Why I shoot RAW: I’m an amateur but I shoot RAW + JPEG, mainly for exposure adjustments. When I use my 2X extender I get a few shots that are way way overexposed to the point where you...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I’m an amateur but I shoot RAW + JPEG, mainly for exposure adjustments. When I use my 2X extender I get a few shots that are way way overexposed to the point where you could barely discern any detail. I thought they were all culls until I did a simple AUTO adjustment on the RAW file. Bingo, problem solved.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Raw isn't just a file format, it's a way of life. RAW is a constant journey that has a finite start with the shutter release, but has no final ending as the file travels the incomprehensible chain of existence within the world of software.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

gvarner wrote:

I’m an amateur but I shoot RAW + JPEG, mainly for exposure adjustments. When I use my 2X extender I get a few shots that are way way overexposed to the point where you could barely discern any detail. I thought they were all culls until I did a simple AUTO adjustment on the RAW file. Bingo, problem solved.

Very good, I also a while back discovered the value of raw through comparison.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

gvarner wrote:

I’m an amateur but I shoot RAW + JPEG, mainly for exposure adjustments. When I use my 2X extender I get a few shots that are way way overexposed to the point where you could barely discern any detail. I thought they were all culls until I did a simple AUTO adjustment on the RAW file. Bingo, problem solved.

Why shoot both unless you need a jpeg proof right away. You can export the JPEG after developing the raw file.

Luckily you did not shoot to far right, and were able to save the photo. Do you look at the light meter in the camera? Now where it was when you thought you were way overexposed, and were able to come back in post. This is known as ETTR, exposing to the right.

Is be interested is a sample of what you thought was bad, and the processed, finished photo.

tcthome Loc: NJ

CHG_CANON wrote:

Raw isn't just a file format, it's a way of life. RAW is a constant journey that has a finite start with the shutter release, but has no final ending as the file travels the incomprehensible chain of existence within the world of software.

WOA! DEEP!

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

can you show an example?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I just processed some pictures from a cell phone that someone sent me, and I was disappointed to see the limited range of adjustments I could make to his images. I'm so used to processing raw that this came a surprise. JPEG is good, but raw is better.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'm an amateur and I shoot raw without jpg.

For many of my shots jpg would be good enough, but if I shot jpg, (1) I would have to switch the camera from raw to jpg AND REMEMBER TO SWITCH IT BACK; (2) while I usually have a reasonable idea of how the shot will turn out, sometimes it turns out better than I expect, and that opens the possibility of several versions with different edits, so the improved capability of raw for editing is important; (3) If I have a good jpg, I would be tempted to just use it without importing it to Lightroom. Lightroom is my memory. If an image is not in Lightroom, there's a 90% probability that I will have trouble finding it.

Reason #3 is why I don't shoot raw+jpg.

Of course I use jpg extensively for exchanging images, but the only time I start with a jpg is photos from my phone (my phone does heic also but I use that rarely and transfer from my phone via jpg).

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

DirtFarmer wrote:

I'm an amateur and I shoot raw without jpg. br br... (show quote)

Agree, I do not waste time with JPEGs but just raw.
Look at them delete the ones I do not like then process the ones I like.
They are saved as JPEGs in a folder separate from the raw photos. Both in the same overall folder.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I don't use the JPEGs, but I write the small-sized JPEG to my camera's second card, for the bodies that have two slots. For a 32GB card, I can almost write an unlimited amount. Maybe once or twice a year, I remember to reformat that 2nd card to clean-out all the JPEGs that are never even copied off the card.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

CHG_CANON wrote:

I don't use the JPEGs, but I write the small-sized JPEG to my camera's second card, for the bodies that have two slots. For a 32GB card, I can almost write an unlimited amount. Maybe once or twice a year, I remember to reformat that 2nd card to clean-out all the JPEGs that are never even copied off the card.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

CHG_CANON wrote:

I don't use the JPEGs, but I write the small-sized JPEG to my camera's second card, for the bodies that have two slots. For a 32GB card, I can almost write an unlimited amount. Maybe once or twice a year, I remember to reformat that 2nd card to clean-out all the JPEGs that are never even copied off the card.

All my DSLRs have two slots. I use them for backup. raw + raw.

Bill_de Loc: US

Back when I had a D1X I shot only raw. I would occaisionally try JPG but would delete them all. In recent years I started shooting both and using mostly jpg. That's because I do very little printing. On those rare occaisions that I look at one of my images and say WOW, I use the RAW image and print.

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Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

tcthome wrote:

WOA! DEEP!

Deep in what?

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

CHG_CANON wrote:

Raw isn't just a file format, it's a way of life. RAW is a constant journey that has a finite start with the shutter release, but has no final ending as the file travels the incomprehensible chain of existence within the world of software.

I love it!