DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

With my limited experience and Hogg sitings, I'm skipping the JPEG vs Raw thoughts and decided to do both. Future technology could make the RAW valuable to me. Comments on my possible selections:
Image Quality: Fine
Image Size: Large
JPEG Compression: Optimal Quality
NEF (RAW) recording: Type--Lossless Compressed
NEF (RAW) bit depth--14-bit

Again this is for a D7000 and the use will be for a 2 week photo excursion to Yellowstone that c
ould produce images to be 12X16, 16X20 and a possible 24X36.

My justification for my choices is not based on anything other than limited research and thoughts. Looking for possible viable alternatives.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

That is what I did with my D7000, in Yellowstone, Ireland, Italy, and lately in Kauai. Viewing, and deleting un wanted JEPGs while saving the best ones. Saved all the Raws to work on the best ones in PS CS6, as time permits. Your JEPGs will reveal the choices to work on in Raw. Saved the best JEPGs on my computer and external hard drive from the SD card. Also saved the Raws to the external hard drive and the actual SD Raw card.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I was curious to see what others were doing, so I appreciate your reply. I get the feeling that there's probably a certain amount of overkill, but that's part of it. I do wonder about the 14 vs 12 bit, but when in doubt.....

amehta Loc: Boston

These are exactly the settings I have been using for a few years. I was not comfortable with raw post processing, and I could do a little light adjustment with the jpegs if I needed. Basically, the jpegs were good enough for almost everything I needed.

This month I've started to do some raw post processing, so I'm going back to some "keepers" and working with them again. I had done a portrait session with a friend, and she had picked out a dozen pictures which she liked. The lighting had varied a bit in the shots, and I didn't worry about that before. But, now that I could adjust it a bit, I was able to make sure her face was consistently exposed for all the shots. The adjustments were no more than half a stop, but being able to change the exposure and the highlights separately made it work. Doing it with the jpeg would not have worked as well.

Having the best jpegs is what I need if I'm not going to do any editing. Having the best nef files is what I want if I do need to edit.

Is it overkill? Yes. But so is having a 16mp (or 36mp) camera. Since we're bothering to get this great equipment, we might as well keep the option for the best results we can.

tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada

If you are going to shoot RAW and JPEG ,may I suggest that you do so on 2 different cards . Then where your not going to process the RAWs immediately ,you can store the card away till needed.The d7000 is a good camera .Enjoy

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Probably useless questions, but...
With the trip you are planning I trust you have planned on several extra cards? Or, are you going to be transferring to some device on a regular basis?

fjrwillie Loc: MA

While I don't have a D7000 I have been saving both the JPG and RAW files. Each night I off load the SD card to a laptop I carry with me on trips and I ride a motorcycle to most of my very scenic places, so space is more than ample to carry a laptop with you. Oh I carry probably 3 or 4 SD cards with me at all time. They have gotten so cheap that multiples are justified. Consider it the cost on entrance to Yellowstone (beautiful place and have fun)

At home I create a folder for the day such as 2014 01 27 and inside that folder I create a folder 2014 01 27 NEF and save the JPG in the main folder and the RAW in the NEF folder. If I ever decide to save the RAW only I only have to copy the NEF folder to its new destination.

HTH

Willie

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Amehta: reassuring to hear and I appreciate it!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Yes to the different cards! Thanx for response!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

How about Yes ans Yes. I try to stick with 8gb cards and download each day, but extras are a must for me! Thank you for your reply.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I'm with you Willie, except for two points: I have a Senior pass to our National Parks, so it relatively free, and even though I was an avid motorcycle rider, I've seen cyclists surrounded by buffalo in the park! Bad enough to have them at arms length on both sides of my car! But again, basically we're good!!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

It's really redundant to shoot the Raw + Jpeg settings as the image on the LCD screen is actually a Jpeg of the Raw capture that the has captured with the algorithms that are set in the camera's menu applied to them. The images you want Jpegs from, you can get in post. This way, you are saving space on the memory card & are then able to capture more images on the card...

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

It is my understanding that if I shoot Raw, the embedded Jpeg is Basic and I prefer Fine. I'm trying to make believe that all I want is Jpeg, but I want the Raw for when I wake up and get into some PP. I live in Connecticut,so my trip requires extensive planning with many different reservations and most probably not going to be physically possible again. Can't go back for another re-shoot! We have this infatuation with Yellowstone and will enjoy these pics for years, so I'm just trying to cover all the bases. If I had used common sense, I probably would be sporting a nice point and shoot! I've got plenty of cards and download daily, so space is not an issue. Appreciate your thoughts, thank-you!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

When I travel, I've got one of my DSLR's, a few lenses for it, my mirrorless with an adapter to be able to use the DSLR lenses on it & a point & shoot. Thus my bases are covered... All this fits in one bag too...Enjoy your trip & look forward to seeing the images from it !

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

You win! I guess I could top you if I brought everything you do, plus a sketch pad and pencils! :) :)