Question:

Which is the best format to take photos in: RAW or JPEG?

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I'm looking to buy a new digital compact camera but I want to take pictures in the best possible quality, as I only capture memories once and I hate grain and camera that struggle with low-light conditions, like at night. Which is the best format for superior quality then?

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  1. JPEG i would say (: x


  2. The best strategy is to shoot RAW + JPEG Basic ... then you can do all your editing (sorting) using the small JPEG files and then once you have the best of the best in a separate file folder, convert the RAW files to either high quality JPEG's for photos or TIFF's for publication.

    Since everything the sensor "sees" is captured in RAW, your chances of having less noise (grain if you were shooting film) is reduced some, but not completely.

    The only way to avoid noise at high ISO's is to use cameras with both large sensors and large pixels.  This is where the Nikon D3 shines, because its pixels are 8.64 cm²  compared to the typical P&S cameras pixel size of only 0.24 cm² and most DSLR have pixels that are around 3.72 cm²

  3. For perfect image quality, shoot in RAW and convert to TIFF. The RAW mode has the advantage of containing all the information direct from the sensor. This lets you adjust white balance, dynamic range, and other picture parameters in ways that you can't with JPEGs. You might find it useful for your night shots, where white balance and shadow detail are often a problem. Also, the JPEG compression process introduces a bit of noise, which can be amplified in editing. The disadvantages of shooting RAW include large files and the need to post-process and convert to get a usable image.

    The JPEG images have been pre-processed according to the camera's settings. I suggest you run some comparison tests and see if you can see any advantage in using the RAW. If not, just shoot high-quality JPEGs. They take up a lot less space and require no post-processing.

    RAW mode doesn't eliminate grain; that's a product of sensor noise. DSLRs have lower noise than point & shoot cameras, due to larger pixel size.

  4. JPEG

  5. In simple terms JPEG means the file is compressed and you'll only be able to do so much to change the image (suitable for most pictures). With RAW, you get the whole image captured by the camera, so you can have much more control over the finished image (normally used by keen photographers). Bear in mind that RAW images are big files.

  6. JPEG is alot more common.

  7. It is mostly not the capture format causing the unacceptable noise at higher ISO, but rather the size of the sensor.  A dSLR has a bigger sensor than any P&S, and will have lower noise no matter what format you use to capture the image.  RAW files have more information than JPEG,  which are compressed.  Whether you need all the information, or could tell the difference once the images are processed is the question.  I shoot weddings mostly on JPEG, and use RAW for the ceremony and formals only.  If I am shooting with a big print in mind, or in uncertain light or WB, I shoot RAW.  Most of the time I use the finest JPEG setting.  For me, it is plenty enough and works just fine.  YMMV.  

  8. raw is good if you want to do a lot of editing but they take up more room you can shoot in jpeg and still do a lot of editing but with raw you can change pretty much anything.

    a good camera is nikon d40 look around at photo stores for it. it would be good to bundle a zoom lens in it also.

    look at these pics they were all shot in jpeg mode and some edited if needed or wanted.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsethphotog...


  9. You have better options for editing the photo if it is taken in RAW.

  10. It partially depends on what you are going to use to process your images. If you are using something that doesn't understand/can't process or open RAW images, then stick with jpg. However, RAW has the advantage that it is capturing everything the sensor sees on that camera, so NO data is lost. All JPEGS lose some quality, no matter how high the setting.

    Note that compact digital cameras (point and shoot type) generally will not give you the best quality. They are limited in the lens abilities, the really compact ones are just not going to have the sensors to get great images, and few if any of these can shoot RAW. Now, if you are talking about something like the Canon G9 that's a different story, but it's only moderately compact.

  11. Instead of debating on what's better--why don't I show you an example?

    This was shot in RAW.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pook...

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