robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Many low end or P&S cameras do not write RAW to the memory card, only JPEG - I would assume it is because their processors would be very slow and use a lot of their battery power.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

We'll never know for sure...

BillO Loc: Eastern Shore Maryland

I started an interesting discussion. It all kind of backed up what I've been reading elsewhere. More than one way to "skin a cat" sorta.

But seriously, my take away is that I will start slow, learn my camera and some new things about shooting in digital, and probably start out by playing with the Canon software. The suggestions regarding using other software were great.
Now if Amazon will just ship me the dang camera!
Should be fun.

As far as whether I use the spelling of RAW, raw, or even roar...hmmmm.

Thanks.

Bill

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Linda mentioned Faststone. It's really great to get started with.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Good luck and keep us posted about your progress.

Mike

traderjohn Loc: New York City

RAW and Jpeg are the same pictures just less detail to work when you edit.YouTube has a wealth of videos on your concerns.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Contrary to what others have noted, when moving into raw, other than your camera’s software, I go Lightroom Classic. Photoshop has a much, much steeper learning curve. A $10 monthly subscription gets you both Lightroom and Photoshop so when you’re ready to move into PS you’ll have it.

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

Suggest you shoot RAW + JPEG to start. Then using Canon software edit the raw image and compare to JPEGs created by camera. At some point your post processed RAW will be more to your liking then your camera produced JPEGs. The Camon software will provide a good understanding of what you want in a software package. All of the major software packages have some type of trial period, use these trials to select what is best for you or stay with Canon software.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I would agree that Canon’s free Digital Photo Professional would be a good starting point for editing raw photos, but no one has yet mentioned that no matter which program you use (and eventually you’re going to want to use Lightroom), none of them are completely intuitive to use. You’ll need to watch some tutorials to learn how to most effectively use the software.

Walt

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I started out with Photoshop Elements and have stuck with it over the past few years. Fairly easy learning curve.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Don’t learn PP on an “easy” editing software especially if your end goal is PhotoShop I would suggest you just go for Photoshop from the get go there is pleanty of YouTube education on the net to guide you along.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

If you came here for opinions you certainly got your money's worth.

Many of these are very good suggestions. The adobe applications are exellent but are on the expensive side and sold on a subscription basis. For basic post processing work the suggestion of starting with what came with the camera makes sence to me. You can do all the basic exposure, white ballance, sharpening and crop functions you want and learn the differences between working with jpeg or raw files. Later, if you want it you can go the adobe route and import what you had done to that point. Mostly enjoy your time exploring.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

You might try a (free) copy of Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. You can download the latest version from the Canon USA or Canon Europe site. It is limited in its editing capabilities compared to a full blown editor such as Photoshop, but its raw converter is quite good. After you get a feel for it and want to advance, you may decide that the monthly subscription to Lightroom/Photoshop for $9.95 or the one-time purchase of Photoshop Elements is a good next step.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello, Bill,

JPEG. vs. Raw ? In a nutshell:

Jpeg is an 8-bit file with 256 tones from black to white.
Raw image data is a totally different digital medium offering 12-bit (or more) image files with 4048 (or more) tones from black to white.

Details form in digital images at the accentuated edges between adjacent tones. Thus, a Raw data file offers far more cusps of potential detail and far greater resolution of detail in all regions of image brightness than does a jpeg file.

Are you happy with relatively small prints and display of your images only online? Then stick with JPEG.

Is your intent to print high quality images larger than 16”x 20” and to enjoy far greater creative latitude than available with jpeg files?

Then you should be capturing raw image data files and using the maximum dynamic range offered by your camera’s sensor- not relying on the in-camera histogram to tell you the dynamic range available.

You DO have to test your individual camera to determine its extra raw-accessible dynamic range (ERADR) in order to properly expose a raw capture:

“Capture the brightest image possible without clipping highlight detail, but coming as close as possible to clipping without actually doing so.”

Dave