about being able to shoot at higher ISO in RAW mode puzzles me. Is there some reason that the D60 disallows higher ISO in JPEG? Or are you convinced that RAW produces a more noise-free picture at higher ISO (doubtful, I think)?

[Motorsports Photo]

You'll still hget good pics no matter which format you use. If you want to mess with them later, shoot raw. If you just want to take pics and give them a little tweak, why bother with anything but jpg.

I have to shoot jpg. My customers wont wait around while I futz with a file. They can hardly wait around for a quick sort!

-Pete