Do a search using Google or another search engine, you'll get lots of info, below is a link that talks about Canon's newer CR2 RAW files (for stills, there are other articles for movie files) I doubt Canon will discuss such issues in any great detail given their compression algorithms are proprietary, intellectual property, copyrighted and/or licensed.
Exdsc wrote:
And this lossless compression applies throughout Canon range of cameras that offer RAW?
yeah as far as I can tell the raw files are handled the same way wether its a basic rebel or a full blown 1 series .
of course the sensors give better info for the file
The option of different size of RAW file that is available in canon DSLRs is basically how Canon deals with RAW file size?
Not really . RAW is one size . the MRaw or Sraw that some cameras produce are smaller MP files
eg I think the Mraw of my 7D is about 10mp rather than the 18mp of the full raw.
problem with any of the Mraw/Sraw files is not all RAW software handles them and unless you really know you wont use the files for large prints or lots of cropping there isnt much point. OK you save some space on your card but you cant create a larger file if needed afterwards while you can of course make a much smaller jpeg/tiff from a full raw if you dont need the MP in post
All Canon DSLRs from the 1DX to the T3 offer the same lossless compression of raw files. This goes all the way back to the D30. Canon has been doing lossless compressed raw from the beginning.
mraw and sraw are sort of an abomination and not really raw. It's a complicated subject, but shooting full raw and downsizing in post gives better quality.
