compressed and 12 bit raw nikon files

A

alaios

Senior Member
Hi all,
I am new photographer that I have started shooting events (baptisms and weddings) and currently I am at the lower part of the market prices (which is fair for me since I still train and try different techniques).
Currently I shoot uncompressed raw files that are 14 bit and I still wonder how much I gain with that extra quality in those files.
If one looks at my shots would notice sooner or later that I have to improve on
1. evoking genuine expressions
2. making faster correct exposures
3. light places and subjects better

I do not see that at my stage 14 bits uncompressed files would be the quality boom I really need.
The reason I am raising this issue is that the nikon raw files tend to be rather slow in my lightroom processing and I would at least get some post processing speed with smaller size raw files (and thus avoid upgrading pc costs)
When I start to get to areas that my skill set has improved I guess it would be easier to get something more from larger raw files.

How do you think about rationale here?
Regards
Alex
 
J

J-see

Senior Member
If you're not (seriously) lifting shadows you'll probably notice little difference between 12 and 14bit.

As far as I know, compressed or uncompressed is more of a storage than handling issue; LR (or any other program) has to uncompress the RAW before handling.

I shoot uncompressed all the time and notice little difference in processing vs compressed. The main difference for me is the load during transfer.
 
N

nickt

Senior Member
My machine is not that great but I do not notice a difference in processing time with the 14 bit. What I wanted to mention is the use use of the graphics processor. On my machine, turning on this LR option makes things noticeably slower. So you might want to try that. Preferences-Performance-Use graphics processor. My low-end machine is faster with the box unchecked.
 
A

alaios

Senior Member
J-see said:
If you're not (seriously) lifting shadows you'll probably notice little difference between 12 and 14bit.

As far as I know, compressed or uncompressed is more of a storage than handling issue; LR (or any other program) has to uncompress the RAW before handling.

I shoot uncompressed all the time and notice little difference in processing vs compressed. The main difference for me is the load during transfer.
Click to expand...

I am pulling quite a bit shadows but I guess this is not where the 12 bit fall short. (this is what I think I read somewhere. I will google it later)
 
J

J-see

Senior Member
alaios said:
I am pulling quite a bit shadows but I guess this is not where the 12 bit fall short. (this is what I think I read somewhere. I will google it later)
Click to expand...

You'll not notice it in every shot but there are occasions when 12-bit has a problem with increasing exposure in post which 14-bit does not suffer.

If your shot is correctly exposed within a couple of stops, you'll rarely encounter a problem but when you, like me, quite regularly increase exposure by 3 up to 5, 6, 7 or more stops, 12-bit can fall short.

If you want to save resources, test if it matters or not. It's quickly changed back from 12 to 14-bit.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I have played with both over the years but always go back to 14bit uncompressed. Why cripple my camera. Give me the most data I can get to work with.

But that is just me.
 
S

Spottydumplings

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
I have played with both over the years but always go back to 14bit uncompressed. Why cripple my camera. Give me the most data I can get to work with.

But that is just me.
Click to expand...

Then to go along with that the advice should be to make sure that Adobe Camera Raw is set for 16 bit rather than it's default 8 bit;).
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Spottydumplings said:
Then to go along with that the advice should be to make sure that Adobe Camera Raw is set for 16 bit rather than it's default 8 bit;).
Click to expand...

Yes, Most of us paid a BUNCH of money for our gear (I know my wife said I have) so why cheap out at this point and cripple it just to cave a couple of megabytes or a few seconds of time in the computer.
 
Top