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Archive 2009 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?

  
 
benstein
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p.2 #1 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I shoot with Large Normal Jpeg files as I typically shoot sports


Jun 30, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Eric Williams
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p.2 #2 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


RAW 12bit, Lossless Compressed - Processed with CaptureNX2.

I haven't been able to see anything I shoot where there's a difference between 12 and 14 bit. The Full 6fps and the faster processing in NX made 12bit the choice for me.

If someone care to point to an example between 12 and 14 bit that shows a difference, I'd like to take a look at it.

My main reason for RAW is to be able to take advantage of better RAW converters as time goes by, and as I get better at processing.



Jun 30, 2009 at 05:43 PM
MichaelKirk
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p.2 #3 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


codeninja wrote:
I'm curious about the ratio of RAW shooters among D300 users. If you shoot RAW which software do you use to convert?


RAW 100% and use Light Rom for all my conversions. My preset is no different than shooting jpeg and just as easy.

Michael



Jun 30, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Jeff Adukinas
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p.2 #4 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I shoot RAW and use the convert file option in View NX to pull a JPEG, which is embedded in the RAW file already and save it in another folder. I will then go through the images and any of the shots that need some extra tweaking will get processed using Capture NX2 using the RAW file. There really isn't a reason to shoot both RAW & JPEG if you have View NX. I do this with both my D300 and D200. I do shoot JPEG with my D70s which has been converted to shoot IR only.


Jun 30, 2009 at 10:09 PM
rico
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p.2 #5 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I have no patience for RAW, and shoot JPEG on all my digicams (Canon, Nikon, Panasonic). On the D300, I always shoot Large/Fine.


Jul 01, 2009 at 01:56 AM
luminosity
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p.2 #6 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


One thing RAW+jpeg is great for is comparing the same shot as shot in each format.

The difference can be astounding. On the RAW side, you see colors and detail that just doesn't exist on the jpeg side. I've done numerous side by side comparisons with NX 2 (and if you really want to see a mismatch, check out a 14 bit RAW file in NX2 and compare it to the jpeg file in some other program, or just Windows/Mac preview).

After seeing that, I would never use jpeg again for anything remotely serious or worthwhile.



Jul 01, 2009 at 02:00 AM
thebeephaha
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p.2 #7 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I shoot raw because JPG I might not be able to get all I need from the image. RAW gives me a little wiggle room if I mess up.


Jul 01, 2009 at 02:07 AM
Rodolfo Paiz
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p.2 #8 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


It amazes me that I still keep seeing people who are not shooting for a large magazine that needs images as fast as it can possibly get them, and who still bitch, whine, and moan about the extra "work" involved in shooting RAW.

I shoot in 14-bit RAW, with lossless compression, except when frame rate requirements demand (e.g. airshows) demand that I drop down to 12-bit. When I get home, LR2 will copy the images from the card to my storage server, convert each to DNG, rename the file to how I like things, add keywords, and even make a backup to a separate hard disk... all in one step.

If I were ever to need small JPGs right then, it's simple: Ctrl-A to select all, then File --> Export with Preset --> JPGs for email, and then select an output folder. Inside of 6 seconds the conversion has begun, and in a couple of minutes I have a folder full of JPG's. What's there to call work? Plus, those JPGs are now processed from the RAW, using the color profiles of my choice, and saved with my own conversion settings (pixel dimensions, compression factors, etc.). Much better JPGs (meaning, JPGs much more suited to how I want them) than straight out of camera. And, I only have to go through that "tedious" 6-second workflow when I want them, which 99% of the time I don't.

Most of my post work gets done in LR2. Photoshop is opened when necessary, and files that will be printed large and sold to someone get carefully reprocessed in NX2, because I do find that NX2 gives just that little bit better image quality, and people who are paying for my images deserve every little bit of detail and quality I can give them.

There are people who need to shoot JPGs. The aforementioned deadline-bound PJ's is one group, people with ancient computers that bog down with large file sizes are another (but a new and fast computer is $600 to $900, which pales in comparison to the investment many of us have in photo gear), and there are a few others. But those who claim that RAW is too much extra work, either just don't know how to do it properly or place a much lower value on image quality than I do.

I'm sure I'll get some offended responses, and of course everyone has a right to their own opinion. To each his own, of course. But you asked for opinions, and that's mine.



Jul 01, 2009 at 02:34 AM
Paul Heskes
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p.2 #9 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


Raw only, unless I'm shooting in bulk and need quick results, then it's 'Raw+jpg' fine.

Used to use BreezeBrowser Pro but since ViewNX became stable, I'm pretty happy with it, especially as it's still free! Capture NX2 for most PP.



