Starting to use raw: I really feel that it's about time to make the move to using raw. My camera is a Canon 50d and I have two questions: firstly, in the user defined settings on my...

Big Stopper Loc: London

I really feel that it's about time to make the move to using raw. My camera is a Canon 50d and I have two questions: firstly, in the user defined settings on my camera I can set preferences for sharpness, contrast etc - do these settings have any effect on the raw image? Second, I have but do not use a lot PE10 - I do very little photo manipulation and wonder whether this is the best software to convert my raw images or is there a better software package?

Many thanks to you all.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

bobbybob wrote:

I really feel that it's about time to make the move to using raw. My camera is a Canon 50d and I have two questions: firstly, in the user defined settings on my camera I can set preferences for sharpness, contrast etc - do these settings have any effect on the raw image?

No.

think of a jpg as the "cake" and raw files as "flour, sugar, butter, salt, and eggs" all the things that make the cake but it's not a cake until you bring it into your post processing software, mix all of the raw ingredients and bake it.

Quote:

Second, I have but do not use a lot PE10 - I do very little photo manipulation and wonder whether this is the best software to convert my raw images or is there a better software package?

best or better is a matter of opinon and there will be no shortage of that here soon.

In my opinion, the most understandable, and easy to use "development" software is Lightroom.

It's supposed to echo the film darkroom where your camera is producing raw film and then you bring it into Lightroom (aka the "digital darkroom" and "develop" it into prints.

Big Stopper Loc: London

Thanks rpavich. So just to be sure that I understand - settings such as white balance become redundant as I can adjust later? So what setting would you have that on or does it really not matter. Hope this isn't being pedantic, I just want to be sure that I fully understand.

Thank you.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Leave it on auto, but it doesn't really matter. You can just adjust in post.

bobbybob wrote:

Thanks rpavich. So just to be sure that I understand - settings such as white balance become redundant as I can adjust later? So what setting would you have that on or does it really not matter. Hope this isn't being pedantic, I just want to be sure that I fully understand.

Thank you.

JPL

bobbybob wrote:

Thanks rpavich. So just to be sure that I understand - settings such as white balance become redundant as I can adjust later? So what setting would you have that on or does it really not matter. Hope this isn't being pedantic, I just want to be sure that I fully understand.

Thank you.

Yes, use Lightroom for Post Processing. Leave the white balance on auto. You can adjust most things in Lightroom, except focusing and extreme over/under exposuring.

So focus on the subject and how you want to make your pics look. DOF, focusing and framing your pic and keep the gear steady is the main job with the camera. The rest is in post processing.

Big Stopper Loc: London

Thanks tdekany and JPL. Always great help on here.

pnwheeler Loc: Virginia

RAW is the way to go, IMHO. Your camera manufacturer probably offers free software that allows you to view and, to some extent, manipulate their RAW image format files. rpavich is correct. Buying and learning to use Lightroom is definitely a worthwhile investment of time and $$. If you only save JPEG in-camera, you are missing a lot of fun!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

pnwheeler wrote:

RAW is the way to go, IMHO. Your camera manufacturer probably offers free software that allows you to view and, to some extent, manipulate their RAW image format files. rpavich is correct. Buying and learning to use Lightroom is definitely a worthwhile investment of time and $$. If you only save JPEG in-camera, you are missing a lot of fun!

And the other thing about raw is that, while jpg is great...I shoot them often...I've been disappointed when I had to bring down the exposure on a sky or something in post and had horrible jpg banding reaction...something that raw files don't do.

It's worth shooting raw for reasons like that.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Raw!!! Raw!!! Raw !!! :)

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Go for the RAW it opens up a whole new world of choices. I would say to set our white balance on camera close to correct and tweak in the computer. This way it will be much closer and may be right on, which eliminates one step in post. Outdoors I shoot with mine set on shade or cloudy which seems to give me the look I like most of the time.

Big Stopper Loc: London

Thanks everyone, I've taken it on-board and will be shooting raw from now on. Also I'll be ordering Lightroom this week. Thanks again.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

bobbybob wrote:

Thanks everyone, I've taken it on-board and will be shooting raw from now on. Also I'll be ordering Lightroom this week. Thanks again.

Before you start using lightroom get a book,Kelby's, Coalson's and learn how to set up your Catalog, use ACR in the Develop Module etc. It will save you time in the long run

Big Stopper Loc: London

mborn wrote:

Before you start using lightroom get a book,Kelby's, Coalson's and learn how to set up your Catalog, use ACR in the Develop Module etc. It will save you time in the long run

If I was to get one of those books which would you recommend? Cheers, Bob

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

bobbybob wrote:

I really feel that it's about time to make the move to using raw. My camera is a Canon 50d and I have two questions: firstly, in the user defined settings on my camera I can set preferences for sharpness, contrast etc - do these settings have any effect on the raw image? Second, I have but do not use a lot PE10 - I do very little photo manipulation and wonder whether this is the best software to convert my raw images or is there a better software package?

Many thanks to you all.

You will find a whole new world using and shooting in raw. There is so much more that you will be able to do to a photo in PP when you shoot using it.

As for the settings, rpavich is correct, it does not matter what settings you use. When you do your PP you will be able to adjust the light, contrast and color to what you remember and to what looks right, and best, to you. Raw stores so much more information than a jpg file does, especially in the shadows, which will allow you to bring out so much more detail than you ever would be able to with a jpg file.

That being said, it is not for everyone. All you can do is try it and see if you like it or not.

As for the software, I would not invest in LR yet. I did everything with PSE ffor years before I finially invested in LR.

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

bobbybob wrote:

I have but do not use a lot PE10 - I do very little photo manipulation and wonder whether this is the best software to convert my raw images or is there a better software package?

I have used PSE 6, 9 and 11 for RAW conversion. Adobe Camera Raw (included in PSE) is an excellent RAW convertor.

Many prefer Lightroom (I haven't really tried it), but initially use what you have and test the water. PSE 10 won't disappoint.