Suggestions for shooting raw first time
Dec 6, 2019 13:30:20 #
stant52
Loc: Williamsport, Pa.
I want to shoot raw for a change ,expand my horizons. I will be attending an indoor classic car show tomorrow .Indoors ,poorly lit, older fairgrounds. Not sure what the lights are . I was there once before about 12 years ago. Classic cars ,dragsters ,little bit of everything, some Christmas displays .
So I've never shot raw. I plan on shooting in aperture priority ,with no flash , hand held. Nikon D5100 probably with my 18-160mm .
Any suggestions on what settings to start with ?? F6 -8 ,high iso ?
Thank you
So I've never shot raw. I plan on shooting in aperture priority ,with no flash , hand held. Nikon D5100 probably with my 18-160mm .
Any suggestions on what settings to start with ?? F6 -8 ,high iso ?
Thank you
Dec 6, 2019 13:42:11 #
Yeah, use your camera's light meter. I put the dial to "P" mode and hit the "I" button to see what Nikon's electronics thinks is the best settings. I duplicate those settings in "M" mode and then take a few test shots, using the exposure adjustment in the viewfinder to get the best exposure. If it's difficult, shoot in bracketing mode, +- 3 stops. With the camera on high speed, it's really easy to squeeze off 3 continuous exposures.
Dec 6, 2019 13:48:30 #
Regarding the color of the lighting, you can set to auto WB and easily adjust in your editor, if necessary.
For when you get home: you will need photo editing software that can "read" your camera's raw files so that you can convert to jpg or other common file type for sharing online or printing. Some folks do minimal editing to their raw files, some do much more. None of your in-camera settings for sharpening, color saturation and such will be applied to the raw file, though your editor probably has a default. But understand, you now have total control
For when you get home: you will need photo editing software that can "read" your camera's raw files so that you can convert to jpg or other common file type for sharing online or printing. Some folks do minimal editing to their raw files, some do much more. None of your in-camera settings for sharpening, color saturation and such will be applied to the raw file, though your editor probably has a default. But understand, you now have total control
Dec 6, 2019 13:50:12 #
stant52 wrote:
I want to shoot raw for a change ,expand my horizo... (show quote)
Exposure settings will the sames as if you were shooting JPG's.
Dec 6, 2019 13:51:20 #
DWU2 wrote:
Not according to several of the pros on UHH who practice ETTR. They will be along shortly to elaborate, I'm sure. In the meantime: Expose to the Right, explainedExposure settings will the sames as if you were shooting JPG's.
.
Dec 6, 2019 13:56:24 #
When you become a RAW photographer, you become the decision maker for these considerations in post processing, where many had been decided by the camera for the JPEG:
1. Sharpening
2. Noise Reduction
3. Color Saturation
4. Exposure adjustments, general
5. Contrast, general
6. Highlights and shadows
7. White Balance
8. Lens corrections
9. Color space
10. Pixel resolution for target image share platforms
You don't have to understand all these issues, but when you do, you'll be much more successful as a RAW photographer.
1. Sharpening
2. Noise Reduction
3. Color Saturation
4. Exposure adjustments, general
5. Contrast, general
6. Highlights and shadows
7. White Balance
8. Lens corrections
9. Color space
10. Pixel resolution for target image share platforms
You don't have to understand all these issues, but when you do, you'll be much more successful as a RAW photographer.
Dec 6, 2019 13:57:09 #
You might also consider a recent discussion covering much the same topic: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-619765-1.html
Dec 6, 2019 13:58:31 #
If tripods or monopods are allowed you should use one of them, preferably a tripod. You will then be able to use much lower shutter speeds which will keep your ISO down and you can use higher f-stops.
Dec 6, 2019 14:38:09 #
stant52
Loc: Williamsport, Pa.
DWU2 wrote:
Exposure settings will the sames as if you were shooting JPG's.
True , I guess I'm just over thinking this whole thing . The only real difference is the post processing .
Dec 6, 2019 14:41:43 #
stant52 wrote:
True , I guess I'm just over thinking this whole thing . The only real difference is the post processing .
Dec 6, 2019 14:43:18 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Not according to several of the pros on UHH who practice ETTR. They will be along shortly to elaborate, I'm sure. In the meantime: Expose to the Right, explained
.
.
Linda, I agree with you about ETTR, but for a photographer who hasn't shot RAW before, that might be complexifying the advice. That might be something he wants to do later, when he's gained more experience.
Dec 6, 2019 14:45:45 #
DWU2 wrote:
Good point, you're right. I love this "complexifying" word. First time I've ever heard, but I'll be borrowing often I'm sure Linda, I agree with you about ETTR, but for a photographer who hasn't shot RAW before, that might be complexifying the advice. That might be something he wants to do later, when he's gained more experience.
Dec 6, 2019 14:51:08 #
stant52 wrote:
I want to shoot raw for a change ,expand my horizo... (show quote)
This is a big topic. First, the only reason to do it is if you want to get involved with editing, at least to some degree. So you better have editing software lined up and be a little bit familiar with it, even the free one that came with your camera is fine to start. If this shoot is important to you, consider setting the camera to raw plus jpeg since it is your first try, just in case.
There are no special exposure settings that are better when shooting raw, you just have more latitude in raw, but still try to get the exposure right in camera. Exposing to the right has pros and cons to it, so I wouldn't mess with that your first time. Anyway it is less important now that cameras have higher bit depth than they did when it was conceived.
Set your usual white balance in camera, but in raw you can dial anything else in later. Set your usual picture style, they might not be recognized by the editing software anyway, but you can still swap out other options later if desired.
Useful articles:
https://photographylife.com/which-camera-settings-affect-raw-photos
https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/RAW-file-format.htm
Dec 6, 2019 15:03:23 #
stant52
Loc: Williamsport, Pa.
I have a older version of Photoshop , I have the Nikon software and I have Luminar 3 And I've used all to some degree. I was shooting a lot of Hdr for a while. I've just never tried raw .
So it's winter and I have nothing else to do currently after work, so I want to see, if I can see a difference in my pictures . Thanks
So it's winter and I have nothing else to do currently after work, so I want to see, if I can see a difference in my pictures . Thanks
Dec 6, 2019 15:11:04 #
Don't fear the RAW.
No harder to edit than jpeg and actually easier to get what you want than jpeg.
No harder to edit than jpeg and actually easier to get what you want than jpeg.
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