AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

This is probably such a basic question, but I don't seem to be able to find a straight answer. My Fuji X-T2 has two options under what they call raw recording. Uncompressed and Lossless compressed. I guess it has to do with file size, but how does it affect image quality. I usually shoot Jpeg Fine. Thanks for your help.

Chief Rob

The X-T2 offers you a choice of uncompressed and compressed RAW files (IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > RAW RECORDING). Compression cuts the size of RAW files roughly in half, so you can store more of them on a memory card or your computer. The compression also helps speed up camera processes: it takes longer to fill the fast camera buffer, and since the files are smaller, they take less time to transfer to the memory card. It’s important to note that Fujifilm’s RAW compression is lossless,

so there’s no difference in image quality between uncompressed and compressed RAWs.

However, not all external RAW converters may be able to process compressed RAWs, because the compression format is proprietary. RAW converter manufacturers can obtain a free SDK from Fujifilm in order to support the compressed RAW file format.

Pfirstinger, Rico. The Fujifilm X-T2: 120 X-Pert Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Camera . Rocky Nook. Kindle Edition.

Hope this helps your understanding. Respectfully, CPOROB

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some good info -

https://photographylife.com/compressed-vs-uncompressed-vs-lossless-compressed-raw
https://www.dpreview.com/comments/9294533723/raw-options-compressed-vs-uncompressed-vs-lossless-compressed
https://alikgriffin.com/uncompressed-vs-lossless-fujifilm-x-t2/

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

For Chief Rob and Jerry. Okay, I read what you said and the article too. So does this compression only apply to raw? That's what I'm getting. If Im shooting in Jpeg does it make any difference whether my Fuji setting is set to uncompressed or lossless compressed?

Chief Rob

It applies only to RAW. JPEG is already compressed by the camera's processing by deleting pixels. Check page 115 of your manual.

CPO ROB

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Thanks Chief Rob

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Compression can be done with or without loss. If you have ever used zip files, these are compressed but lossless.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Compressed lossless and uncompressed are options for shooting in RAW file format only. Shooting in JPEG format is not relevant to those two choices. JPEG is a compressed file format by its nature and it contains far less data than the RAW file format. JPEG files also degrade each time that they are saved so opening, viewing, and saving removes data each time.

Best practice is to shoot in RAW then do the post processing and save the result in the pixel size, DPI and quality desired in a JPEG format for uses such as email, web, multimedia, etc.. Save and retain the best image quality in TIFF for printing and/or for future post processing needs.