pjspix

Like the title says I have a lot to learn in the digital field.

Winslowe

Shoot RAW, print JPEGS.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

shoot and print jpeg until you get better acquainted with our hobby.

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I am confident you will get a lot of strong opinions here. This RAW / JPG topic often becomes heated.

In my opinion, do whatever works best for you. For me, I use RAW exclusively. Upon getting a camera that could shoot RAW, I tried it and never went back. There is never a reason for me to shoot JPG.

Some people, I think, switch to JPG if they want to quickly upload a photo to social media. That speeds up (or eliminates) post processing requirements. Others shoot JPG because they are not interested in, or not comfortable with the post processing that needs to be done with a RAW image.

I'd say 80% of my shots could've been taken with JPG and would have turned out just fine. It is the other 20% where RAW gives me a wider exposure cushion in tricky lighting situations. Plus, I love post processing so the extra information captured gives me a lot of flexibility.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Especially since you are new, shoot JPEG only at least until you are successful and comfortable with that - you my decide you do not NEED RAW .....and it's complications.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The REAL reason most people shoot RAW .....

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Shooting JPEG is like taking pictures, sending your film to a lab for processing, and they send you the prints. Shooting RAW is like doing the whole process yourself.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

This is a hotly argued topic. I agree with Algernon. For about 8 years, the camera I used didn't offer RAW as a file format. So, I used jpg. In 2010 when I purchased a much better digital camera, I continued using jpg for about 3 or 4 days. Once I started using RAW and found the enormous capabilities that format offered, I never used any other format for original exposure.
--Bob

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I agree with Bob. If you like getting into post processing then defiantly shoot RAW. You will have a much better chance of catching more keepers simply due to a much better dynamic range in RAW than in .jpeg. I only shoot RAW because half the fun for me is post processing and my ability to make the shot the way I want it to look not the way the camera manufacturer thinks it should look.

LaugherNYC

There are caveats to shooting RAW. First, you need to have a fast computer with plenty of RAM and a recent-generation chip. RAW files tend to be large and cumbersome. So, you need the capacity to work on them. RAW saves tons of information from every point of the sensor, almost regardless of exposure. This allows you to correct for mistakes in post. If you shoot exclusively RAW, however, you will need to process every single shot if you want to send them to be printed, or if you want to reduce them to a size small enough for social media. I tend to shoot RAW and a Small or médium JPEG at the same time, so I can really work on the shots I like, and have a simple file of "snapshots" that don't require detailed processing - I can just throw away the RAW files of those shots to conserve space, if they're never going to be more than a simple snapshot either printed 4x6 or viewed on a typical monitor. I encourage you to work with RAW to learn PHotoshop or another photo editing suite, and be amazed at what digital photography has done to our formerly chemical-intensive Pastime. RAW files allow you to become an artist at manipulating photos and pulling great images out of what look like under or overexposed shots. Also, many RAW editors have filters to correct for such problems as lens distortion and vignetting and other highly technical faults that simply could never be done."by hand" with a typical editor.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Raw requires special software and manipulation during editing. You get all the information recorded in the sensor but it is up to you to bring the file alive.
JPEG is the universal file, all editing programs can work with it. There is intervention of the camera firmware when you work with JPEG and there are plenty of manipulations that can be done to the file but you need experience for that.
I would start with JPEG which are very nice files and as you gain experience shooting and during editing then you could shoot RAW.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

I personally an a Newbie to DSLR Photography have just purchased a Used Nikon D3300 about 7 months ago ( Dec. 2016 ), I do not have any experience or knowledge about Post Processing and I have been told I am color-blind with Reds, Greens, & Browns, ( Tested ), so that really says it all, Jpeg will be my choice, for those obvious reasons.

Winslowe

Especially since you are new, never shoot JPEGs only. Either shoot RAW and export as JPEG, or shoot RAW+JPEG. Until you learn how to meter properly in various lighting conditions, you are sure to get some bad exposures and you will have a much better chance to recover a RAW image in post than a JPEG. When you have become more proficient with your camera you may decide which type of file you prefer. Have fun!
Another observation: Keep your RAW files even if you don't like the JPEG, in case you find yourself liking to do post processing. It is really incredible what can be done in post.

sazfoto

One question, 100 answers. I shoot raw, lot more latitude in post editing. My camera has a choice to shoot both jpeg and raw, if you can, shoot both and see which one you like the best. Jpeg for social media, well I'll leave that up to my cell phone. Now if only I can figure out how to shoot with my cell phone?