why RAW?

[starzphalling]

ok so here's another of my beyond simple (i'm assuming) newbie question.....what are the advantages to shooting in RAW? i've always shot thru my 10d with the largest format (whatever is right under RAW). And after listening to all the forum banter here i'm seeing everyone say "Shoot in RAW!!" but i don't know why? Can someone please explain this to me? I've been cursed with an artistic and scientific brain, so i get angry unless i know answers to my "WHY" questions. :lol: thanx! (ahead of time)

[EOSAddict]

RAW records more bits per pixel (12 instead of 8 for CRW I think) and can be manipulated much easier. Can also record more detail/dynamic range in highlights/shadows. It is also effectively a direct lossless capture of what the sensor sees.

[Rigrider]

This may not be the "Right" answer, but it's my answer:

Because with Raw you can do most of the adjustments you need to do without "damaging" and pixles. In .jpg or .tif or even .psd, everytime you make some sort of adjustment you are taking away pixels (unless you're using adjustment layer's but that's a whole other topic) which means you are lessoning the quality of the shot. In Raw, you are/can do most of your colour and tonal adjustments before you make the .jpg or .tiff or whatever. And you always have the option of going back to that Raw image and readjusting if you want, still without doing any damage! (so long as you save that raw image of course!)

Hope this helps.

L8r,

[FlyingPete]

Here are my reasons:
1. Colour range, RAWs are 12bit, vs 8 bit for the JPG, so that is 4096 levels of colour instead of 256, far less chance of 'clipping' in post editing.

2. White Balance, this can be adjusted and fine tunned post shooting, giving a lot better results than what you could do to a JPG.

On the down side is frame buffers and card space!

[starzphalling]

ok well this all makes sense to me...one more question....i've seen it in a few posts here what is "chimping" ??? i really don't get it....am i supposed to know or is it an english term that i just don't get? well thanx for all your info!!!!

[FlyingPete]

ok well this all makes sense to me...one more question....i've seen it in a few posts here what is "chimping" ??? i really don't get it....am i supposed to know or is it an english term that i just don't get? well thanx for all your info!!!!

Not sure of the orgin, but it refers to the practice of taking a photo, then reviewing it on the LCD screen after each shot.

[CyberDyneSystems]

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/chimp.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gif

[tim]

Why RAW? Quality and flexability.

[FlyingPete]

Yes, a Photographers's strength flows from digital. But beware of RAW. Post Processing, card space, backups; the RAW side of digital photography are they. Easily they flow, quick to produce great shots. If once you start down the RAW path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you your storage it will.

[ScottE]

I tried shooting in the raw last winter, but I was shivering so much I couldn't hold the camera steady and had to come inside and put some clothes on.

I was going to try again and shoot a wedding in the raw this spring, but my wife made me put a suit on.

I've given up on shooting in the raw now and as a next best compromise I set the camera at RAW and let it shoot raw while I am fully clothed.

[Rigrider]

Scott and Pete...especially Pete: Thank you for making me feel right at home in my geektatude! lol!!

L8r,

[tckadventures]

1. Colour range, RAWs are 12bit, vs 8 bit for the JPG, so that is 4096 levels of colour instead of 256, far less chance of 'clipping' in post editing.

So is it also true when you convert from RAW to JPEG that you have reverted back to 8bit when PS? I am using the file viewer that came with the camera to convert so i can then PS in Corel Photo paint 11 which doesn't have the capabilitiy to view or adjust RAW photos. If so, is it to my advantage to shoot RAW at all then?

[noink]

So is it also true when you convert from RAW to JPEG that you have reverted back to 8bit when PS? I am using the file viewer that came with the camera to convert so i can then PS in Corel Photo paint 11 which doesn't have the capabilitiy to view or adjust RAW photos. If so, is it to my advantage to shoot RAW at all then?

You can convert to 16bit TIFF if you want then edit. I prefer to make all my exposure corrections in the RAW 'importer' (be what ever it is that you use), that mostly deals with the clipping effects. I believe PhotoPaint can also deal with 16bit TIFF's. The main issue with 16bit in photo editing packages is you don't get full functionality, not all the filters etc support 16bit.

[robertwgross]

So is it also true when you convert from RAW to JPEG that you have reverted back to 8bit when PS? I am using the file viewer that came with the camera to convert so i can then PS in Corel Photo paint 11 which doesn't have the capabilitiy to view or adjust RAW photos. If so, is it to my advantage to shoot RAW at all then?

You might want to clarify your question.

What do you mean by "when PS"? You are using Corel as your editor, correct? Not PhotoShop.

We don't know what camera you were using, nor do we know which file viewer you were using. However, most RAW converters allow you to view and make exposure corrections in the conversion, so that is the first advantage.

You do not want to convert directly to JPEG. Convert from RAW to TIF (8 bit or 16 bit), with any major corrections made in the conversion, and make any further major edits to the TIF (e.g. cropping, cloning, etc.). Once you have the final image and you are sure, then you can do a conversion to JPEG as a final step.

That 16-bit-per-channel TIF will take up a lot of space, but if you are making major exposure changes, it can be a big advantage in the final result. The disadvantage is that many editors, like some versions of Corel, cannot do all of its functions in 16-bit TIF. Once you have a 16-bit TIF that is good, you can always convert it to 8-bit TIF or 8-bit JPEG. But you cannot go the other way to any advantage.

---Bob Gross---

[tckadventures]

Thanks Bob, I know I shouldn't have stated PS but I thought most people would be confused if I started saying CPP instead.:)
I am using the Canon 300D with the canon digital camera file viewer utility to convert & only just started using RAW. So what you are saying is that you convert from a RAW to TIFF as it is a better format to make changes in rather than JPEG. Do you also work on the file as is or do you resize to a more managable size for the computer? I have been previously working on the large format and have at times trouble with the size factor while working on the JPEGS.

[EOSAddict]

Yes, a Photographers's strength flows from digital. But beware of RAW. Post Processing, card space, backups; the RAW side of digital photography are they. Easily they flow, quick to produce great shots. If once you start down the RAW path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you your storage it will.

:lol: :lol: :lol: LMAO!

[starzphalling]

well pete, to me you will be forever known as yodapete not flyingpete, and as for you scott, i believe you may have some issues that need to be shared with a professional. this goes to show you that all the people that think us "art geeks" here sit in dark corners smoking cigerettes, crying coffee, and bleeding tears are sooooooooooooo WRonG! most of us just have some deep seeded emotional problems, and have to deal on a daily basis with a world that is just too darn serious!! thanx for all your help guys, and don't worry i'm a never ending fountain of questions, we'll have to do this again some time :confused: :lol:

[FlyingPete]

well pete, to me you will be forever known as yodapete not flyingpete

:D
Yes interesting posts like this are, esspecially when backwards you type!