This is a long aged battle that I met when I started photography; its been over half a decade and whilst I’d insist that if you can shoot raw, I am biased as almost every image that I create goes through the post production pipeline and I have the relevant editing softwares to do just that so today, we’ll briefly take a look at the differences, pros and cons of shooting either RAW or JPEG;
RAW;
RAW files are uncompressed and contain all of the image data captured by the camera’s image sensor. This includes the full color spectrum and all of the image’s luminosity information, which is the data that determines the brightness of each pixel in the image.
JPEGS;
JPEG, on the other hand, is a compressed file format. When a JPEG image is saved, the camera’s image processing software compresses the image data and discards some of the data to reduce the file size.
Pros of RAW:
- Higher image quality
- Wider dynamic range
- More editing flexibility
Cons of RAW:
- Requires specialized software to view and edit
- Larger file size
- Takes longer to process and edit
Pros of JPEG:
- Smaller file size, faster to process and edit
- More widely compatible with different software and devices
- Easier to use
Cons of JPEG:
- Lower image quality
- Less editing flexibility
- Can’t capture as much light and shadow detail as RAW
Ultimately, the choice between shooting in raw or JPEG will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the photographer. Some photographers prefer the flexibility and control offered by raw files, while others prefer the convenience and ease of use of JPEG. Some photographers may choose to shoot in both formats, using raw for important shots and JPEG for everyday shots.
