Raw or JPEG?
Canon dSLRs put out a very high quality (large, fine) jpeg file. The image holds up extremely well during editing. The problem is that you need to be + 0.25 stop from perfect exposure. Therefore, to be safe when shooting photos as JPEGs you need to exposure bracket. Raw format, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to be + 1 stop or more from perfect exposure. Little or no bracketing is required. Actually, you end using less disk space for storage even though a raw file is larger than a JPEG file. And, raw files properly converted allow you to perform all of your usual edits in the more accurate 16-bit color space. Here are the pros/cons of using camera RAW:
Pros
- Highlight recovery and enhanced shadow detail
- Ability to generate 16-bit tiffs (with EXIF intact)
- Emulates a ‘digital negative’
- Smaller file size (than 16-bit tiffs) and less storage space
Cons
- Added step in already long workflow
- No standard format across manufacturers
- Additional software cost required
- Long lag times for software updates for new cameras
When you shoot Raw, all of the processing that would normally occur inside your camera gets moved to your desktop computer. Well, unless you use Print Direct, you have to use your computer for cropping, sizing, and printing. Why not just start with raw and have maximum control over your final image?
Tip: Shoot RAW+Small/Fine mode. Utilities such as ICOPY will download the RAW and JPEG files from your CF card into different folders. You can use the high-quality JPEGs for thumbnailing and quick edits. Archive the RAW files for more critical work.
The Canon EOS 30D has been on the market (worldwide) for more than a month. Here are the 3rd software programs with updated versions that support this camera:
Breezebrowser 1.4.2
SILKYPIX 2.0
Bibble 4.7
Capture One 3.7.4.
Addendum (May 16th): Since I wrote this post, RawShooter and Adobe ACR have been updated for the Canon EOS 30D.
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