lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

i use my nikon d7100 in raw and jpeg...(2 slots) should i transfer both cards on comp. or is that redundant? and should i format both to use in camera again?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Shoot one or the other. Keep in mind, that the raw images will ALL need some post processing. So if you don't like working on pictures and at the very least do some sharpening and color adjustments, don't shoot raw. If you are afraid and just want to see how the raws look in comparison to the jpg, then go for it. Transfer the images from both cards to your computer and then put them back in the camera and format them. Done. But it is redundant to shoot both and they can be confusing. If you use Lightroom, don't forget to go into the menus settings and separate the jpg from the raw. This is a setting that will confuse you because the program stacks them on top of each other so you don't know which one you are looking at.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I would ask what is your reason for shooting raw + jpg?

If you have a reason, like sending the JPG asap for a deadline with no post processing, and then working on the raw to produce a much better image in the end then it is NOT redundant, but if you always work with the raw file then I would say that what I was doing with my D7100 is to shoot raw only, and write images to both cards at once so the 2nd slot becomes the backup for the card in slot 2. With a 32 or 64 GB card in each slot, that allows loads of images, and it was nice having a backup copy in camera until the #1 slot card got unloaded onto my computer.

The reason to shoot raw, JPG or raw+jpg is up to the shooter, just step back and look at your process and needs - that will tell you what is redundant and needed based on your needs.

I have switched from a Nikon D7100 with dual slots to a Canon EOS 80D with a single slot, and I would already prefer a second slot as a backup for the raws in the 1st slot. But shooting raw+jpg is not in the "cards" for me ;)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Single reason for raw+jpg:

Near instantaneous sharing with the option to work on a capture later on when using raw at the same time. If the option pleases some folks, why question this?

Yes we can create JPGs from raw (and many other formats). So what?

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

thank you jeep daddy,you knew i was afraid. my pics are not as sharp as i hoped.i didnt know it was possible to sharpen them. my next question was ,,,,is it me or the lens? somebody posted that the 80-300 kit lens with d7100 is soft at the 300 end so i was wondering if i should upgrade telephoto lens.but maybe i expected too much without processing.thanks again

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I go along with Donald, except of the use of a Canon. My D700 has one slot, RAW. My D800e has 2 slots, both RAW.
--Bob

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

thank you,,very helpful

Kuzano

Storage budget. If the cost of memory cards prohibits shooting both formats..... switch to the one that you feel gives you the most latitude for all other reasons.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Keep in mind, Luke, that sharpening isn't going to make a out of focus shot into a well focused one.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

In these days of large capacity SD cards - A 128 Gb card in a Nikon D810 can store 1700 images - unless you need to do what Dngallagher outlines above, there is no reason to use dual cards for both formats. The real life saving utility of a second card slot is backup. Memory cards will fail, and if the card in slot 1 fails, then you have your get out of jail free card in slot 2.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Interesting questions; you may do whatever you feel is necessary for you. I see no problem with shooting both raw and jpeg and if you want to store both raw and jpeg from the camera on your mass storage device, again, totally up to you. I personally store raw, from the camera jpeg and processed jpeg files on my computer. If I need to delete old files from the computer, the first ones to go are the from camera jpeg files. As far as formatting your cards, again, up to you. Formatting the cards simply rebuilds the master file on the card. The master file keeps track of where everything on the storage card is located and whether the space is used or free to use. Most often you are told to format the cards in the same device you will be using them in but in reality, this is not necessary. Why? Because the logarithms used to do the format are standardized and the file structure is the same regardless of which camera you format it in. I use cards I've formatted in my Canon 5DSr in my Nikon D500 and my Canon 7D II and my Nikon D7200 and my Canon 80D and my Canon 5D IV and I have no problem with the cards or the data on them. Two ways of freeing up the space quickly is to move the files from card to computer or format the card each time you put it back in the camera.

canon Lee

There are a few reasons for using both cards. For me I use both because I take the output of my camera to a wifi device ( CamRanger), and input to an i-Pad. The JPEG is a small file compared to the raw file so the i-Pad uploads faster. The RAWS are used exclusively for PP. However, If I'm shooting action shots, such as sports, I shoot only in JPEG because it is faster to capture action or movement. If I need to export to the internet, I always use JPEG. I save all of my high resolution images as a TIFF .
I think your question was about saving both. I would keep only the TIFF (converted RAW) file and if I needed a JPEG I would convert it, using the processed version, not the camera settings.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Fast food vs gourmet.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If I were doing that, I would transfer everything from each card to the computer. The JPEGs would be more or less ready to go, and the raw would be processed. Raw files always need processing, especially sharpening. I would make sure that I have all the images on the computer before formatting the cards. I'm never in a rush to format SD cards, as long as there is plenty of room on them. After I have the images on the computer and also on my backup drives, I would format in the camera. I never mess with images on the card - deleting, processing - while the card is in the camera.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

My camera only has one card and I shoot raw + Jpeg.
do not format cards after every shot - merely delete images.
learn to cull bad images to save disk space.
having Raw images and Jpegs allows you to 'go back in time' when your PP skills improve. Fantastic pp skills will never make a bad image 'great'.