When I started this photography blog, I was much better about sharing what I learned. I even did a “Weekly Wisdom” post to share a new tip, technique, or concept that I learned. And while my learning certainly hasn’t stopped, my blogging and sharing about what I’ve learned has. I’ll try to be better.
So today, per a reader’s request I thought I’d share with you a bit about shooting in RAW versus JPEG. The request couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I’ve been shooting in RAW + JPEG mode in my camera for the past several months, almost as long as I have had my camera. But my computer has been slow, and I’ve been annoyed with the memory that the RAW files are eating up (and yes, I do transfer files to an external hard drive, but apparently not as often as I should). So I did a bit more researching to decide whether I’m shooting in the “right” mode for me.
Let’s start from the beginning. What are RAW and JPEG? Well, it’s basically the file format that your camera stores the image data from your camera sensor. Most know that RAW files are much, much larger than JPEG files. So what gives? What are the pros and cons behind each? Why do most professional photographers shoot in RAW?
Think of RAW files as “uncooked” or “unprocessed” just as you would think of raw food. A RAW file is an uncompressed file that contains all the information/data from your sensor for each image; that is why many refer to RAW file data as lossless. RAW files require special software to view and process the image on your computer; for example, I use Adobe Camera Raw. On the other hand, when shooting in JPEG mode, files are smaller files because the information/data for the image is processed in your camera which compresses the image data (in other words, you lose some of your image data). JPEG files are readable by any image program because they have been processed, unlike RAW files which have to be processed on the computer using a software program.
The lossless nature of RAW files allows photographers to have more control and flexibility over how an image looks in post-processing. Think of it as raw food again. When you have raw or “uncooked” food, you have much more flexibility with what you can do with it than if it were already cooked. You can change the exposure if needed, many times recovering highlights or shadows if needed. You can also more easily adjust white balance, contrast, saturation, and sharpness with RAW files. JPEG files on the other hand have already been processed (or cooked) losing some of the data.
Because RAW files are unprocessed, they are lower in contrast and not as sharp as JPEGs. RAW files also have a tendency to look “flat”. RAW files must be processed and converted into readable formats (such as JPEG) in order to be printed or suitable for the web. However, keep in mind that each time you manipulate and save a picture as a JPEG on your computer, the image loses data. TIFF files, however, are lossless, so if you plan to do multiple rounds of manipulation on an image, it is recommended to save it as a TIFF until finalized and then save it as a JPEG.
Why would someone want to shoot JPEG? The camera can write the information to your SD card faster with JPEGs because of the smaller file size, thus allowing you to shoot faster. Also because of the smaller size, you can store 2-3 times the number of images than if you were shooting in RAW. If it’s likely that you will not be interested in editing an image, JPEG is likely the way to shoot. Let’s all face it, post-processing takes times. Shooting in JPEG mode is convenient.
So will I change my setting on my camera? Yes, actually! For shoots around the house and on the go, I will use JPEG mode because my likelihood of wanting to edit the photos is slim, and it’s just not worth the space on my SD card, computer or external drive to have the RAW files. For photo sessions though, I will shoot in RAW so that I have the flexibility in post-processing.
Of course, there is no right or wrong—it’s up to everyone’s personal preference.
So that’s a basic overview. For more information on RAW versus JPEG, a simple Internet search will get you much more information (and probably better written) than what I just shared. If anyone else has anything additional to share, feel free to leave a comment!
