RAW or JPEG

[shutterprincess]

Thanks so much teaking and BC! It helps me some, but I'm still so confused I'm just going to have to take a private class (as I have so many other questions). I understand RAW is better and I need to start shooting in it again. It's just that I have NEF files that I can't even see when I upload them (small thumb nails) (Nikon) and I have no program that allows me to edit a NEF file. I have GIMP.

But thanks again!

[BCampbell]

If you're using Windows, there's a free download from the microsoft website called RAW Image Previewer. It's basically the same as the simple Windows image viewer but it allows you to preview RAW files and send them to the editor of your choice.

To edit RAW, you can download UFRaw or RAWTherapee, they're both open source solutions that work with GIMP.

My advice is just to download those, shoot in RAW, and start doing it. If you find the RAW editor interface too confusing at first, you can simply export to GIMP without any changes for editing, and learn some of teh more advanced features later.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

If you're using Windows, there's a free download from the microsoft website called RAW Image Previewer. It's basically the same as the simple Windows image viewer but it allows you to preview RAW files and send them to the editor of your choice.

To edit RAW, you can download UFRaw or RAWTherapee, they're both open source solutions that work with GIMP.

My advice is just to download those, shoot in RAW, and start doing it. If you find the RAW editor interface too confusing at first, you can simply export to GIMP without any changes for editing, and learn some of teh more advanced features later.

I second this. As a matter of fact, since you are very new to it, I would just download UFRaw first and tinker with it a while. The interface (to me anyway) is pretty straight forward.

[IainM]

More than the white balance control, it's the ability to recover partially over exposed or under exposed portions of a photo that make me always shoot raw.

[Seeking~Zen]

Wow, I wish I had found this thread before I had actually asked a similar question in the DPS Flickr forum. Ok...so hands down RAW for me. Well for now I'll use both until I'm proficient enough in my editing. This thread has been most helpful in suggesting not only the best choice, but also in software suggestions. I do have one question though, and perhaps I missed it...if shooting RAW means the white balance setting on my camera becomes unimportant, how does one create and HDR with bracketed shots? Or is that a rediculous question...assuming that editing in RAW negates the need for HDR to bring out difficult details to begin with? (say when youre trying to capture a room with dark details and the details outside a sunny window) Am I just confusing myself?
S~Z

[IainM]

Shooting an hdr is the same basically, you just shoot a bracket of shots and then compile in your program of choice strait from the RAW file.

However, some good images can be made by making several JPEG "prints" from the single RAW "film" and using those as the compiling pieces. It works fine enough though often isnt as good as 3 seperate RAW's.

[teaking]

*raises flame shield* "flame shield restriction system to maximum" lol

Shooting RAW will not allow you to indeffinately recover details it will do for around a full stop some people quote more but I dont have that experiance, it will give some results with HDR from one expsure but will not give you the same results as 3 or more exposures. And I know a lot of people leave white balance when shooting RAW because it can be changed but... I still say its a good thing to get correct white balance and exposure in RAW as when you are editing your still degrading the image squeezing the histogram and colours. Dont shoot thinking I can save this make sure first.

[shutterprincess]

BCampbell & RLucas thanks for those suggestions, I'll look into it.

[Seeking~Zen]

thanks IainM and teaking...

[Darryl88]

Originally Posted by fletch

DSLRs JPEG files nomally need PP to bring out the best in them, even if you do get it right in camera they are still a little muted and flat. IMO this negates the "RAWs take time to process" arguement.

Hi Fletch, I have been using a Canon S3is for a few years and have just bought a Canon 20D. I intend getting into taking RAW photos but don't have any program to do PP work. Do you have any recommendations as to what program to use ~ preferably very user friendly?