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RAW & JPEG - a primer
May 9, 2019 18:10:24   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
I thought this was a. Pretty straightforward explanation of the two for those newbies among us who are confused about all the rhetoric.

https://youtu.be/V9CM8dz6RMY

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May 9, 2019 19:06:59   #
Robyn H Loc: MainLine PA
 
What's so difficult about one is an image file format and one is not.
I've never understood the "argument" about RAW vs JPEG or any other image file format. RAW is simply the unformatted data, with a little tiny JPEG thumbnail embedded in it. A JPEG is an image file containing compressed formatted data. RAW data is the unedited data straight from the image sensor and written to storage. A JPEG has preset edit configurations applied to the data along with data compression before being written to storage. Many people prefer JPEG'S because they are usually good enough and don't require post processing but, there is still enough available data to make minor alterations or corrections to the image. RAW on the other hand gives the user the ability to edit, modify and correct just about any characteristic of the image except for say, focus, and even Canon's dual pixel RAW allows even minor focus corrections.
Personally I almost always shoot RAW, I like the control it affords the user. When I shoot JPEG I make sure the edit configurations are set to give me consistently good images.

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May 10, 2019 11:54:33   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
Without questions RAW is unprocessed data. JPEG files was unprocessed data till the software of the camera made the adjustments previously set by the operator. I hope so far this is clear to all.
Keep in mind that usually a person working with RAW data uses during editing a big color space, something like ProPhoto. Keep in mind a monitor cannot see those colors nor can we see them either. As a matter of fact, the human eye cannot see the millions of colors integrated into a JPEG file.
RAW data allows manipulations that are not possible with JPEG files. We do not loose information when working with RAW data and unless a JPEG file is reduced in size and manipulated many times it is not that easy that it loose data. Modern JPEG files are of excellent quality.
RAW data has a great dynamic range which is the difference between the dark and bright areas as we understand them when we expose. When it comes to noise RAW data does better also.
What file should we use? It all depends. I shoot many subjects with JPEG files but when confronted with difficult lighting situations and when I work with subjects I know could be mostly improved during editing I go RAW.
Lets not forget that RAW data comes with 12 or 14 bits of information but that information suffers when converted to a JPEG that sports only 8 bits. Same with the color space, a wide color space has to be converted to sRGB which is considerably smaller. How many colors suffer during the compression I do not know.

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May 10, 2019 13:47:10   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
There are reasons to shoot JPEG and reasons to shoot raw. The choice is determined by the circumstances of the shoot, and the preferences of the photographer.

JPEG files are images. They are created and processed in-camera (they can also be created from raw files using a computer). JPEG is a "lossy" format. That means some data is discarded when creating a JPEG. Often this is negligible. Sometimes it matters. JPEG does not allow as much latitude for adjustment using the computer, as a raw file but the trade is that when exposed properly, very little time is needed on the computer. JPEG files tend to be much smaller than raw files and they take up much less space on the hard drive than raw files.

Raw files are unprocessed, data. A file of 1's and 0's that means nothing until it is processed. Raw files have to be "developed". Raw format provides more latitude for adjustments but the trade is that also requires more time and skill on the computer. And raw format files are much larger than JPEG format files, they take much more storage space.

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