Sports - burst & shooting RAW

I've been mostly shooting jpg images when doing sports, and wondering what, if any, effect shooting RAW has on the continuous (high speed) mode.

I know it has to slow it down some, but is the slow-down significant enough to warrant not shooting in RAW? (insofar as sports shooting [Baseball] is concerned?)

The reason why I ask, is because I've discovered that cropping in RAW to a 4 x 5 aspect ratio gives me a perfect, perfect 8 x 10 result for printing at Costco's. I've really been disappointed at least a couple of times already getting a great shot, but, on printing, I'm losing some detail due to the camera's 3:2 ratio (30D) (I've cropped in jpeg to the 4 x 5 ratio, canvas around the image - tried everything - but there are times I can't get it perfect and still lose some detail - very frustrating). I'm somewhat intimidated on processing a multitude of RAW images, but if I get a perfect shot that I can print exactlyat 8 x 10, perhaps it's worth it.

Thanks in advance for advice. To moderator: there's a specific reason why I posted here in sports rather than RAW processing board - (re: continuous drive mode). Please leave this post in sports board - Thanks.

Pat

I was shooting some soccer matches using RAW + JPEG, and no problem at all, just i keep shooting and the camera will do the job, and ofcourse i have to stop shooting when no action so then the camera keeping reading or recording the files no problem.

It might slow it down a touch, but I doubt you'd even really notice a difference unless you're shooting something that is EXTREMELY fast like bobsledding shot from beside the track. I shoot everything in RAW and have had no problem in burst mode. Make sure you have a nice fast CF card in your camera though.

RAWs will fill the buffer faster so while it may not seem to slow the actual burst, it will limit how many you can shoot in succession. There are many posts here concerning bursts vs single shots that might be worth reading. In the end, burst can and do have their place but many top shooters prefer to let timing and single shots get the job done. To each his own but it might be worth a try and it would certainly eliminate any concerns over having to wait for a buffer to clear.

Printing at 8x10 should not be a problem if you only use jpegs. There is something else wrong in your pp or process.

I only shoot RAW. The buffers do fill faster compared to jpegs but still fast enough on my 1dmk2.

If you are printing at 8x10 why not crop to 8x10?

bobbyz wrote in post #5498348
Printing at 8x10 should not be a problem if you only use jpegs. There is something else wrong in your pp or process.

I only shoot RAW. The buffers do fill faster compared to jpegs but still fast enough on my 1dmk2.

Sometimes the frame is so filled, so that if the image is cropped to a 4 x 5 ratio, you're going to lose some detail.

However, the same image cropped 4 x 5 in camera RAW, I can't explain it, it will sometimes work better for me, than cropping to that same ratio outside camera RAW. You would think it should behave the same, because math is very rigid no matter where it is, but at least to what I have seen so far, I think the cropping inside camera RAW might be more accurate. This might seem crazy, but I can't explain it any better.

Pat

I shoot everything RAW and have had heavy crops blown up to 18x12 easily
and indeed a couple to much much larger size 54 in x 36 in posters and they look
fine
I upsize in ACR before cropping in CS3

pigtailpat wrote in post #5498685
Sometimes the frame is so filled, so that if the image is cropped to a 4 x 5 ratio, you're going to lose some detail.

However, the same image cropped 4 x 5 in camera RAW, I can't explain it, it will sometimes work better for me, than cropping to that same ratio outside camera RAW. You would think it should behave the same, because math is very rigid no matter where it is, but at least to what I have seen so far, I think the cropping inside camera RAW might be more accurate. This might seem crazy, but I can't explain it any better.

Pat

RAW or jpeg the dimension (pixel wise) are the same. So when you crop 2:3 format into 8:10 you going to loose stuff. It just can't be that RAW let you crop without cutting off the subject but jpeg doesn't.

I also hope you are using high quality jpegs when shooting as you can control jpeg compression. Highly compressed jpegs will create problems for enlargements.

To get 8:10, one has to shoot loose (opposite of frame right in camera, shoot tight). Having crop lines in view finder helps but I haven't used them.

bobbyz wrote in post #5500033
To get 8:10, one has to shoot loose (opposite of frame right in camera, shoot tight). Having crop lines in view finder helps but I haven't used them.

Now this is getting interesting, I have to ask, how do you have the crop lines in the view finder? How is this turned on? Is this possible with a 30d???

Pat

saggy9999 wrote in post #5498700
I shoot everything RAW and have had heavy crops blown up to 18x12 easily
and indeed a couple to much much larger size 54 in x 36 in posters and they look
fine

54x36?? YIKES! That would be visible from the space station! I sell 24x36 posters a lot and I thought that was big. Where do you get a 54x36 printed and dare I ask what that costs?

pigtailpat wrote in post #5501399
Now this is getting interesting, I have to ask, how do you have the crop lines in the view finder? How is this turned on? Is this possible with a 30d???

Pat

I believe he may be talking about these:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&basicSubmit=Su​bmit+Query

dmwierz wrote in post #5501666
I believe he may be talking about these:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&basicSubmit=Su​bmit+Query

Dennis -

Thanks. I wasn't aware that there are aftermarket focus screens available with the crop marks on them. I don't have the 40d, I have the earlier 30d but Katzeye does make a focus screen for the 30d that I can get the 8 x 10 crop marks on it. This may really help me, and I may consider doing that. Mack Camera service is just the next town over from me, and I may ask them to install the screen for me, I would be too nervous to do it myself.

Pat

The 30d will give you 11 continous shots in RAW mode and 5fps "hi-speed burst" mode

I recently shot some high school baseball, and the pitcher's motion was over in 6 frames, so you'll be fine with 11 continous....

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As far as cropping to 8x10 goes, here is an uncropped pic from my 30d

http://jongeephotograp​hy.zenfolio.com/img/v3​/p665817955.jpg

and here is an 8x10 crop of about 1/3 of the frame

http://jongeephotograp​hy.zenfolio.com/img/v1​/p701999112.jpg

it is 1600 x 2000 pixels big enough for an 8x10 print, for sure. According to the shopping cart on my zenfolio it could be printed up to 16x20