Martin Loc: Long Island NY

LOL

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If you do not plan to do any post processing what so ever, even to lighten them, shoot in jpeg.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I see you've been a member since 2011 - if your too thick to have learnt anything in all that time you ain't about to learn anything now. Perhaps you could start a new section - call it 4Tos Spots.

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

JPEG is made from RAW and removes data. Think about it.

BebuLamar

I don't know. I shoot both JPEG and NEF. Perhaps that's even worse?

DoyleY Loc: Worland, Wyoming

I like white wine.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

The question is much like asking which is better, lumber or a table. The answer is that they are different and they serve different, though related purposes.

RAW is the best choice if you want the best possible image and you are willing to put in the time an effort to do custom post-processing on it (much as you will prefer lumber if you plan to build a table). When you are done with that work, you probably will preserve the results as a jpeg image, because that format is more compact; it suits your end purpose for the image. To extend the analogy, when you finish building the table you will discard the sawdust and various scraps of wood, sandpaper, stain and oils that remain.

Jpeg is perfectly adequate for storage of final results when you do not expect to do further processing of the image. Your camera will surely produce a jpeg image and if, for any reason, you do not intend to do further processing (editing) of that image then that is the right choice. You get a decent image quickly and easily with jpeg right-out-of-the camera, but you miss out on the joys of editing and probably you will feel less connection to the end result.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I had a couple cameras that would give me a tif. But only 8 bit tif. So I discount tif as a viable camera output format.

Would be nice if you had a camera that would output psd but the files would be large.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Lumber is definitely better. You can make a table from it, but you could also make a chair from it, or a bookcase, or a picture frame.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Exactly. An 8-bit TIFF is nothing more than an uncompressed 8-bit JPEG, with all the same limitations and features of the JPEG.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Here we go again!

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Piffle! Of course you can edit a JPG. Some facets of editing are best done with JPGs than RAWs.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It seems you didn't include the one that is really best! I'm sure someone will add that. 😂

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Be specific about that; what editing is best done with JPEGs rather than RAWs?