RAW verses JPEG...Confused? Read On!

I was not prepared to delve into this subject just yet, but after hearing so much about RAW and JPEG, I decided it was time to explore them both and determine which one would take center stage for me. 

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group which is the name of the group that developed the format. Now here's what you really need to know about "the JPEG". Its most common use is in the compression of images for computer storage and transmission over the Internet. However, when these images are processed by the camera information is lost, which is why it has been given the term "lossy" format. Each time the file is compressed, the more data it loses.







JPEG Tidbits:

• Called an image distribution format because it is used to transmit images across the internet.
• Sometimes difficult to correct color and exposure errors since the camera tosses some of the image information before storing it.
• Produces a sharp image with high contrast.
• Ready for immediate use, can be uploaded or printed and shared right away.
• Is a compressed file which doesn't take up alot of memory.
• Doesn't need special software to access, is very compatible with most devices.
• Easy to work with.
• Better for photographing moving subjects because it allows you to take more pictures in the continuous shooting mode.

Unlike JPEG, RAW isn't an acronym. Just as the name implies, it is simply an untouched (raw) digital image which basically means it has not yet been processed. It is sometimes referred to as a digital negative because it preserves all the information from the image file with minimum loss of data. It has also been known as a loss-less format because of this feature.



RAW Tidbits:

• Described as an image capture format intended to give you maximum control of the final product.
• Retains image information making it easier to make corrections with color and exposure.
• Not available for immediate use without processing.
• Needs specific software to access image files. The software may come with your camera, if not you can always purchase it or use free programs found on the Internet (Picasa) to help you. Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Capture One are a small list of available programs that can be used.
• You are in control of the final product.
• A RAW image lacks sharpness and contrast.
• It's an uncompressed file that takes up a lot of space on both your SD cards and computer hard drive. It can take up to four times the amount of space as a JPEG file.
• Transfer to the computer hard drive is slowed.
• Not a good choice when photographing in continuous mode.

JPEG Image

RAW Image

RAW image edited by Picasa (free software!)

Not sure when to use RAW or JPEG...


It all boils down to this...when it comes to determining which format to use, you are in the driver's seat. Choose the format that best meets your needs. Many professional photogs shoot in JPEG and many do in RAW. There is no right or wrong choice here because both formats contain features that make them attractive to both amateur and professional photogs. After giving RAW a spin, I have to say it was great to be able to use a really basic image editing software like Picasa to reproduce an image that had the exposure and color saturation I desired for the shot. It was very easy to do and the software was free! I did notice however that the time to upload each image took a bit longer than my JPEG files and that it took up quite a bit of space. For the moment, I have decided to continue using the JPEG format because it forces me to get the shot right the first time and spares my hard-drive space. I will use the RAW format as a backup when shooting images I can't afford to mess up. I enjoyed the experience of shooting RAW and loved having one more feature to add to my growing list of photography tips. Now what about you? It's time to give RAW a try to decide for yourself what works for you!


Reasons to stick with JPEG files:

• You are currently shooting in JPEG and you are more than happy with the results of your images.
• You are unfamiliar with image editing software and don't plan to give them a try.
• You are taking pictures that you don't plan to edit later, like a day in the park with the kids for example.
• You don't have the hard drive space to store such large files.                       

Reasons to stick with RAW files:

• You are working with images where it's vital that you get it just right, ( a wedding for example) use RAW. It's easier to fix exposure problems and color errors in this format.
• You have the storage capacity on your computer's hard drive.
• You have the time and the know how to process the images you capture.