blackmtnman

[quote=Rachel]

Yes...the best, shortest description of RAW I ever heard was "It's a digital negative."

Bobbee

[quote=blackmtnman]

there is an XMP file in there, try deleting it

jepoplin Loc: Steamboat Springs, CO

I would try shooting both NEF and JPG at the same time until you get the hang of NEFs. Raw images are essentially a digital negative, and they capture more information than a JPG...which comes in handy when processing your photos.

RAW images files record data for all three of the colors within the pixel (red, green and blue). Where as a JPG only records the color levels of the most prominent color within the pixel. That is why when printing JPG's versus NEF's, a JPG will have blown colors (and you also loose a great deal of your images detail as well). Since NEF's do record all three, of course your image files are going to be much larger.

I only shoot NEFs... when you pull an image into Photoshop/Lightroom you have more information availble that allows you to adjust exposure, contrast... the list goes on and on. When you do make your adjustment save a master copy in a format other than JPG, I personally use TIF files. If you save a file to a JPG, go back in and work on it and save it again you continue to loose important data (and photo details) due to the compression of saving to JPG.

I'm sure once you see the quality difference you'll be shooting in NEF format only.

John
http://www.johnepoplin.com/

JacLee Loc: Chico CA

Enlighten me please. I don't have any idea what any of you are talking about. Boy do I need lessons. When I first saw "shooting in the raw", I thought you meant in the nude. <;-(

architect Loc: Chattanooga

JacLee. If your camera does not have a selection for RAW, then you do not need to worry about what it is in the immediate future. As you become more educated and experienced, or if your camera does support RAW, you will want to know more about it, and a lot is explained in the posts above.

Shooting naked is fun if the weather is nice, and if you have no inhibitions. I would advise having some clothes nearby though in case the local police are not so accommodating.

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

The best possible world with a raw file is to keep it as it was shot. All the data. You them with a copy make a revised edited revision to your liking and save this as your working revision. This is how Aperture 3 works. The full raw file is kept in a sequence with the revised versions. It sounds like a lot of extra storage on the computer but it is not. The only extra storage is the instructions for the revision. The revised file photo's are shown to the right of the raw file. You can always go back to the raw file or any revision with one click.
With JPEG the file is edited by a program that may not be to your liking and you have lost control of the process.

JacLee Loc: Chico CA

Thank you. I don't have anything special, just a Fujifilm point and shoot.
And also - too much Poison Oak to shoot here in the raw~~

JacLee Loc: Chico CA

Thank You also for your explanation. How little I know,but I am having fun just taking pictures when something catches my eye.
God Bless
JacLee

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

The reason that raw images can look a little rough is because nothing has been done to them in any way.Be assured, with the proper work a raw file is the best. Once you have the raw file stored you can make a jpeg any time so why bother storing a raw file and a jpeg file at the same time. When the camera does the processing of your image you are relying on what the camera manufacturer thinks is the best image and thats a big mistake. You are much better off doing your own work on your files. All you need to store is the raw image because with this you can do anything and it will take up less space.

Nikonuser Loc: South Dakota

Have a Nikon D90 and shoot almost always in Raw and then use Capture NX2 to edit. Amazing results! JPG's only for kids sports when I want to take hundreds of pictures at about 4 per second...delete 90% of them and save the great ones. Still use Large and Fine for JPG just in case one comes out great and I want to print a larger size picture.

marmesto Loc: Hamburg, NY

I admit I didn't read all of the responses here, so someone may have already suggested this; but some subjects (mostly snapshot type pictures) may not warrant the memory premium of RAW. I shoot JPEG or JPEG+RAW depending on how important the subject seems to me. Clearly, it's a judgment call.

K2KImages

Nothing is lost in the raw format, the camera settings like saturation etc won't be saved in the raw file. This is why you need to manipulate the setting from the raw file yourself. Please remember not to save back to the raw file, this raw file should be your negative and not touched.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

raw is not the end all,be all for every one.i use it now and then.