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

I shoot RAW only.

With RAW I get more resolution, more DR, more exposure and WB latitude, I can apply and tweak Picture Control settings on my computer, I can change my Picture Control settings and re-interpret the image as many times as I want, and I can do all my post processing in 16 bits.

I never shoot JPEG.

One reason I don't shoot RAW+JPEG is that I would make different exposure decisions for a JPEG capture than for a RAW capture -- that's because you can't practice ETTR technique on JPEGs.

i shoot RAW+JPEG and if I make a mistake or the conditions are difficult I will use the RAW.

Have always converted in NX, but am using LR more and more

RAW, unless I'm shooting sports and don't want to process 1k+ exposures from an event.

RAW + JPEG.

I use the JPEG file as a quick and dirty shot that I can have without having to convert to anything. That is the file I generally give to others. (I have also had a few times that the RAW file failed and the only reason I got the shot was because I had the JPEG file as well.) I always want the RAW file as you get just a little more in it that the JPEG may or may not have captured.

For software, I have several programs to choose from, but I usually find myself gravitating to CS3 (PC) or CS4 (Mac) for conversion duties. Familiarity moves me to Photoshop, as I just never warmed up to Lightroom, Capture, or Aperture. Those I would just need to spend time with, something I don't have a lot of right now (especially when that time could be used going out shooting more photographs!) Maybe someday I'll look closer at those.

David

I shoot RAW, I view in bridge and edit in ACR, then resize in photoshop. Pretty simple workflow, gets good results.

Don't think it makes any difference whether you use a D40, D300 or D3.

I use a D80, and only shoot raw.

The D300 will take JPGs !!!

That's sarcasm speak for I only shoot raw.

Gregory.Rotter wrote:
Don't think it makes any difference whether you use a D40, D300 or D3.

I use a D80, and only shoot raw.
It's not about excluding anyone, but about trying to decide which way to go for myself after listening to other people's opinion.

RAW + JPG basic.

If I need to get a shot off via email quickly, the jpg works greats, but it's nice to have the RAW file if I need or want to spend some time in PP. I have plenty of CF cards, so memory generally isn't an issue.

I shoot a lot of stuff for the school I teach at, and the computer media teacher/yearbook editor usually wants small jpeg files as quickly as I can provide them.

I voted for RAW only, but on very rare occasions I'll shoot RAW+Jpg. Certain event shots are not "ART" (as if anything I shoot is), and speed of processing is the key. Aside from those half dozen times a year, it's RAW like Sushi for me.

Peace,

Todd

RAW. I think a just as relevant question is whether you use 12 or 14 bit RAW and whether it's compressed or uncompressed. In my case, it's 14 bit uncompressed.

luminosity wrote:
RAW . . . In my case, it's 14 bit uncompressed.

+1

I shoot raw with all of my cams. I shot raw+JPG for a short while, but decided that I was just wasting space and almost always deleting the JPGs without using them. For quick and dirty JPGs, an email size JPG can be extracted from the raw file or I can run it through NX quickly. For that matter, I can run the raw file quickly through most any raw converter, including ViewNX, for a fast JPG.

For serious stuff, I generally use Capture One for conversion then export to CS4. I rarely use NX2, but do at times for the picture controls. I also use CS4/ACR, at times. My choice is usually determined by the number of files and speed at which I need them.

I shoot RAW 95% of the time for serious images and use Lightroom to convert.

raw 14 bit lossless compression and conversions in lightroom

Because I want the best file I can get.....I also shoot 14bit.

My customers like big prints....(up to 40" x 60") and RAW is truly one of the ingredients to creating a file that will look its best at that size.

Editing overhead is a good thing when pushing files hard.

I use photoshop for my editing and ACR for my RAW conversions.

Roman

14 bit uncompressed RAW and use Adobe Lightroom for conversions.

Mostly RAW - unless it's a birthday party of family get together where I just need snapshots. No sense in needing to process all that.

I like RAW for when I'm doing stuff I'm serious about - it gives you more room to push the file and I know that I'm getting everything out of it I can. Also, I convert in NX2, can't beat the colors (then off to PS CS4 for fine tuning)

Since I shoot one of type shots, I use 12 bit lossless compressed RAW and processing in NX2. Sometimes I do my raw conversions in ACRS and compare using the better interpretation. PP is finished in CS3.

14 bit slows the camera down too much and I don't feel the return is worth it. I may revisit my analysis.