This is not a trivial question, and it can make a big difference. Most of the professional photographers shoot in RAW, witht no exceptions. This is related to my previous post about editing or photoshopping pictures. However, it is true that there are a lot of discrepancies about the issue, let's take it step by step.
What is RAW?
Raw is the uncompressed digital photo, which has all the information that the camera got when the shot was taken. In simple words, the RAW format is similar to the negative film in the analogic photography. This format is only read by specialized software and cannot be used to share the picture straight away: it needs developing.
What is JPEG?
JPEG is the processed and compressed photo, where all the settings are already set. Continuing with the analogical world similarities, the JPEG would be the printed photo you get in the store, already developed. The problem here is that the camera decides which development fits best with the picture
What should I choose and why?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question: both formats serve a purpose.
First of all, you need to be honest to yourself and ask: am I willing to start editing each single picture I take before I can send it to my friends/upload to my website? And more important: am I willing to learn how to use the dedicated software to get the perfect picture?
Second, one of the main differences between RAW and JPEG is the file size: a RAW file can take more than double space as of a JPEG file. This is a critical factor: how many gigabytes do you have available on your memory card? And on your hard disk? How many pictures do you take every day?
But the most important question is: am I generally happy with the result of my camera? That is, if you are satisfied with the settings your camera decides for each picture, maybe JPEG is a proper option. If you are going to edit the pictures, enhance the best parts of them, then you should not use JPEG: each modification means a loss in quality, and if you want to edit several parameters, then the loss of quality will be more apparent. If you are mostly happy with the picture your camera gives, then you may not need to shoot in RAW. I highly recommend to try RAW format even if you are happy with your results; you can make a good picture even better by adjusting some parameters.
Of course, there are plenty of other issues: is my computer capable of developing the pictures? Will I get a significant improvement in my pictures? How can I decide what fits best for my needs?
If you cannot make up your mind, you still have a choice: shoot in RAW and JPEG, both at the same time. If you do not have any storage issue, but you are in doubt about what fits best with your requirements, then give it a try. In worst case scenario, you will delete the RAW pictures and never come back to them again. But maybe, and only maybe, you will find that RAW is perfect for you!
The next question is: Which program should I use to edit my pictures?
There are plenty of programs available in the market, but the most popular ones are:
Adobe photoshop CS6: This last version also supports video editing
Adobe photoshop Lightroom: a program made for picture enhancing, easy to learn and powerful
Phase One: a lesser known enhancing software, with powerful possibilities
Gimp: an open source, free software that has really good features.
Of course, the list of available programs is endless. My choice is to use Lightroom (version 4) for the general edition, and Photoshop CS6 when I need to do something more special, such as "photoshopping" put dust speckles from a picture, remove sun glares, or fix small details that need special attention.
Do you have any burning question? Just write a comment or send me a message to my facebook page!
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| ISO 1250, f=2.8, 13 seconds exposure |
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