I'd like to shoot RAW, need advice

[dependencies]

Bought a D70 recently to get back into photography properly, it gives me the option to shoot JPEG/J (fine)
Raw
Raw +JPEG basic
the last one on download to iphoto produces two images per shot

Does this mean I have a RAW to play with years from now and a smaller JPEG to mail friends/post on here,

Apologies for stupid question but it needs asking

richard

[svandamme]

Does it come with a manual?

[maxnine11]

yes.
each photo you take will be saved as a jpeg and a Nikon Raw file on your memory card.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by dependencies

Bought a D70 recently to get back into photography properly, it gives me the option to shoot JPEG/J (fine)
Raw
Raw +JPEG basic
the last one on download to iphoto produces two images per shot

Does this mean I have a RAW to play with years from now and a smaller JPEG to mail friends/post on here,

Apologies for stupid question but it needs asking

richard

Yes, you get a camera raw image (.NEF) that can only be opened and manipulated by higher end photo editing programs and a standard jpg. It burns up a lot of storage space. I used to shoot and save as tiffs and bracket the heck out of every shot. With raw there is so much data that I can get a couple of stops of exposure adjustment out of every image, so I don't bracket a shot unless it is a tricky one. Photoshop has some great editing tools for raw format.

[gassy]

Here's a nice article. With memory beins so cheap these days it's almost a no-brainer.

RAW+JPEG: The Best of Both Worlds?

[dependencies]

Originally Posted by svandamme

Does it come with a manual?

hey good one





let me write that down

[dependencies]

Something new like RAW coupled with my using an old Mac means photoshop
Aperture & even Paint are not an option,
I got a box full of compact flash cards however and I can use iphoto to sharpen up straighten horizons out on landscapes,

What I did fancy though was messing with these images over the winter when its quiet and RAW looks ideal

thanks mostly for the replies everyone

[slakjaw]

Originally Posted by dependencies

Something new like RAW coupled with my using an old Mac means photoshop
Aperture & even Paint are not an option,
I got a box full of compact flash cards however and I can use iphoto to sharpen up straighten horizons out on landscapes,

What I did fancy though was messing with these images over the winter when its quiet and RAW looks ideal

thanks mostly for the replies everyone

The major diff is that you can adjust white balance with RAW images and you also have about 2 stops of latitude to play with when messing around with RAW.

[deanp]

Nikon ViewNX is okay for global adjustments and then exporting out as TIF, JPG, and other formats. It is available as a free download on the Nikon USA site.

Otherwise you'll need Photoshop, Aperture or Lightroom.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by deanp

Nikon ViewNX is okay for global adjustments and then exporting out as TIF, JPG, and other formats. It is available as a free download on the Nikon USA site.

Otherwise you'll need Photoshop, Aperture or Lightroom.

You can also edit many raw formats (including Nikon's .NEF and .NRW) with Google's free Picasa program.



Tim

[dependencies]

I use picasa as well, I'd better go back and check that again


must've missed that bit

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by dependencies

What I did fancy though was messing with these images over the winter when its quiet and RAW looks ideal

"What I did fancy ...?" Ya'll ain't from around here, are ya Richard.

[TimT]

"Gimp" is a freeware Photoshop clone where you can manipulate RAW file...

Frustrating that each manufacturer has is own RAW protocols...

I.E. a RAW from Nikon is not the same as a RAW from Canon or Pentax

[RWebb]

a friend who is way into it and a semi-pro loves loves loves LightRoom - he urged me to get it but I told him I need something else to keep my butt sitting at a computer like I need another hole in my head...

[5String43]

This whole thing makes my head hurt. Why, will someone please tell me, ifr I'm not doing billboard-sized images, and if my exposures are good from the start, is RAW "better" than LargeFine?

[slakjaw]

It's not better. Just gives more latitude if you plan on making changes later on. If all you want to do is post on the web or print a 5x7 every so often just stay with jpeg. If you think you are going to want to make serious changes to the image later on then shoot raw.

This whole thing makes my head hurt. Why, will someone please tell me, ifr I'm not doing billboard-sized images, and if my exposures are good from the start, is RAW "better" than LargeFine?

[slakjaw]

AdobeRGB or sRGB ? I find colors don't look right to me with the adobe RGB color space. Maybe it's my workflow..

[slodave]

Actually, RAW is better. You have infinite control over the image. Some people shoot, print and are happy straight out of the camera. But what the camera sees, ain't always how the scene appeared.

JPEG usually compresses the image and you have loss and compression you can't get back. RAW, you don't.

With a DSLR, I only shot in RAW.

[RWebb]

I hear raw really helps with exposure latitude (zones) the most - digitalis is even worse than slide film on that, so anything is a big boost.

[Schumi]

This thread was, unfortunately, about photography.