Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter

Hi,

Could someone please explain to a simpleton such as I what shooting in RAW vs JPEG means? I recently received a Canon 50D as a gift from the family for my fiftieth birthday and just about everything I read about it might as well be in Greek. I am a complete neophyte to the world of prosumer digi cams and up till now have been shooting with a Canon G9 in it's PHD mode(push here dummy).

The info on the 50D online is overwhelming but so much chatter is regarding ISP, Jpeg and RAW modes. Any suggestions where to begin? Is it even a decent camera.

Thanks all.

Mako

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

Use RAW if you plan to extensively edit your photo with Photoshop.

Use a high quality JPEG for other uses of your photos.

SnapHappy Loc: SW Florida

Hi Mako and thanks for the laugh (PHD!!). Doesn't your G9 also shoot RAW? Anywhatsit, as I understand it, RAW means no compression, what you shoot is what you get. JPEG is compressed, therefore less of what you shot gets stored, meaning smaller files and less space taken on the memory card. Depends on what you're going to do with the photos and how much PP you want to do. For casual use, JPEG at high IQ settings should be fine. And I do believe the Canon 50D is a good camera; I know I'd love to have one! Hope this helps a bit.

friedeye Loc: Los Angeles

What Snaphappy said. An easy way to think of it: JPEG files have their values (tone, contrast, saturation etc.) picked by the camera. All but the relevant information is lost in the compression. When you go to change any of these values in a photoshop or Lightroom - because there's much less information to draw from - you will be limited in the amount you can change a given value before you start to affect the photo as a whole. A RAW file keeps all of the information and can be 10 times the size of a Hi-JPEG file. But when you edit, you will have all of that information available to make changes.

I'd say, if you're not really into editing your photos, or only want to make minor adjustments, you'll probably be perfectly happy with JPG files.

mnm

RAW files have no loss of data, whereas JPEG files are compressed and do have some loss of data. With your new camera, you can choose to shoot RAW or JPEG or both at the same time. There are a lot of manuals that have been written for your new camera that are MUCH easier to read than the manual that came bundled with your camera. You can find these manuals in bookstores and online; just be sure to get the one written for your camera. Also, you can do an online search for how-to videos you can purchase that will show you how to use and understand the menus on your specific camera. Local community colleges have camera fundamentals courses, as do a few other places. Good luck!

wrei

As the name says, Raw files contain all the basic information that other formats are using to convert into their proprietory formats. In order to use raw format, you need to have special software (free on the internet) to convert the raw info into either JPEG or TIF formats. In its orginal version, the raw file looks more like a negativ. The conversion process allows you to correct exposures, white balance, color to a much greater extend that any other formats allow you to. I shoot raw plus JPEG to simplify the editing. Once I select a pictures from the JPEG files that is a "keeper" I go back to the raw file and fine tune the picture.

Tracey1159

raw will contain more data from the picture you took. more to work with so that you can get optimal results from your shoot. pretty simple explanation.

millervito

yep what they said :P

Cornishpete Loc: Illinois

Hi Mako. I too have a Canon 50D and had the 20D for several years before that. Yup, the owner's manual is Greek!
As you are so new to DSLRs if I were you I would skip all the complicated stuff initially until you get used to all those buttons. See page 47 in your handbook "Basic Shooting" and everything is automatic once you have set the dial to landscape, portrait, close up, night shot etc. The next progression might be to set the dial at the CA position which allows some creativety in altering image brightness, blurring background etc.
And like Friedeye said above, I think if you set the image quality to one of the high IQ settings you will be perfectly happy with the images. later you can play with the RAW settings and it would be best to set it at RAW+JPEG as that way when you download you will get a very good idea from the JPEG of what the image should look like if you also convert the RAW file.. But to download the RAW image you will need to use the EOS Utility CD disk that came with you camera and load and save Digital Photo Professional. This program allows for image manipulation and adjustments and the file can then be converted in the program to Tiff or JPEG for saving to where ever you keep your images on your computer.
It is a great camera so don't let it scramble your brain. Just take small steps and yes there are 50D books available that do a way better job than the one that came with the camera.
Have fun! Pete

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

try the magic lantern guides by silver pixel press. they go through every button and function of the camera in easy to understand terms. consider also any basic books on dslr photography. Also thank your family it is a nice camera. If they want to adopt someone living in florida, im a nice guy and love nikons

henrycrafter Loc: Orem Utah

I have been dealing with this issue for some time
To process raw images you need to instal "Digital Photo Professional"
This program is designed to process raw images.
I know it is a hassel but the results are worth it
The disk should have come with your camera

ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

I have the same camera and it scares me reading all the stuff that they think we should understand. I have for a year or so used only the JPEG settings and have had nothing but great results. If you are into screwing around with the color of your monitor, spending oodles on Photoshop then it may be worth shooting RAW and converting the files. I make prints up to 20x16 (via a digital lab) and the results are really great. One of my technocrat contempories suggested the RAW and JPEG route and the most obvious differnce was that I filled up a 4gb card in an hour or so and the camera locked up. I did not have access to a computer and could not find a dealer open to get an extra card. Unless you are into all the techie stuff, no one will know the difference. Good Luck.
Ian Hargraves, Port Orange, Florida.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

You 50D will be excellent. JPEG your cameras computer process the photo removes pixels and renders a good picture. RAW captures image as you exposed it. Now you must post process it, I use Lightroom. You are able to adjust shading, colors, exposure and much more. Your results will make jpeg look inferior.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When you mistakenly press <Last>>> instead of <Next>> when navigating the Main Discussion section, you end up responding to an irrelevant thread from 2011. Consider being more careful in your navigation, as well reading both the author and the post-date of the thread before responding.

BebuLamar

So that is how these threads got revived? I kept wondering how it happened.