faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

I decided to see what every one was talking about shooting in RAW, so I did a few pictures but they won't open in anything I have. I tried to save them as TIFF, but that didn't work. Help.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

What kind of camera? Do you have the CD that was included?
Should have a RAW editor included. Otherwise Picasa (FREE from Google) seems to be able to read most RAW formats.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

What software, and what camera?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Your camera should have come supplied with a software bundle that is capable of reading the specific raw files of your camera. If not you need to find one that lists support for your camera model.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

What software & what camera?

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

The reason to shoot in raw is that when you have software such as photoshop elements ect you can manipulate the brightness and other controls to make a better picture than JPEG does. But if you have no intentions of doing this, then you should stay with JPEG at this time. David

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

A couple of points here - first, what computer are you using? With Macs, RAW file interpretation is handled at the OS level; when OSX updates come through they sometimes have the capability of reading new RAW formats. For Windows, you need to have software downloaded for that particular RAW format.

As for "what everyone is talking about", RAW files capture all of the data that was originally captured by the camera's imaging chip (well, there is a bunch of processing done to that, but it is still analogous to a negative). JPEG is a form of the RAW file that the computer in the camera generates (based on how the manufacturer's engineers set that up) - JPEG files are much smaller but a lot of data is thrown away to make the JPEG.

What this means, in essence, is that there is more flexibility in a RAW file for making alterations - bringing up shadow detail, for instance - much like a negative allows of dodging and burning" when making a print. In a way, a JPEG is more like a print - yes, it can be manipulated but within much narrower confines.

So as has been said already, you need to install a program (on a Windows machine, anyway) which is generally packaged with the camera. Or you could go to the manufacturer's site and download it, no doubt.

But what you will see onsreen won't be much different than the JPEG version anyway, as there is no such thing as "viewing" a RAW file itself - whether chomping on your camera or viewing it on your computer the RAW file is being converted to RGB anyway. It's only worthy if you will want to do post processing.

laddsmith Loc: Central California Mountains

Hi Fay-the other posters are correct, it is likely you have a CD with some program that will open RAW files. I am a Nikon guy, and Nikon provides View NX which is free, but I am pretty sure Canon, etc. also provides free programs. If you use Photoshop, Lightroom. etc. ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) will also open files. The benefits of shooting RAW are huge-it is not just brightness/contrast-you can adjust the White Balance, Exposure, sharpening, recover some blown highlights-it is essentially a digital negative that you can post process-once you get used to it, you will love the capabilities.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Hi faygo -

I went back to your intro and saw you referenced a Canon t2i. You'll need to find the Canon CD that came with the camera and install Digital Photo Professional. Otherwise, suggestions for freeware or to purchase a product will be needed to open the RAW files from your camera. Renaming the extension of the CR2 file won't work to get them opened.

You can download an update to DPP from the Canon website that will bring it to the current release. But, Canon only provides updates assuming the software has been installed originally from a CD.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

You have to be careful with Adobe products though. Older software will not open Raw files from newer cameras & it isn't always possible to update the ACR in those older software programs to be able to open Raw files from newer cameras (planned obsolescence)

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Sounds like an echo chamber in here:
"What camera and what software?"

Truthfully, no one can answer your question as posted without knowing specifically what camera you have, and what software you are trying to use. All DSLR cameras capable of shooting RAW images will come with a disc that contains software, for free, that will allow you to view, save, and even do limited editing on that RAW image. I highly suggest using it to begin with to see if RAW is even a format you are seriously interested in using.

Mr_Mel Loc: Middletown PA

Yes, I found that out with Elements 9. I cannot update Camera RAW to 8.1 which is needed for my Canon Powershot SX50 HS. The Canon program will open the RAW file, though. I downloaded Adobe DNG and converted the RAW files. Will they be adjustable the same as RAW?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Yes.....DNG is Adobe's version of RAW...

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Most likely they will be - DNG was Adobe's attempt to make a "standard" file format for RAW images; the notion being that in the future if NEF or CR2 or whatever proprietary format is no longer supported DNG wold become the standard. I don't know if that will ever happen, but essentially a DNG is a kind of RAW file.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

If using Nikon D600 at the present time u need Raw converter 8.3 with Lightroom 5 there is none for the 610 yet. you can use NX2 and change you DNG to JPEG. Also Picasa will open DNG.