RAW? Huh what's that?

ArtByQJ · Jan 31, 2012

Hi

What's this RAW thing I hear you all speaking of ? I shoot in JPEG with the L thingy on my camera. But I hear the people speaking of RAW. Do tell!

robolepa · Jan 31, 2012

Most digital cameras process and compress the pictures you take immediately after capturing the image. This can be helpful, as it keeps the file sizes low (using JPEG compression) and takes care of color correction, including white-balance, tint, and exposure, so you don't have to. However, some people, such as professional photographers, prefer to have more control over how each image is processed. Therefore, many high-end cameras have the ability to shoot in RAW mode. This mode does not compress the images at all and leaves them completely unprocessed.
Because Camera RAW files are uncompressed, they take up more space than typical JPEG images. In fact, RAW files often require 2 to 3 times more space for each image captured. So, you'll want to have an extra-large memory card in your camera if you plan on shooting in RAW mode. But since RAW photos are not compressed, you maintain the full quality of each image. This can make a noticeable difference when printing images, especially for large prints.
Camera RAW files are also unprocessed, meaning all the photo processing is done on the computer. It is like taking a film negative to a dark room to be developed. The RAW file is the negative and the computer serves as the dark room. With a RAW file, you have complete control over the temperature adjustments (for white-balance), tint, hue, and exposure. However, since Camera RAW files are not typical images, most image-viewing programs will not open them. Therefore, most camera companies include Camera RAW editing software with their high-end cameras. These programs allow you to open RAW files, do the necessary processing, and save them in common image formats such as bitmap, TIFF, and JPEG.
While shooting in Camera RAW mode offers a lot of control over your photos, it takes additional software and extra time to open and edit each picture you take. For most casual photography, using the camera's built-in processing is the most suitable option.

robolepa · Jan 31, 2012

The previous post was from techterms.com.

ArtByQJ · Jan 31, 2012

robolepa said:
The previous post was from techterms.com.

Thanks! I don't know what I'm editing :-/ . I do have the RAW software that came with the camera (Canon T2i). I have an 8GB memory card. I am thinking if I am doing RAW I should upgrade to 32. I'm normally shooting 800-1000 photos at a time.

QuadTap · Jan 31, 2012

you will probably need 16gb or more to shoot that much... make sure you get a fast enough card usually class 6 or higher.

youtube is your friend... Raw V's Jpeg - YouTube

ArtByQJ · Jan 31, 2012

QuadTap said:
you will probably need 16gb or more to shoot that much... make sure you get a fast enough card usually class 6 or higher.

youtube is your friend... Raw V's Jpeg - YouTube

Thanks Quad I'll check that out!

pgriz · Jan 31, 2012

If you're shooting up to 1000 shots in a single session, there's no way you're going to edit all that. Unless, your shutter button gets stuck and you're shootings bursts of shots of the same subject. Either way, shooting in RAW is part of a workflow where you intend to post-process the result to achieve some goal that you can't get in camera. So the flow would be: concept, then putting together the set (lights, props, background), taking the shots (vary focus, exposure, angle, etc), download to your PC/MAC and pick out the best candidates, then work on the post-processing to bring out the concept you had initially.

Maybe I'm totally missing what you are trying to do with your photography...

Edit: Had a look at your photos - they are very good for someone who just started. You've got some difficult lighting situations in the night series that you handled well. Raw would allow you to post-process the images to extract the maximum amount of detail and to compensate for some artifacts that your equipment adds to the image (I'm thinking anti-aliasing, some types of lens distortion). Raw also helps in making corrections such as white-balance, much easier to do in a non-destructive manner. It depends - if you are happy with the processing choices the camera makes for you (in making the jpeg), and you don[t intend to go back and edit the images, then you don't need RAW. If you say "Oh, there's detail that's almost blown out and there are chunks of image that are too dark", then you may be able to improve the images with post-processing.

jowensphoto · Jan 31, 2012

Yes, I'm curious to know why you are shooting so many at one time too. Not saying that your incorrect in doing so, just wondering why.

o hey tyler · Jan 31, 2012

Are you talking 800-1000 shots every time you take your camera out? Or every time you dump your memory card?

800-1000 shots is unnecessary to take in a single shoot... Unless you're shooting a wedding or a long event.

Fred Berg · Jan 31, 2012

800 to 1,000 photos at a time is staggering. I sometimes shoot a roll of 35 mm X36 exposures in one go and find myself wondering afterwards if I gave each shot enough thought!

jowensphoto · Jan 31, 2012

And welcome, fellow Virginian!

analog.universe · Jan 31, 2012

800-1000 every time sounds like a lot, but I can think of a few situations where I've hit that mark. Threw most of them out afterwards, but I knew that when I was taking them. If you're shooting moving subjects, and using high speed burst because you don't know when the best moment will be, it can happen.

I've also shot 3,000 in an afternoon doing timelapse...

All depends on what you do

jowensphoto · Jan 31, 2012

Certainly, analog. I just hope for OP's sake he's not shooting that EVERY time. Unless EVERY time he shoots he's doing a wedding, time-lapse, or big event. That just seems like a headache to me!

Postman158 · Jan 31, 2012

ArtByQJ said:
robolepa said:

The previous post was from techterms.com.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I don't know what I'm editing :-/ . I do have the RAW software that came with the camera (Canon T2i). I have an 8GB memory card. I am thinking if I am doing RAW I should upgrade to 32. I'm normally shooting 800-1000 photos at a time.

I'd get maybe multiple 8gb cards if you're going to shoot that much. If you put all them on a 32gb card and the card fails on you, theres a good chance you're out of those pictures now. That doesn't look too hot if you're doing paid work too. Even so, if you're just documenting a vacation or taking pictures at your little sister's birthday party, its not a good thing to risk. The brand Transcend has some great and affordable 8gb, 16gb, and 32gb CLASS 10 cards.

Also, like I said, I'd try and go for a Class 10 card if you're going to shoot raw especially. If you're going to shoot in bursts (whats the T2i, 3.7fps?) it should write the images faster than a lower class card.