LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I’ve been thinking for some time now about how we limit our photography by how we use (or don’t use!) our digital cameras. I’m not referring to leaving them on the shelf; I’m referring to how we fail to consider the many tools at our disposal before we frame, focus, and fire. These thoughts were resurrected as I read this thread: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-501309-4.html

The title was: “Taking Photos With PP In Mind”

So I looked through the menu on my camera and discovered that it has seven Custom Shooting Menus as well as several assignable Function buttons.

So what would I put under those custom settings? Here are some of my choices along with the number of options:
Dynamic Range (4)
Film Simulations (11)
Grain effect
White Balance
Highlight Tone (5)
Shadow Tone (5)
Color (5)
Sharpness (5)
Noise Reduction (5)

So that’s my list...so far

I won’t stir the pot and suggest anything about whether these are all SOOC.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Those setting apply to JPEGs and not RAW. If you are not happy about the results of the settings you chose, you are out of luck. So I would say using these JPEG settings is a self-imposed limitation on your photography, as opposed to shooting RAW, and creating those settings in post.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Um, whatever you want to???

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I’m rarely happy with my results, and luck has nothing to do with it. I set the bar beyond my capabilities. And I generally shoot raw only. However, most on UHH, don’t.

But you missed the point: it’s not just about me. I only included those available to me to point out the options that may ne available. It’s about the chase for better equipment without fully utilizing what one already has.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I'm out shooting wildlife on a regular bases now.. Have you seen me post anything lately?? Not to the knowledge. If your only as good as your last shot posted then you have already set the bar, now to improve, your images must have more impact, more action, sharper features, crisper colors ect.... I'm Never happy unless it's better, bolder, sharper. It's not your equipment that's holding you back, it's your unwillingness to apply more effort, to get better results than previous acquired. To exceed your exceptions will take a Lot of effort.......
Not to mention you have to be at the right place at the right time and ready to capture that Split second in time, even the best of the best only have moments..
Yes, No, Maybe?????

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I shoot JPEG only and like to keep all the camera settings neutral - because I believe that gives me the most freedom in PP to make it the way I WANT - I do not need RAW to make it the way I want !

Rongnongno Loc: FL

And, as usual (for you) you miss the potential that raw offers just because. raw is the ultimate neutral setting.

JPG? 8 bit.
Raw? Between 10 to 14, soon 16 (in DSLR) Difference trillions of color shades
JPG? Lossy compression from the first save.
raw? No compression loss
JPG DR? Limited to an extreme
raw DR? Depends on camera limitation.
JPG SOOC? What is important in PP is decided by someone else, not you.
raw? YOU decide.

Looking at it this way, you make very little sense. Why wear shackles and follow someone else idea of what is right or wrong?

Then again some likes those shackles for whatever reason. You are one of them.

Does this means or implies you are a bad photographer? Far from it. You just impose those limitations to yourself by making the wrong choices from the get go and refuse to see that despite having been exposed to the raw choices for ages. It is not like this has not been exposed at all.

Enjoy.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Thanks for your concerns ! - but, I get all the choices I want and need without wasting time and money shooting RAW !

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

To each his own, but I don't get the "wasting time and money" part unless you're not doing any further processing of your jpg files. Data is data, but you get more in RAW.

d3200prime

When you shoot in JPEG your camera processes the data according to a set string of algorithms so, in fact, you have less freedom in PP because your camera has performed PP, in camera, to give what it figures is the best rendition of how the scene should look. If you want true freedom in PP shoot RAW. What you believe has no bearings on the facts. Don't take my word on this. Research for yourself and you will change your mind or maybe not. Good shooting to you.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

In the JPEG vs RAW discussion, I shot RAW+JPEG for a while and the first opened RAW files are flat lifeless near colorless images. I played with one for a long time and could never get it to look as good as the JPEG straight out of the camera which I can usually improve to my liking with a couple of quick tweaks. So if you have the PP skills and the time to use them then RAW is great, but if not all a RAW file does is frustrate. That's only my experience of course but I bet there are others out there with the same feelings.

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

Hi LoneRangeFinder,

As others have already said, your "custom functions" apply to your JPEG only. All of those functions you can choose to apply to RAW images, as well, either as an adjustment tool function or a preset in Lightroom, or your PP software of choice. The only limitation is imagination and creativity in applying those to your photos, as well as your time and storage space.

I do "feel your pain", however. I own a Fuji X-t2. Your list of "custom functions" seems about right. Fuji seems to trumpet their "film rendition" function more than most. Maybe it's because of their film heritage.

I didn't buy this camera for its "custom functions". I bought it because it can shoot very good raw pictures, in the same league as my 5DIII did. Otherwise I wouldn't have switched. However, I'm reading about more professional Fuji shooters who are shooting JPEG only because of what the camera can do. I spoke with one pro who says that the skin tone renditions are making this a favored tool for portraitists.

I plan on exploring these functions a bit more this winter. It seems like I'm shortchanging myself by not investigating what a lot of pro photographers are doing. Granted, they're just as interested in time savings in PP than they are in IQ.

So, that all being said, I shoot both jpeg and raw. I haven't applied any of the film simulations yet, but will mess a round with that. Anything i really want to tweak I'll bring the raw file into Lightroom and play with it. I find myself doing that less often, but i won't stop shooting that way, because I'll always want the ability to PP the raw data on those select shots. I'm not saying I can necessarily improve on what the camera JPEG will produce, but it's good to know it's there.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

Back when the PC was just emerging there was a study made about how the new software was being used for the machines. To my surprise at the time it was found that users only used about fifteen percent of the functionality provided.

Today the software is far more functional and capable and yet people still don't tend to use more than fifteen percent of the functions. Should we be concerned?

I don't think so. I imagine most of you have a hammer. Do you use it every day? Odds are it may get used once or twice a year. Screw drivers probably get more attention. Basically the tools we have are each intended for specific things or to solve specific problems. A flash for instance is intended to solve the problem of low light situations.

I agree that it's a good idea to make a list of functions you have available and to also try them and learn them but in the end it's the same as before, we use the ones we need and just hold the others in reserve.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I have a table saw that is a fraction of a degree off from being able to cut perfect miters but my gift boxes still come out beautiful. At least as far as I'm concerned. Does that help?

Overall, it's about artistic vision, garbage in - garbage out.