Switching from RAW to JPG

I recently received a 7D, and as I had been for some time with my old camera, I continue to shoot in the highest resolution RAW it could handle.

My core duo Macbook was running Aperture 2, but I recently upgrade to Aperture 3 - and now, it's too much. My memory spikes, performance is terrible, and the exported JPGs are frequently corrupt and have to be re-exported.

I can't afford a computer upgrade (I did just buy a 7D, remember!), but I know I can't work with my current workflow.

Barring me taking some test shots and trying it out (I'll do that this weekend when I can focus on it) - would you think I'll get better results switching to shooting JPG, or a lower resolution RAW? Which would you go for?

Lots of opinions out there regarding RAW vs jpeg shooting. I think it really depends on what you're shooting and how you'll use the images. Some well known and published pro's claim to only shoot jpeg. But, in your case maybe you can be selective - shoot jpeg unless you know your shooting in difficult lighting, etc. or will need a very large print then use RAW.

I just got my 7D last Friday and was shocked at how much memory it takes up on the CF cards and the RAM. Yes, it does make things go slow. I shoot full RAW as well and mJPEG. I am very selective on the shots I process. I will upload all images to an external hard drive and take them out one at a time to edit. I never leave the gallery or organizer up. My workflow is slower, but well worth it. Yeah, I had to do unnatural things to upgrade my PSE7 & 8 to get the RAW images all together. That's what happens when cameras get updated and computers and software can't keep up. You may just need more RAM.

try RAW and JPEG then only process the RAWs you need and only if the JPEG won't work?

What about LR, does it run any better on your computer? Or how about a RAM upgrade? A couple hundred $ there might also fix the issue w/o getting an entire new computer.

My machine is maxed out with RAM (it's a poor, dual core, first generation Macbook and entirely unsuitable for what I need to do these days!)

I don't think Aperture will handle RAW+JPG how I would like it too - it's going to use JPGs for thumbnails, but edits and exports will be done on the RAW level.

I think I'll switch to JPG, try it out on some test shoots, and see where it takes me and if the performance is any better.

Can't you just shoot raw + jpeg, import in to a raw folder and a jpeg folder, and then tell Aperture to add the jpeg folder to your library (ignoring the raw folder)

Yikes! I'm seriously considering buying a 7D in the very near future (like, this week!). This thread is giving me second thoughts.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #9633523
Yikes! I'm seriously considering buying a 7D in the very near future (like, this week!). This thread is giving me second thoughts.

The photos it takes are awesome.

The files are just huge though

And video? man, I think I can get about 12 minutes on my 8gb CF card!

Howdy,

Yup. 14-bit RAW's are large anyway...and Canon's latest images sensors are all 16mp or greater, so we're all going to need larger flash cards, faster readers, and more powerful computers in order to get the same work done that we used to with our older 8mp, 12-bit bodies.

I have sixteen 7D raw files that I've collected from a couple of different websites, and the average filesize is 25.1 MB compared to around 7 MB for our old 1D Mark IIn. All in the name of progress, I guess.

I have been shooting raw for grandson's hockey games and found I was spending tooooooooooo much time processing, because .... I dont know what i am doing. Finally about a month ago, I switched to jpeg and paid real close attention to white balance and exposure, keeping histogram to the right side...I am blown away by the pictures i am getting in jpeg, yes..some may need slight adjustment but not more than we are able to do in lightroom to a jpeg image...wish i had done this way a long time ago...I guess the pros that are shooting jpeg have it right....get the correct white balance and exposure the first time and you dont need to shoot raw.

My problem was just solved - my wife came back with a new iMac

^ must be nice! congrats!

I was gonna suggest mRAW instead of JPEG

As cool as Macs/Macbooks are this is the reason I will probably never buy one. It's pretty easy for me to drop $600 on new PC parts every couple of years and have a high powered rig.

DStanic wrote in post #9634130
As cool as Macs/Macbooks are this is the reason I will probably never buy one. It's pretty easy for me to drop $600 on new PC parts every couple of years and have a high powered rig.

At the risk of initiating a Mac / PC gang war ...

<NOT a Mac/PC flame>

I was into PCs for years, built them, upgraded them, over clocked them. Eventually, this constant state of upgrade wore me down, and we bought our first iMac G5 and never looked back. Thats still running 24/7 in the kitchen, and my wife and I are both Macbook users, with iPhones on a Time Capsule managed network.

My Macbook, while underpowered for what I need it to do with my 7D RAW files, is still a fully functional, rock stable laptop - I can't say the same of the Toshiba laptop sitting in my closet with a busted power socket, or the Thinkpad that can't even talk to my Time Capsule managed LAN at home, and the less said about the 3 white box PCs we finally donated last year the better

Neither is better - I work in software security and am confident that Macs are NOT immune to problems. For me, Macs work. This is the first new Mac we've bought in probably 3 years, so we're definitely getting our money's worth

</NOT a Mac/PC flame>

rogazilla wrote in post #9634096
^ must be nice! congrats!

Thanks! and yes, it is.

But boy, do I owe her ... She bought me the 7D too ... something about "sick of hearing me whine"