IQ settings: RAW + JPEG vs RAW or JPEG? Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than...

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

Camera: Nikon D5300, Nikor 18-140, 64 GB SDHC
Skill level: DSLR beginner with a desire to fast track to competent photographer

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I find it very convenient to be able to quickly examine an image in jpg. I first look through my photos in Picasa, then decide which to "bother" editing in raw with PSE 12 (Adobe Camera Raw plug-in) :)

Welcome to UHH!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Smokey66 wrote:

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

Camera: Nikon D5300, Nikor 18-140, 64 GB SDHC
Skill level: DSLR beginner with a desire to fast track to competent photographer

I regularly shoot JPG (Basic) + RAW. This gives me an instant processed JPG that is ready to, and sized for, upload to the internet. I also then have a reference for my RAW images and both files have the same numbering except for the extension difference. It also makes for easy filing of the images.

amehta Loc: Boston

Smokey66 wrote:

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

Camera: Nikon D5300, Nikor 18-140, 64 GB SDHC
Skill level: DSLR beginner with a desire to fast track to competent photographer

You can save only raw and extract the embedded jpeg file using Instant JPEG From Raw. With nef files, I believe they are full resolution, low quality images. The jpeg quality is only perceptible if you look at 100%.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Welcome to UHH. Until you understand what post processing can really do for you I suggest you use JPG fine + RAW. You might just make "that" shot that at a future date you would regret now having a RAW file to process. Save everything to a separate hard drive. I know I have made shots that I failed to save as RAW only to regret not having it. Good luck.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Smokey66 wrote:

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

Camera: Nikon D5300, Nikor 18-140, 64 GB SDHC
Skill level: DSLR beginner with a desire to fast track to competent photographer

JPEG is good for getting fast results from something I'm not sending in for publication (That hasn't happened yet. :D). If I want to do substantial processing, nothing beats raw. SD cards hold lots of images, and their cost has come way down. Having the raw files, just in case, is good insurance.

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

Used to shoot Raw + JPEG... took up too much room on the memory card and computer. When you download them to a computer the resulting image that you view is a JPEG anyway and is easy enough to export a JPEG to another folder or email it right from the editing software.. Thus you use less memory by shooting in Raw only...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Screamin Scott wrote:

Used to shoot Raw + JPEG... took up too much room on the memory card and computer. When you download them to a computer the resulting image that you view is a JPEG anyway and is easy enough to export a JPEG to another folder or email it right from the editing software.. Thus you use less memory by shooting in Raw only...

Right! I do a lot deleting after I upload from the camera. You have two of everything, and one of them is huge. I'm very selective about what I keep.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

it varies for me by the mood i'm in. most times I am ok with jpeg, but sometimes I feel like shooting raw only. you decide whitch you want,.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If you are not doing A LOT of shots per session or per second (I mean so many that you will quickly fill up your card and changing the cards is more than inconvenient), then there is NO reason not to shoot in both.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Smokey66 wrote:

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

Camera: Nikon D5300, Nikor 18-140, 64 GB SDHC
Skill level: DSLR beginner with a desire to fast track to competent photographer

Depends on your goals. If you think you will need a substantial number of unprocessed jpeg images for some purpose, then shoot both. If not, just shoot raw and convert your post processed images to jpeg as needed. I used to shoot raw and fine jpeg on my Canon 60D. After eight months I deleted over 5000 very large unused and unneeded jpeg images, which freed up over 45 gigabytes of disk space and made cataloging simpler. I now shoot raw exclusively and create jpeg versions only as needed after post processing. Of course what works for me may not work for you.

khsolomon Loc: Canyon Lake, CA

My experience is in line with mwsilvers' comment. When I'm shooting a batch of photos that I expect to share with someone else, I'll shoot RAW+JPEG so I have the JPEGs to share immediately.

Example: student club asks me to take lots of pictures of one of their events. I generally don't have time to do a lot of PP on all the photos I'd take, so I'll just ship off the JPEGs, and do PP of the RAW images for a select few for special use.

If I'm shooting for my own use, I'll shoot RAW only because I'll do a fairly harsh cut, toss images I don't want to keep, and PP the rest to get the most out of each image.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

DavidPine wrote:

Welcome to UHH. Until you understand what post processing can really do for you I suggest you use JPG fine + RAW. You might just make "that" shot that at a future date you would regret now having a RAW file to process. Save everything to a separate hard drive. I know I have made shots that I failed to save as RAW only to regret not having it. Good luck.

David,
Thanks for the tip! I think it's excellent advice for us new to the art. Much appreciated.
Andy

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Smokey66 wrote:

Apart from each picture using more file space on my SD card, is there any reason not to keep my IQ setting at RAW + JPEG (fine), rather than exclusively RAW or JPEG?

While getting familiar with your camera - and as a beginner, learning the exposure triangle, how to focus, etc, etc - little benefit IMHO to clogging up your storage media with gigabytes of RAW data. Your basic decent resolution JPG is around 5mb - the corresponding RAW may be 25MB.
Once you have gotten comfortable with the basics - THEN you might start capturing RAW every once in a while to gain some familiarity with it.
Once you go 'Pro' - you will shoot Jpg-Basic plus RAW - as mentioned by MT Shooter - and work with the RAW files in Post - often using 'batch processes'.
One step at a time - slow and steady wins the race

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Great info ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to all for the feedback.