Beating the dead horse 1 more time

[Hockey-whino]

I'm going on vacation (1st in 6 years) to Marthas vineyard this weekend. I plan on taking a lot of photographs. I want to shoot in Raw +jpeg. I'm hoping that alot of the photos i take are going to be keepers and I will want to further process them (that explains why RAW). Sooooo... the jpeg part is for instant gratification (I can see what I just did, delete if I have to).

My question is this: Am I going about this right? or is Raw + jpeg overkill. Is there a way to just shoot RAW and still be able to view them, print them out etc... while I'm on the road. I do not have photoshop or lightroom at this time. I have heard of UFRAW and Gimp will these do the same and is the process easy to use/ learn. I don't want to spend all my vacation working on the laptop.

I am trying to evolve as a photographer, its my first time shooting in RAW.

Thanks, HW

[Jim Poor]

I'll put this up front so you don't miss it: Since this is your first time shooting RAW, be sure you have enough memory cards and harddrive space for the pictures.

Raw+JPG is a waste of space. Each Raw file has a JPG embedded in it already.

Yes, you can view the raw files either on camera or with any of about a zillion programs out there.
Yes, you can print from many of the programs as well.

I recommend downloading the trial version of Lightroom. It will do the trick for you while on vacation and give you a free, fully-functional look at a very good program.

There is also a program called "instant JPG from Raw" that extracts the existing JPG file from the RAW format quickly so you can use it for other things.

[Jim Bryant]

Well, if you don't have either lightroom or CS...shoot both RAW and (L) jpeg and worry about the RAW images later. I'm too much learned in GIMP and UFRAW as I'm only schooled in Aperture and CS.

Originally Posted by Hockey-whino

I'm going on vacation (1st in 6 years) to Marthas vineyard this weekend. I plan on taking a lot of photographs. I want to shoot in Raw +jpeg. I'm hoping that alot of the photos i take are going to be keepers and I will want to further process them (that explains why RAW). Sooooo... the jpeg part is for instant gratification (I can see what I just did, delete if I have to).

My question is this: Am I going about this right? or is Raw + jpeg overkill. Is there a way to just shoot RAW and still be able to view them, print them out etc... while I'm on the road. I do not have photoshop or lightroom at this time. I have heard of UFRAW and Gimp will these do the same and is the process easy to use/ learn. I don't want to spend all my vacation working on the laptop.

I am trying to evolve as a photographer, its my first time shooting in RAW.

Thanks, HW

[RexK_Cozumel]

the images will show up on your camera even if you shot in raw format. Shooting raw + JPEG is a waste of card space in my opinion. If you dont have a program to manage your raw files try downloading a trial version of lightroom off of adobe's website. It is a 30 day full trial version. that should last you through your vacation anyways. Super easy to use and pretty powerful as far as editing and workflow goes. I still use photoshop for my indepth retouching however.

After you get back you can decide if you like lightroom enough to buy it or switch to Gimp and UFRaw and learn how to use that when you have the extra time.

[Hockey-whino]

Thanks everyone, I finally think I understand... I will download light room trial immediately.

Jim Poor- I am taking 1x4gb card and 2x2gb cards also i will have my epson3000(as long as I can backup the RAW files to it) to backup to and a 500gb external HD. I think this should be sufficient. What is your opinion?

Dumb Question #2: If you can view your RAW photos in camera as you go, can you also view the RAW histograms? ( I use the histograms a lot to check exposure etc...)

Thanks Again Everyone!!

HW

[RexK_Cozumel]

It really depends on how many photos you are going to be taking. I have 4 8GB cards and I fill those up pretty easily shooting raw. On my camera a 8GB card holds about 470 raw images.

If I were you I would get at least 1 more 4 GB card.

Beating a dead horse?

You mean, that's not the name of this forum?

[Snowdust]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Beating a dead horse?

You mean, that's not the name of this forum?

OH no, here it comes

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by Hockey-whino

Dumb Question #2: If you can view your RAW photos in camera as you go, can you also view the RAW histograms? ( I use the histograms a lot to check exposure etc...)

Thanks Again Everyone!!

HW

Yup, you sure can! I shoot in RAW and always check the histogram.

[Hockey-whino]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Beating a dead horse?

You mean, that's not the name of this forum?

I did say only " 1 more time". That doesn't make me that bad of a person does it? lol

HW