photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Hey y'all I want to learn to take photos in Raw ... I have read the manual several times and tried experiments but I'm not happy with the results so far. I'm wondering is there a basic minimum setting for the camera? I have a Canon Rebel XT. I have it set for Raw and on manual but as far as the iso, etc, are there settings that you start out with then adjust as needed ?

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I'm not sure you have a firm grasp of what the RAW format is. A RAW image is simply one that does NOT have any of the in-camera processing done to it to convert the actual sensor image data into a JPG file.

ALL DSLRs that output JPG will do some sort of processing to create a JPG file - some of the info is thrown away, adjustments are made to white balance, brightness, contrast, etc etc.

If I'm shooting RAW, I use as 'neutral' a set of settings as possible - ISO 100 unless conditions dictate otherwise, CLOUDY white balance, -2/3rds Exposure Compensation.

The idea with RAW is that you take your file into a post-processing piece of software, where you then can tweak things like white balance, brightness, contrast, sharpness, RGB settings, and so on, to produce the final image that you want. Then you save THOSE changes to a TIFF or JPG style file.

So there's no real "learning to take photos in RAW", so to speak - it's learning HOW to manipulate and massage the original 0s and 1s to produce the final product that you want.

In other words, YOU do the processing, instead of the Camera.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Yes .. thats what I want to learn to do. Anybody can point and shoot and make a decent photograph ...
Thank you for the settings info.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Well, almost anybody. Have you seen some of the threads here?... :?
Welcome. They may not, in the long run, be what is good for you, depending on what you shoot. If you look at some of the junk I've posted up here, you'll see that I don't do much close up, portrait, or abstract work. So my settings work for me, they might trip you up.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Aparently I didn't explain very well. I do understand the concept of the whole manipulation process.. I really think (being the type person that I am) I'm really going to like the extra control that I will have by shooting in RAW.
What I was hoping to do was take advantage of the experience that some of you have that prefer to shoot that way and find out if you have any *go to* basic settings for just everyday photos that someone like me that is wanting to learn the ins and outs of not shooting in auto provide.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Gotcha. Sorry if my answers didn't fit your questions..lol. I don't really do a lot of PP so the others here who do may be better sources. The reasons I leave my settings where there are, are, 1) CLOUDY W/B seems to give me the best general color cast during the majority of the conditions under which I shoot. With RAW images, you can change your in-camera WB to any other setting anyway, so it really doesn't matter that much. b) -2/3rd EC is so that if I need to, I can bring up low-light shadow areas. It's better to be a little UNDER exposed, which can be rescued in PP, than OVER exposed - blown highlights can't be fixed in PP as readily, if at all.

I learned to read my histograms too - I think that helps you learn how to work with shadows and brightness.

All the other camera settings I leave as neutral as possible. I shoot in AV mode almost exclusively (90% of the time, I'd say). I use a tripod or a bean bag when I can, and a remote shutter release if the shutter speed is going to be slower than 1/60th or so.

HTH

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Awesome thank you that was very helpful.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

It only took me 3 days to finally figure out where to start lol .. here is my first test pic. My poor dogs got tired of me and the camera. Ya really gotta want major control to use RAW all the time.

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

RAW IS about control or lack of it.

RAW is a minimally processed pictures that works like a negative in the 'dear old format'.

It has a greater dynamic range than any other format with the possible exception of the TIFF format.

If you want to make a HDR image, a RAW image offers more natural result than bracketed exposures in JPG even if some swear by the bracket god.

Nice pup by the way, just a bit big and on the sofa!!!! :)

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I use the factory default settings. Good enough until you have more experience. However, for white balance, I use an Expodisc. If possible, I look at the histogram to make sure that I have a full range of shadows and highlights. You can also look for blown out highlights. That is when the sky or other light colors are flashing. If so, reduce you exposure. The amount depends upon how blown out the highlights are. Avoid advice that says use this or that setting. The beauty of digital is that you have immediate feedback so the next shot can be perfect or close to it. Each picture has its own best settings. One size does not fit all. This is all about the camera.

The power of raw comes in post processing. If you want this level of control, shoot raw and process. Otherwise, stick with jpg's and enjoy your shooting. Your camera may have some software. I am sure there are plenty of programs out there to handle this without having to pop for the grand daddy of them all: Photoshop. I use Adobe Bridge with Adobe Camera Raw for cataloging and making preliminary adjustments to give what I call "proofs". For heavy duty editing, I go to Photoshop with a plug-in called Viveza.

The important thing is to determine how involved to get in all this. You have to be motivated to spend the time and money and you may or may not appreciate the results. But whichever way you go, enjoy doing it and the results you get.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I shoot raw + jpeg on my canon all the time, usually end up using the jpeg as I try to get it right in the camera however raw is there when I need it, some shots are better processed in the computer,I use Canon DPP to convert to a tiff, very easy, intuitive software, at least after the first time or two. My camera settings are ISO 800, auto white, no exposure comp, center focus and center AF, I'll crop later but I want a sharp and properly exposed subject. So many computer things have so many ways of being done that it is sometimes confusing to remember how you did it before, and then there are changes because of upgrades. Bob.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

I'm pretty sure that I will only use RAW when I shoot certain subjects ... it's way more work than is necessary in my opinion. I do however wish a lot of the photos I took in hawaii were RAW...hindsight and all that.
Thank you very much for the info. I've learned a lot about my camera that I never knew. It really makes me appreciate it all that much more.

BOB Loc: Texas

why don't you set your camera to shoot raw +jpeg that you have both and if you have a great shoot that you want to process it there .It cost nothing to shoot both.

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

One thing noted here by Bob is that most folks shoot both RAW and JPG, this is fine but most folks ignore that the first thing they see in a raw image is a..... JPEG!!!! WTF? right? it is simply for speed as a RAW can easily take 20mb on your card and if you had to wait for that to open,get a few more batteries and by the way, get a few chips since you are at it because 24MB fills lower capacity card VERY fast, I have jumped from 8DG sandisks to 16 and 32GB...

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Good point, even if you shoot only RAW when the camera displays you see a JPG. Bob.