Raw... Jpeg.... Raw & jpeg
- Thread starter TedG954
- Start date
Jeff, if you always shoot in jpeg you are always allowing your camera to decide the best vision you had of the scene. Or......trusting the camera to capture the mood you felt at the time. Sometimes you can express yourself better if you can adjust the light, shadows, colors etc. of the scene. JMHO....
Nikon Photographer
Senior Member
Download Photoscape, it has a Raw converter built into the program
Photoscape : Free Photo Editing Software (Photo Editor) Download
Jeff, if you always shoot in jpeg you are always allowing your camera to decide the best vision you had of the scene. Or......trusting the camera to capture the mood you felt at the time. Sometimes you can express yourself better if you can adjust the light, shadows, colors etc. of the scene. JMHO....
I hear you and agree with what you are saying Laura. Lately though I have been using the histograms when I am shooting and basically I am able to nail the exposure perfectly which means the camera is reproducing what I am actually seeing with a great deal of accuracy. I haven't been shooting at all though the past week or so. I have been studying shooting.
I think when I start back up again I am going to mess with RAW.
Disorderly
Senior Member
It isn't just about getting it right in camera. Sometimes that just isn't possible, as will happen when the dynamic range is greater than a JPEG can handle. A RAW file has a good four stops more range of bright to dark, two above and two below the JPEG. With RAW you can compress that range to fit your needs, and then save the JPEG.
Disorderly
Senior Member
One more piece of advice, since you mentioned the histogram. Okay, two; a second one occurred to me as I was typing. First, be aware that the histogram is based on your JPEG, not the RAW data. If your white balance is wrong, or if you have a mode set for your JPEGs, that will skew your histogram. And second, the separate RGB histograms are much more useful than the combined graph, especially if you shoot people. People have a lot of pink in their skin, and the red channel is often further to the right than the other channels. The overall histogram may look fine, but you can still be overexposed in your JPEG in that one channel. So look at all three, not just the average.
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Thanks for the information sir. What you say makes sense. Let me ask you if I shoot RAW can I still use the histogram or is it strictly a jpeg only deal? Another question I tend to keep my white balance set at 5500 because I like sun light and people and I just like the golden glow 5500 tends to give...can you elaborate on this idea of mine relative to using the histogram and RAW. Thanks.
Disorderly
Senior Member
Thanks for the information sir. What you say makes sense. Let me ask you if I shoot RAW can I still use the histogram or is it strictly a jpeg only deal? Another question I tend to keep my white balance set at 5500 because I like sun light and people and I just like the golden glow 5500 tends to give...can you elaborate on this idea of mine relative to using the histogram and RAW. Thanks.
You can always use the histogram, even if you only shoot RAW. As I mentioned elsewhere, even if you shoot RAW, the camera generates an embedded JPEG. That's what it shows,in the display, and that's what it uses to calculate the histogram.
Regarding white balance, if you want a particular balance, it's good to have it set that way in camera. That way the histogram will show you exposure relative to your desired WB. Personally, I'd use auto WB outside and let it neutralize the color of the light, but there's nothing wrong with choosing to play with the color in camera. And of course, you can change the WB in your RAW processor later with no penalty and no Ill effects.
Just be aware that the color of light changes, and adjust to what looks good to you.
Disorderly
Senior Member
And if you're shooting at sunset, you wouldn't want a neutral white balance to take all that color out of the sky.
Disorderly
Senior Member
I'd put depth of field at the top of my list. At least with white balance you can correct it after the fact. DOF is something you really want to get right in camera.
I just thought about that concerning white balance. If you are RAW it doesn't matter.
DOF is something I have been thinking a lot about the past week or so too (actually for a long time- I think I am fixing to make a breakthrough here (DOF) related to my study of focusing). I'm trying to rethink all of this stuff before I go shooting again. It is getting close for me to be going out and trying out new snaps with new found knowledge or at least reviewed knowledge.
I'm glad to have you posting tonight Disorderly as what you and I are discussing is what has been on my mind lately. I appreciate your help a whole lot. What is your name BTW? I am Jeff.
DOF is something I have been thinking a lot about the past week or so too (actually for a long time- I think I am fixing to make a breakthrough here (DOF) related to my study of focusing). I'm trying to rethink all of this stuff before I go shooting again. It is getting close for me to be going out and trying out new snaps with new found knowledge or at least reviewed knowledge.
I'm glad to have you posting tonight Disorderly as what you and I are discussing is what has been on my mind lately. I appreciate your help a whole lot. What is your name BTW? I am Jeff.
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Disorderly
Senior Member
Pleased to meet you, Jeff. I'm Hank.
Michael J.
Senior Member
Almost a year when this thread started. New members are joining the site. Any new experience?