RAW-image-file capture 189
RAW advantages
- No fi le compression. Capturing the full, unadulterated data
from the camera sensor.
- Ability to manipulate the fi les in postproduction.
RAW disadvantages
- Larger fi le size.
- Fewer images per memory card.
- Slower write times to the cards.
- Must have postproduction software to process the fi les and
convert to a usable format.
Digital fi lm?
If you used to be a fi lm photographer, here’s another way to
understand the differences between the two modes: think about
shooting color negative fi lm versus color transparency fi lm.
Negative fi lm is more forgiving of exposure and color-tempera-
ture variations. A person could under- or overexposure the image
and still obtain a satisfactory print. The color could be somewhat
improved as well and corrections could be made by the lab during
the printing process. If you used color transparency fi lm (slide
fi lm), the exposure and color correction had to be “on the money.”
A variation of one-third of an f-stop was the latitude limit of the
fi lm. The color temperature had to be perfect. Film processing
could not salvage poor exposures or improve color correctness.
Shooting in JPEG is similar to color transparency fi lm work.
Exposures have to be nailed down and the White Balance set
properly. If you shoot in RAW, your exposure and Color Balance
don’t have to be perfect, because you can make adjustments in
postproduction. Remember, these RAW fi les are coming right
from the camera sensor. There’s no sharpening, noise reduction,
or compression of the image.
Another question to address is the difference between the image
quality of a compressed JPEG versus a full-sized RAW fi le. For
casual shooting, projects that will require normal-sized prints,
most reproduction in printing-press format, JPEGs will be great.
Barry has made acceptable-quality wall-sized prints from 6.1-
megapixel JPEG fi les that were 48 inches across. Mind you, it was
nail-biting time waiting for the lab to make the prints. You see,
two assignments were photographed in JPEG before he’d discov-
ered RAW capture as part of his workfl ow. The clients surprised
Barry with their requests for large prints. He was pleasantly sur-
prised with the results, however, and both clients loved their
prints. That means the 11 × 14, 8 × 10, 5 × 7, and 4 × 6 prints will
rock. Barry routinely photographs studio portraits (on location,
bringing his portable studio, including backdrop, to the client)
using JPEG format because he controls the lighting, exposure, and
