Raw or Jpeg?

[coolbryan84]

hello all! i have a quick question. I dont own any post processing software more intuitive than iphoto's adjustments.

i am confused: do i shoot in raw or jpeg
why one over the other and what do you prefer?
thanks!

 

[Dominantly]

raw

 

[bigtwinky]

do a search on the forum for RAW vs JPG or something similar, this topic is often discussed at lenghts

 

[Josh66]

Yeah - RAW.

Your camera should have came with RAW processing software, if it can shoot RAW. (There are also 3rd party products available)

 

[patrickt]

For me, if you shoot snapshots and print with no processing or shoot for the news media and have to send your photos in quickly or maybe if you're shooting photos to be used in court then you would use JPEG. There might be some other examples of JPEG appropriate uses that I'm not thinking of right now. Since I'm not doing any of those things, I shoot raw.

 

[Shockey]

If you want to do post processing shoot raw.
If you want to use them straight from the camera shoot jpeg.

 

[JustForSneaks07]

shoot Raw if you wanna change the exposures later, but it takes a while to load cause the files are larger than JPEG

 

[rocdoc]

I shoot exclusively raw for the past couple of years. It depends on your habits. If you shoot 500 pics at a party and want to keep 400 of them, it would be very cumbersome. I spent several days visiting family and hiking, took 300 pics and processed and shared about 20. So that is doable, I do it rarely. If that is your approach, and you pick and choose your shots, raw is a no-brainer. You can get exactly the look you want, keep your white balance forever on auto and not care etc. You do need a dedicated processing software though.

 

[IgsEMT]

coolbryan,
I'd STRONGLY recomend you to search this topic. It has been talked about over and over and over again.
there are advantages and disadvantages to both but only you can decide what works for you.
If, after your search you are still confused, PM or try to find me on aim with same name as here and we can further discuss it.

Good luck and happy new year!
good luck

 

[KmH]

RAW images require post processing. Every single one that is a keeper.

JPEGs come out of the camera already post processed to one degree or another.

If you don't have, or know how to use image editing software, shoot JPEG.

I've never used iphoto and don't know what it can/cannot do.

 

[Pugs]

For me, if you shoot snapshots and print with no processing or shoot for the news media and have to send your photos in quickly or maybe if you're shooting photos to be used in court then you would use JPEG. There might be some other examples of JPEG appropriate uses that I'm not thinking of right now. Since I'm not doing any of those things, I shoot raw.

I'm not a lawyer and don't play one on TV... but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express... just not last night...

My understanding is that .jpg files are actually frowned upon in court due to the possiblity of photo-manipulation, but RAW files are more generally accepted in court because you can't manipulate them. Kind of the same reason why negatives were preferred over prints in the film days... I may be talking out of my a$$, though...

RAW images require post processing. Every single one that is a keeper.

JPEGs come out of the camera already post processed to one degree or another.

If you don't have, or know how to use image editing software, shoot JPEG.

I've never used iphoto and don't know what it can/cannot do.

This is the advice that I would give for your situation. I would add, though, that in the long run, you'll be happier shooting RAW and getting some sort of editing software.

 

[Dominantly]

I'll add more for you to think about....... Color space- sRGB or Adobe RGB........

 

[Rockford]

Lets take this to the next step ,which would be dedicated processing software

Which one and why

 

[boomer]

I still shoot in JPEG quite a bit. If its something important, then I'll shoot in RAW+JPEG just to be safe then possibly delete what files i don't want. Just remember, RAW has a lot more capabilities when it comes to editing (White balance and exposure adjustments are my most common reasons from shooting RAW).

I use Light Room 2.2 and CS2.

 

[Pugs]

Lightroom. Hands down. If you can have only software package, that's what I'd choose with no question. It's cataloging, workflow, rating, and organizing features are INCREDIBLE. Plus, with 80-90% of the pics that I need to edit, I don't need to jump into Photoshop at all.