RAW + Jpeg or just RAW?

[Dmitri]

I always shoot raw + jpeg because, well, I like what I can do with raw files.

But it occurred to me.. do I need the jpeg? With just raw it takes less room on the memory cards, and I can still do what I need to in Post Proc.

So, since I can't think of any, is there any reason I should use Raw + jpeg instead of just raw?

 

[camz]

I always shoot raw + jpeg because, well, I like what I can do with raw files.

But it occurred to me.. do I need the jpeg? With just raw it takes less room on the memory cards, and I can still do what I need to in Post Proc.

So, since I can't think of any, is there any reason I should use Raw + jpeg instead of just raw?

I just shoot in just RAW. If you don't even bother with the JPEGs at all I don't see why shoot in both formats and waste disk space. The only advantage it has when shooting in both formats is if you work with both formats. To me it's personally redundant.

 

[ddeerreekk]

I always shoot raw + jpeg because, well, I like what I can do with raw files.

But it occurred to me.. do I need the jpeg? With just raw it takes less room on the memory cards, and I can still do what I need to in Post Proc.

So, since I can't think of any, is there any reason I should use Raw + jpeg instead of just raw?

The only time I ever shoot with jpegs if I'm shooting a large batch of photo's that aren't too important (so if some don't turn out it's not a huge deal). Sometimes shooting them all in raw just takes to long to process and edit.

Basically, if I'm taking quick snapshots or just testing a light set up out or something like that, I'd probably just shoot in jpeg for ease of editing.

 

[Overread]

Sounds like your ready to lose your JPEGs
Certainly if your not using them then by all means change over to full RAW shooting - its how I shoot almost all of the time now. The only times I slip into the JPEGs when the shot are not so critical to me (mostly just happy snaps) and when I don't want to really spend time editing them - the rest is all done in RAW

 

[Dmitri]

ok that's pretty much what I was thinking. I can't remember the last time I bothered with the jpegs... pics go into the canon program, which sends them to photoshop as tif anyway so jpeg is never even used.

Thanks

 

[Dmitri]

also thanks to derek and overread (both of whom posted while I was replying )

 

[photo28]

Little late here, I use shoot in just RAW. I can't think of any time I would need the jpegs anyway - I could always just have them converted if it was really needed.

 

[JerryPH]

I shoot straight 14-bit uncompressed RAW. Everything gets converted to JPG in the end anyway, yet I still retain ultimate control over my final results and my PPing, though minimal, will *always* be superior to anything my camera can give me.

RAW + JPG for me is a waste of card space.

 

[Dmitri]

Yup, I officially set it to RAW only. I am still not sure why I ever thought jpeg + raw was a good idea.

 

[IgsEMT]

Yup, I officially set it to RAW only. I am still not sure why I ever thought jpeg + raw was a good idea.

Some say if you like your camera's jpg, you can use it as a reference.

 

[FourAcesPhotography]

When using a camera with film modes (b&w, etc.) on there, a favorite of mine being "Dynamic B&W" on my Panasonic LX3, I shoot those in JPEG. Because it won't process RAW correctly.

Sensor RAW data is ALWAYS shot in color. It's just that some software will display the CAMERA SETTINGS, ala Olympus. Panasonic WILL NOT do this.

I'm not sure about other companies, perhaps some can fill in. I would like to know for Canon and Nikon...

 

[AlexNeo]

I shoot in JPEG for events...the quantity of photos for events is huge....the in camera processing save me lot of time for post processing

 

[Garbz]

Every RAW editor I have seen has a batch conversion option.

Nuff said.

 

[msf]

I like to shoot raw with jpg. The great thing about the xxD canon series *at least 20d* is it lets you choose different size jpgs. Then when I get home, I use windows picture viewer and go through the jpgs to see what I want to keep and dont, then either erase the raw files that are left, or move them to a backed up raw folder.

I find it easier going through the pictures this way than going thruogh them in the raw editor. I just wish microsoft would add a couple tools to the picture viewer, like the ability to see 2 pictures side by side *especially on my widescreen laptop*, and a zoomed in section would be great to, so I can compare facial expressions that much easier and quicker. Theres probably a program out there that does this though.

I converted 280 raw files last night, it took 45 minutes for the computer to process them as jpgs.

 

[Big Mike]

RAW files already have an embedded JPEG, that's what you see when you look at the RAW image.

The one advantage I can see to shooting RAW+JPEG, is if you need the JPEG files very quickly and\or you are working with very little computing power.

I use windows picture viewer and go through the jpgs to see what I want to keep and dont, then either erase the raw files that are left, or move them to a backed up raw folder.

There are plenty of programs that will allow you to go through the RAW image to sort your keepers and trashable images.