What is RAW shooting, and how is it different from shooting in JPEG format?

RAW shooting is a method of capturing digital images that records all of the data from the camera’s sensor without any processing or compression. This allows photographers to have full control over the image’s post-processing, as the image is not yet processed and can be adjusted as desired. JPEG shooting, on the other hand, is a method of capturing digital images that uses a lossy compression algorithm to reduce the size of the image file. This means that some of the data from the camera’s sensor is lost in the compression process, resulting in a lower quality image. JPEG images are ready to use right away, but have less flexibility for post-processing.

What are the main advantages of RAW shooting, according to the article?

The main advantages of RAW shooting, according to the article, are: 1. RAW files capture a much higher level of detail than JPEGs, allowing for greater flexibility in post-processing. 2. RAW files are uncompressed, which means they contain much more data and can be edited with less loss of quality. 3. RAW files are not subject to the same destructive processing as JPEGs, meaning they maintain a higher level of image quality. 4. RAW files allow for greater control over white balance and other color settings. 5. RAW files are more forgiving when it comes to making exposure and tonal adjustments.

What are some of the disadvantages of shooting in RAW format, as discussed in the article?

RAW files are significantly larger than JPEG files, so they require more storage space and take longer to transfer. RAW files require more post-processing than JPEG files, which can be time-consuming. RAW files are not compatible with all image editing software, so you may need to purchase a special program to edit them. RAW files can be difficult to share with others, as they require specialized software to open them.

How does RAW shooting affect the amount of storage space required for your photos?

RAW shooting requires more storage space than shooting in JPEG format because RAW files are larger and contain more data. A single RAW image can take up to 25MB of storage space, while a JPEG image may only take up to 5MB. Additionally, RAW images are not compressed, meaning they will retain all of the data captured by the camera, whereas JPEG images are compressed and may lose some of the data captured by the camera.

What is dynamic range, and how does shooting in RAW format affect it?

Dynamic range is the range of brightness values between the darkest and lightest parts of an image. Shooting in RAW format increases the dynamic range of an image, as RAW images contain more tonal information than JPEG images. This allows for more detail to be retained in the highlights and shadows of an image.

RAW shooting: RAW vs. JPEG file formats

Author: Oleg Afonin
Editor: Vladimir Artiukh
Updated: 9.12.2024 14:17

Are you considering shooting in RAW format but unsure about the downsides? Uncover the disadvantages of RAW shooting and explore the differences between RAW and JPEG file formats. Stay informed to make the best choices for your photography needs!

In our article called “Shooting RAW”, we took a closer look at the theoretical advantages of RAW formats over JPEG, and now let’s get to practice.

Contents

Time

While amateur enthusiasts and photo artists can take hours processing a single image, professionals such as wedding photographers may have no time nor desire to spend any more time processing thousands of files than is absolutely necessary. They will prefer setting everything in advance during the shooting rather than spending time later fixing the images. They’ll measure and pre-select white balance, carefully weigh exposure, enable highlight priority and shadow correction if required, and choose whatever camera preset required for a particular scene before shooting a picture.

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Naturally, they will obtain JPEG files that require no post processing and that are almost as good as RAW files. Given plenty of light, noise becomes a non-issue, while inferior resolution of JPEG images coming straight off the camera will not be noticed by any of their customers.

Size

Naturally, RAW files are much bigger than JPEG’s. The main reason is lossy compression technique used in JPEG files vs. lossless algorithms used to compress RAW’s. The other reason is higher bit depths per color channel available in RAW files. Storage considerations are valid, but the availability of Silicon Power, Sandisk, JetFlash, DataTraveler high-capacity memory cards alleviates the issue to a large degree.

RAW Formats

RAW files come in so many different formats it’s hard to mention them all. Canon’s CR2, Nikon’s NEF, Pentax PEF and a great deal of other proprietary formats are available. Moreover, new camera models produce RAW files that are hardly ever compatible with previous versions, forcing photographers to upgrade their RAW processing engine after buying a new camera.

Some manufacturers (e.g. Pentax) recognized the issue and started producing RAW files in an open-source Adobe DNG (Digital Negative) format. This finally solves the compatibility issue, allowing any converter supporting the Adobe DNG format to process images produced by these cameras. Unfortunately, not all camera makers follow this trend; Canon and Nikon stick to their proprietary formats.

Characteristic	Description
What is RAW?	An unprocessed format containing maximum data directly from the camera sensor, preserving full quality.
Image quality	Highest quality due to the lack of compression, retaining details and dynamic range.
File size	Significantly larger compared to JPEG and other formats because it is uncompressed.
Editing	Allows flexible adjustments to exposure, white balance, contrast, and other parameters without quality loss.
Compatibility	May be incompatible with some programs or devices, often requiring conversion to other formats.
Supported cameras	Used by professional and advanced amateur cameras. Each brand has its own formats (e.g., .CR2, .NEF, .ARW).
Target audience	Photographers, designers, professionals who need full control over the image.
Archiving	Not suitable for archiving due to large file size; typically converted to smaller formats.
Software for processing	Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, Darktable, and other professional editing tools.

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RAW+JPEG: Best of Two Worlds

For some critical shots, seasoned professionals will shoot both RAW and JPEG by enabling the corresponding option in the camera. This allows seasoned professionals to get advantage of the ultimate image quality provided by the RAW format while having JPEGs at their convenience the moment they need them. Granted, shooting RAW and JPEG together requires even more space, but a large capacity memory card will largely alleviate the issue.

Which One is for You?

Which of the two formats is right for you? Only you can answer. Do you shoot hundreds of pictures with little desire to spend hours before the computer screen doing post processing? Set up your camera right before each shooting session and shoot as many JPEG’s as you will. Enjoy perfecting every shot? RAW is right for you! Not sure yet? Try shooting RAW+JPEG and see what your digital workflow looks like.

Pros	Cons
High image quality due to the lack of compression and data loss.	Large file size, requiring more storage space.
Maximum flexibility in editing: allows adjustments to exposure, white balance, colors, and other parameters.	Requires specialized software for processing and viewing.
Wide dynamic range, preserving more details in highlights and shadows.	Needs post-processing to produce a finished image.
Suitable for professional work where complete control over the image is essential.	Compatibility issues: some devices and programs may not support RAW format.
Preserves original sensor data, which is useful for archiving the source material.	Inconvenient for quick sharing and publishing due to the need for conversion.

Photo Recovery Tool

If you inadvertently delete a photo or lose some after a system crash, you will be able to easily restore files using specialized software like Hetman Photo Recovery. The program supports both the popular *.jpeg, *.bmp, *.png files, as well as all popular RAW file formats, and restores photos in a few simple steps. Read more about the main reasons for losing photos after a vacation in our blog.

Photo Recovery™ 6.8

The program for quickly recovering photos after formatting or accidental deletion.

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Characteristic	Description
Purpose	Recovery of deleted or damaged photos and images from various media.
Supported Formats	JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, as well as RAW formats of most cameras (CR2, NEF, ARW, etc.).
Supported File Systems	FAT/exFAT, NTFS/ReFS, APFS/HFS+, Ext2/3/4/ReiserFS, XFS/UFS.
Supported Devices	HDD, SSD, USB drives, memory cards (SD, microSD, CompactFlash), digital cameras.
Deep Analysis	Yes, allows recovering photos even in cases of severe file system damage.
Preview Function	Yes, allows previewing found images before recovery.
Compatibility	Windows, Linux, macOS.
Target Audience	General users, photographers, data recovery specialists.