Jul 01, 2009 at 04:50 AM
binary visions
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p.2 #10 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I agree with Rodolpho... I don't understand the complaints about the amount of work a RAW file is. You still have to resize a JPG if you want to ship it off to family and friends, or the web - right? Most of us aren't shooting untouched, full-resolution files around. In which case we're resizing and (usually) sharpening.

So build an action or a batch process that will slap on a color profile, resize and sharpen. Easy, quick, and you've got all the advantages of that increased image data.

That said, people should shoot what makes them happy - so while I might not understand, I accept and encourage anyone to shoot anything they like



Jul 01, 2009 at 06:03 AM
codeninja
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p.2 #11 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
It amazes me that I still keep seeing people who are not shooting for a large magazine that needs images as fast as it can possibly get them, and who still bitch, whine, and moan about the extra "work" involved in shooting RAW.

I shoot in 14-bit RAW, with lossless compression, except when frame rate requirements demand (e.g. airshows) demand that I drop down to 12-bit. When I get home, LR2 will copy the images from the card to my storage server, convert each to DNG, rename the file to how I like things, add keywords, and even make a
...Show more
I guess my question on RAW before making the leap of faith is this. Isn't it true that the whole point of RAW is so that you can custom process individual photos? If you are simply batch processing all your photos with LR2 or NX2, would the IQ be still superior to D300's JPG?



Jul 01, 2009 at 11:24 AM
MichaelKirk
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p.2 #12 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


rico wrote:
I have no patience for RAW


This is a statement that always cracks me up. I guess most people don't realize that with most softwares that are available this is no longer a valid limitation. As I mentioned in my post above, I shoot 100% RAW and using a preset I made in Lightroom, apply the preset to all my imported images so they are automatically converted to that "jpeg" look immediately. All I need to do is make some minor exposure tweaks, maybe adjust the black slider and crop as needed - nothing different as if I had shot jpeg.

Michael



Jul 01, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Shutterslam
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p.2 #13 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I only shoot RAW for the shots that matter.

My problem is that I won't press the shutter unless it matters

I will concede however that processing times, even on a raided dual core AMD workstation leaves much to be desired...it lengthens the time to do some of the most basic edits but you gain so much flexibility in recovering images from blown highlights and the like.

I swear by RAW now but it took me close to a year to get there.



Jul 01, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Gary_O
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p.2 #14 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I use both NX2 and Lightroom 2.3 x64. I also shoot raw on my D700 and D200, if I want a JPG I can convert down to it but from JPG to RAW. I use 8(4) and 16GB(3) cards if I need to shoot more pictures than they allow before I can download/backup/format, then I am not watching for a picture but just keeping a shutter button depressed to see how many I can snap before the battery goes dead and I have to change it or the card first.

I have had days with 800 pictures and days with 80.

I have however dropped from 14bit to back to 12bit because I personally have not gained enough to warrant using it.

I guess as with RAW/JPG and 12BIT/14BIT comes down to what you want out of your photos.



Jul 01, 2009 at 02:45 PM
luminosity
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p.2 #15 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


codeninja wrote:
I guess my question on RAW before making the leap of faith is this. Isn't it true that the whole point of RAW is so that you can custom process individual photos? If you are simply batch processing all your photos with LR2 or NX2, would the IQ be still superior to D300's JPG?


With a 12 or 14 bit RAW file on a D300, you're getting several million more colors than you do with a jpeg file. Further, you're throwing away a ton of data by using jpeg. With a RAW file, you save that data.



Jul 01, 2009 at 06:09 PM
williamkazak
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p.2 #16 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


JPG sucks when you are trying to shoot in sunlight with the clouds coming in and out. RAW with the D300 is real nice. Not using LR? That is your problem.
Shoot RAW-export to PSD, export to JPG. You have it all.
I don't get shooting RAW and JPG at the same time. What is the point?



Jul 01, 2009 at 07:19 PM
rico
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p.2 #17 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


Actually, I don't always shoot JPEG. Often the camera of choice requires film. Is that the sound of Rodolfo throwing up? Leica M4, Elmar 50, Kodak Gold 100, no metering, no batteries:
http://patternassociates.com/rico/photo/misc/jade10.jpg



Jul 01, 2009 at 09:13 PM
luminosity
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p.2 #18 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


Kodak Gold? Egads.

Try some Porta 160 sometime . Great stuff.



Jul 01, 2009 at 09:18 PM
codeninja
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p.2 #19 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


Could someone compare between JPG out of batch processed RAW is better than JPG off of D300?


Jul 01, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Mark Kenfield
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p.2 #20 · D300 users do you shoot Raw or JPG and why?


I shoot JPEG (normal) 99% of the time. When I think I'm going to be post-processing my images extensively I'll shoot in RAW.


Jul 02, 2009 at 09:53 AM
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