TucsonCoyote wrote:
http://petapixel.com/2016/02/04/heres-a-crazy-comparison-between-raw-and-jpeg/
Now, after clicking on the link, you tell me if this definitely persuades you to shoot Raw!?!
The author seems pretty sure he conveyed his message pretty clearly ! :) :roll: 8-)
Yawn. Why would he do that? The world does not need another raw vs. JPEG thread.
BOTH file formats have their unique purposes for being options on your camera. They are aimed at COMPLETELY DIFFERENT sets of needs!
Yes, JPEG is lossy. But it is FAST. When you need to, you can PRE-PROCESS your work by setting ALL the menus properly and precisely, and by doing a custom exposure and white balance assessment in relation to a test target. This will allow you to make a straight, machine print, with NO manipulation. And that is JUST FINE for certain, high-volume, straight-ahead imaging applications.
I know of TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PROFESSIONALS who work this way 100% JPEG, 100% of the time. They are in the "portrait and social" segment of the pro market, and most of them work for school photography or itinerant studio portrait photography companies. Some photograph small machine parts for catalogs and web sites.
Raw capture REQUIRES post processing most of the time. When you have the time, this is what allows you to get precisely the image you want or need. Raw is a hedge against bad exposure, but it's a lot more! It gives you maximum potential to tweak an image any way you want or need to, short of re-shooting it (if that's even possible!)
I usually save both, simultaneously, and strive to produce a perfect JPEG for my needs, right in camera, to minimize the need for post-processing, should I need it or want it at all. When I'm aiming for something great, I can get there faster by looking at *intentionally well-made JPEGs* in my editor, and THEN opening the raw file I like.
Showing me noise like that is just irrelevant. Life is FULL of little trade-offs. If I need a JPEG, I'll try to make one in the camera. If it sucks, or if the application is high-end, or if I just want something better, I'll convert my raw file!