thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

I am not so sure that LR converts to DNG when working on an.image. When you import photos there is an option to convery to DNG. If that is not checked, the photos stay in their native format. I personally keep mine in the native format as acording to Tim Grey, there is a loss of a little of the information. I also use sidecar xmp so that my edits travel wiyh the image.

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

The mechanical shutter is what gets measurable wear and tear.
Electronic shutter is like the cell phone. It can be used indefinitely until the camera's electronic components wear out.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I also do not convert my Canon RAW files to DNG. I manage and mainly edit my RAW files in Lightroom. It is my understanding that converting to DNG would in fact remove some of the Canon specific RAW data that can be accessed in Canon DPP if needed or desired.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

First, space: take a laptop along and download to it each day. That takes care of the capacity concern.
Second, resolution: Is your camera set to 72, or did you dumb it down for posting?
Third, ISO: Why in the world would you use 1600 on an apparently day-lit shot?
Fourth, processing: Get the latest Photoshop Elements, which will do both the RAW and jpeg processing, and has a guided protocol for those new to post processing.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

To each their own I guess but I don't see a practical reason to save both RAW and JPEG files, especially with a single card camera. If the user is going to process the RAW files into JPEG or some other image format then what's the need for the JPEG duplicates. If the user is confident in their ability to set the cameras parameters and make necessary adjustments to camera settings to compensate for ambient light, what's the need for the RAW duplicates.
By saving only one file format the user is saving space and time.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

As others have suggested, shoot both RAW & fine Jpeg. You don't have to process the RAW until after you learn how to do it and are back home. Youtube may be your friend in helping to learn how to process RAW. Here are a bunch of videos on the subject. There are also many available books on the subject.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+process+raw+images+in+lightroom

Good luck & enjoy the trip!
Mark

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

As others have suggested, shoot both RAW & fine Jpeg. You don't have to process the RAW until after you learn how to do it and are back home. Youtube may be your friend in helping to learn how to process RAW. Here are a bunch of videos on the subject. There are also many available books on the subject.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+process+raw+images+in+lightroom

Good luck & enjoy the trip!
Mark

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I don't see any graininess at all. The jpeg is already processed inside the camera. The raw file needs to be processed in Lightroom or whatever on your computer.

First off you may have unintentionally got some bad advice. No one has to shoot raw. That is a matter of choice and depends on what you as a photographer want to do. If you're happy with a JPEG for what you're doing that's fine and dandy. If you want to get into raw, please do not pressure yourself on this trip to do so. You have one of two choices shoot jpeg only and get some good photos, or shoot both if you have the room in the cards, and you want to start playing around with editing your all photos you will have them to do so. Please please do not pressure yourself to shoot raw only for two reasons. Number one it could cause you to make mistakes and get bad photos, number two is we would like to see some of your photos when you come back.

In summary, my advice to you is go on this trip and shoot jpg or JPEG and RAW if you have the room on the cards, have fun take lots of photos, have fun again, and share some of them when you get back.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Shoot both RAW and JPG and be safe

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

You might buy a small 3 of 5TB drive. I just got one in Costco.

Bill_de Loc: US

When you convert to dng you lose information that Adobe software ignores.

When you open a raw file (such as NEF for Nikon) in Lightroom it works on the same data it would see if you had converted to dng. It simply ignores the camera manufacturer's proprietary data.

The difference is that the raw file doesn't lose the data which is still there if you decide to use the camera manufacturer's software if the future.

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Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Isn't it a bit late in the day to ask for help to sort out such a problem? What did you really expect to achieve in two days? Are you all packed and ready to go?

Sark17 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Thank you so much for your kind advice and I do believe that’s what I’ll do, shoot both. I bought a couple more cards so I don’t feel the pressure. I was worried I’d use up all of my space but now I think I’ll be fine shooting JPEG+Raw. Thank you again :)

jlsphoto Loc: Chcago SubBurbs

[quote=Sark17]Hello! I am new to shooting RAW and am getting more confused by the day. I have a professional photographer friend who tells me I HAVE to shoot in raw on an upcoming trip to Africa (I leave Friday!) So I started shooting raw to practice using my dogs. I figured it would be fairly straight forward - I was very wrong. I use a Canon EOS R with various lenses.

In the first screen shot you can see the JPG (right) compared to the RAW photo (left). The Raw photo is super grainy. The JPG is fine. I didn't edit any of these or even try for any good composition, just wanted to practice working with RAW and getting them off of my card - which has also proven to be complicated.

So, my questions - 1) why are my RAW photos much more grainy than JPG? I realize ISO is a bit high in this specific photo, but even when it's not at all, I get the same result. 2) what is the most straightforward way to get to get a raw file off of an SD card and actually be able to do anything with it on a Mac? Lastly, I am probably just going to shoot Large JPG to save myself the panic of ruining something trying to use RAW if I can't figure this out...

I am currently using a DNG converter to get them to Lightroom, then I am not totally sure what to do with them after that, I couldn't even figure out how to save it to post it here as an example as I did with the JPEG.

I did not read through allthe responses, so I may repeating

I use adobe DNG converter. It is a free download. Which ever one you make sure you are setting to convert at the full file size. Perhaps you are coverting to a small size DNG and losing quality?

In lightroom Develope module set the profile to camera standard. This is a good startingpoint to match the Jpg.

If you have questions you can pm me

Jeff

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

You've had plenty responses with suggestions. I want to note a few things for your consideration.

1. I find JPEG out of camera would be fine for 90% of my images but I shoot only raw just in case I need to salvage one and my processed RAW images are normally better than the JPEG out of camera. After 5 years I've worked out an quick & easy workflow for LR to post process the keepers. (crop, set black point, set white point, open shadows, lower highlights, a bit of contrast, clarity, vibrance, noise reduction, sharpen, lens correction).

2. If you are only saving JPEG on your trip you are maybe bringing too many SD cards. Do the math, one 256 GB SD card could hold 197,000 JPEGs. With 8 you'll have room for a boat load of videos too.

3. RAW file size can be 30 times larger than JPEGs. 90% of the time you may not need it but Think about how much data is being thrown away in camera.

4. I started out 55 plus years ago shooting 35mm manual everything because that's all there was. I now use and love A or T modes and auto focus 99% of the time with good results. Regardless I always check the auto settings the camera has selected.

5. The auto feature I'm most often dissatisfied with is focus. I'm picky about tack sharp focus. Back button focus is your best friend. I refocus and shoot repeatedly.

6. In my 55 plus years I've studied and learned a lot but I'm still learning. Work hard at the learning. I've had my current camera 2 years and I'm still learning how to use all it's features.

8. The most important asset to your photography is your "eye" for the image.

Enjoy your trip. I'm jealous.