RAW is a format that contains all of data that was recorded when you took the photograph. It is uncompressed. It gives you a great deal of control over how you can process the image. If you are shooting jpgs the camera determines how it should look based on how you've set up the camera and compresses the image and tosses out all of the "extra" data.
In the file size settings for your camera. You should have choices like S JPG, M JPG, L JPG and then RAW + JPG (with size choices again probably) and then RAW by itself. On my Canon 40D it's under quality in the menu.
@lbaker You don't have to post process RAW images if you don't want to. You can leave the images as they are, sooc (straight out of camera). If you shoot RAW you would have to upload to your computer and save as jpg to upload to this site. Your camera can shoot, RAW or jpeg, or depending on the camera sometimes both at the same time. You have greater editing flexibility with RAW images because jpgs are compressed.
Do not forget that, if you shoot in the RAW format, you will need software that allows you to post process this and convert to a more common viewable format such as jpeg or tiff. Adobe Camera RAW is the most commonly used but there are a few others. You also need to ensure your particular camera is supported by the software.
This all blows my mind. Can I ask a stoopid question? Do the images look better when taken in raw. I mean in a size 10/8 or less or on a screen? If not then I won't bother. I don't understand the processing more thing, I can do everything I want to a jpeg, it never says 'hey this is a jpeg, not a RAW image, you can't do that!' I really don't get this. I shot some nice raw pics once and tried to upload them and they didn't happen, they dissapeared. I only fit about 100 on a card too. Basically I'd like someone to say, Dave, don't worry it's for pros who blow their work up big and do fancy stuff to it. please someone say that to me. @dgc4rter@lislee75@geniabeana
@chewyteeth jpg is a lossy compression format... you lose some of the full RAW information when converted. minor post processing adjustments are ok for JPG but the result is alot better / easier on RAW. Ie you may be able to modify the exposure up to 2-3 stops on RAW but you might find it ugly on jpg.
If you're doing minor post processing and are not likely to ever go back in the future, then shoot on jpg :)
An alternative - get a 32GB CF / SD Card (7dayshop do great prices) and shoot RAW. Import in your computer, keep the ones you REALLY like. The ones you're ho hum about it, export as jpg, keep the jpg, kill the RAW
@toast Yeah I could get a bigger card, but then I need software to handle RAW, but I'd have to see something tangible. I bet you could point out to me the RAW shots amongst the jpegs on the site, but I'm not sure it would make a difference, and like I say I never find myself wanting any more processing than I already do. *sigh* I'm missing something.
@chewyteeth I dont think there's any sites that will view RAW images. for 365, you have to convert them to jpg to upload anyway
So instead of what you do :
JPG->EDIT->SAVE->UPLOAD
for RAW you
RAW->EDIT->CONVERT TO JPG->UPLOAD
If you're doing things like HDR, you may get better results as well.. notice i say MAY as i havent tried it in JPG.
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@dgc4rter @lislee75 @geniabeana
If you're doing minor post processing and are not likely to ever go back in the future, then shoot on jpg :)
An alternative - get a 32GB CF / SD Card (7dayshop do great prices) and shoot RAW. Import in your computer, keep the ones you REALLY like. The ones you're ho hum about it, export as jpg, keep the jpg, kill the RAW
So instead of what you do :
JPG->EDIT->SAVE->UPLOAD
for RAW you
RAW->EDIT->CONVERT TO JPG->UPLOAD
If you're doing things like HDR, you may get better results as well.. notice i say MAY as i havent tried it in JPG.