Which format? Raw or jpg

Hi all.
For years ive only ever shot in raw (canon and fuji formats) I save my images but NEVER do anything in post. No experience in it but more down to lack of time (i hardly even organise my shots!). I do hope to do some processing soon and have started reading up on it.

This of course takes lots of hard drive space. Should i convert all to jpgs and delete the raws?

What are people’s different approaches to handling this?

Buy a 2tb external drive for less than 100.00

Space is very cheap these days, and that will store 65000 to 80000 raw.

Raw pictures are always so heavy to save in hard drive therefore according to me you should go for jpg or png format .So that you can keep it for a long time but you will not get the same quality like the raw format.

The raw format offers flexibility in image manipulation as it contains the full set of data at the time you capture the image so if you plan to do any post processing of the image, or go back some time in the future to post process, there is no reason to to shoot raw. From your use case I am assuming that you import the raws and convert them to jpegs using the default camera settings using Canons DPP tool or do you just store the raw files and never convert the image at all.

Hi , I am recently doing photography as my passion. I have heard people saying that raw format pictures takes a lot of space but the quality remains good. Every time my computer gets hanged because of the raw format pictures and I cannot do any other work.
Which format will i follow while capturing the picture?

gjl711 wrote in post #18798142
The raw format offers flexibility in image manipulation as it contains the full set of data at the time you capture the image so if you plan to do any post processing of the image, or go back some time in the future to post process, there is no reason to to shoot raw. From your use case I am assuming that you import the raws and convert them to jpegs using the default camera settings using Canons DPP tool or do you just store the raw files and never convert the image at all.

Indeed, i just shoot and save in Raw only. If i need to convert to jpg, i’ll do so using software (darktable).

Noted on the point Re cheap storage. Im leaning towards this too, upgrade hard drives for relatively little and keep my options open for future post processing...

raysosher wrote in post #18798143
Hi , I am recently doing photography as my passion. I have heard people saying that raw format pictures takes a lot of space but the quality remains good. Every time my computer gets hanged because of the raw format pictures and I cannot do any other work.
Which format will i follow while capturing the picture?

Raw files are larger because they capture the full output of the image sensor with very little processing. They are not inherently better in quality by themselves but simply allow the most latitude in image manipulation which leads to a better image. If your computer is crashing because you opened a raw file, it's not because it's a raw file but most likely because it's a large file. I would take a look at your PC to see what's causing the crash. Are you running your system drive near capacity? Is your machine memory limited? Do you have some spyware/malware chewing up available processor cycles? Got a ton of applications open?

Raw files have more dynamic range than jpg files, and are lossless, unlike JPG. RAW files also contain a full size jpg within, which is one of the reasons they are large.

RAW file is analogous to a film Negative...when you printed the negative (and alter the RAW parameters during post processing and then create a JPG) you 'interpret' what is captured in the negative...and you CAN interpret the captured scene the same or DIFFERENTLY each time you work with the negative (and each time to alter
raw parameters in post processing).

So why throw away your negatives, just because you have a single print?!
And, why throw away your RAW files, just because you have a single JPG?!

Just as an example of how one might apply different interpretations to the same scene, this shot for a client named Red Berry Coffee...

I've been trying to get better at purging the garbage pics and only keep good ones - I keep them in RAW - I've found my post-processing styles change a bit over the years and it's nice to have a bit more freedom with processing images...

Sapre wrote in post #18798119
Hi all.
For years ive only ever shot in raw (canon and fuji formats) I save my images but NEVER do anything in post. No experience in it but more down to lack of time (i hardly even organise my shots!). I do hope to do some processing soon and have started reading up on it.

This of course takes lots of hard drive space. Should i convert all to jpgs and delete the raws?

What are people’s different approaches to handling this?

Since you will soon begin processing the RAW this would not be the time to consider working in JPG. Keep those RAWS! If you are running out of space and don't want to add storage then just delete the obvious losers.

Some really excellent shooters work only with highest quality JPGs. Once you get going with processing your shots you will be able to make your own informed choice on workflow.

Sapre wrote in post #18798159
Indeed, i just shoot and save in Raw only. If i need to convert to jpg, i’ll do so using software (darktable).

Noted on the point Re cheap storage. Im leaning towards this too, upgrade hard drives for relatively little and keep my options open for future post processing...

That is what I would do. Like people mentioned storage is inexpensive these days and what it you get a series of shots or a shoot that you wished you had RAW files to correct something. I don't do a lot of advanced editing like layers unless I need to but I do the basics like clipping for backs and whites, WB, NR, sharpening, etc. I'm using LR8 (the new Auto feature is very good) and I have it down so I can export a file or a group of files in less than 30 seconds if I want to. I can't imagine not shooting in RAW.

If you find some time start with Canon's DPP. It is very good for the basics and free so you can get familiar with RAW editing. One day you may want to get an editor that does all your formats and there are a lot out there these days.

https://www.usa.canon.​com …nal-DPP-4-Tutorial-Videos

I often shoot JPEG for work, when I have control of things. My default is to shoot raw+JPEG so I only go near the raw if I have to.

This was shot earlier today for an advert. It SOOC JPEG with the Fuji Eterna profile. No editing other than removing the wires. There might be a small bump in clarity or contrast when the ad is built up.

All I can say is why is this even a question?
Andrew

Sapre wrote in post #18798119
Hi all.
For years ive only ever shot in raw (canon and fuji formats) I save my images but NEVER do anything in post. No experience in it but more down to lack of time (i hardly even organise my shots!). I do hope to do some processing soon and have started reading up on it.

This of course takes lots of hard drive space. Should i convert all to jpgs and delete the raws?

What are people’s different approaches to handling this?

if you're not going to perform any post-processing on your raw images you might as well just shoot jpeg in the first place. The value and superiority of raw is the flexibility and latitude of the adjustments that can be made. An unprocessed raw file will tend to look flatter and less sharp, and with less contrast then a JPEG straight out of the camera. However if you are converting your raw files to jpgs in Canon's DPP software then the in-camera settings are applied.