Shooting in RAW is a great way to get the most out of your photos. It allows you to edit and manipulate them more than if they were taken in JPEG format. However, shooting RAW does have some advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before making a decision on which type to shoot with. In this blog post, we will discuss advantages and disadvantages of shooting raw photos so that you can make an informed decision for yourself!
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What is RAW In Photography?
RAW is an acronym for “raw image file format.” This is a type of digital photography file that preserves all the data from the sensor in your camera. When you take a picture, your camera processes the photo and records it as a JPEG or TIFF file. In RAW mode however, the camera does not process the photo at all. It leaves the photo as an unprocessed data file. This allows you to edit and manipulate your photos in programs on a computer before saving them.
RAW vs JPEG
When you are deciding whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG format, it is important to understand the differences between the two. JPEG files are smaller in size and take up less storage space than RAW files. They also process faster and can be displayed on websites and online photo galleries. However, because they are processed by the camera, they cannot be edited later the same way raw files can be. Also, because they are processed by your camera’s processor, images may appear grainy or pixelated when you zoom in on them.
When you shoot in RAW, you are capturing all of the data from the sensor in your camera. This means that you have more detail to work with when editing your photos. You can brighten and darken areas of a photo much more easily than if it were shot in JPEG format.
Better brightness adjustments
As we mentioned, you can brighten and darken areas of a RAW photo much more easily than if it were shot in JPEG format. This is because when you adjust the brightness of a JPEG photo, you are actually adjusting the brightness of the entire image. When you adjust the brightness of a RAW photo, you are only adjusting the brightness of the specific area that has been darkened or brightened.
More colors to work with
RAW files contain more colors than JPEGs. This means that you have more color options when editing your photos and can correct for any issues with the camera’s white balance in post-production.
Non-destructive editing
When you edit a JPEG photo, the editing changes the original file. When you edit a RAW photo however, it only makes adjustments to your preview of the image and does not change or alter the actual raw data that was captured by your camera’s sensor. This allows you to go back and make edits as many times as needed without any negative consequences.
Compression artifacts are avoided
JPEG files are compressed in order to reduce their file size. This compression can cause artifacts (odd patterns) to appear in your photos. RAW files are not compressed, so you don’t have to worry about these artifacts appearing in your images.
Control over image data
When you shoot in RAW, your camera does not process the image at all. This means that you have complete control over how much or how little of an effect each photo editing tool has on it. For example, if you want to adjust only a single color channel and leave everything else alone, this is possible when shooting raw images rather than JPEGs.
Resolves camera sensor limitations
RAW files have a greater range of color and are recorded with more precision than JPEGs. This means that you can correct for any discrepancies in the capabilities of your camera’s sensors when shooting RAW images rather than JPEGs. You’ll be able to compensate correctly for situations such as underexposure, overexposure, and color casts.
High-quality image files
RAW files are uncompressed and contain more data than JPEGs. They also have higher bit depth, which means that they can be edited in greater detail without losing image quality.
Advantages of shooting JPEG
While there are a lot of benefits when it comes to shooting RAW photos, there are some edge cases in which JPEGs can be the preferred format.
Processing is done for you
When you shoot in JPEG format, the camera processes the image for you. This means that you don’t have to worry about adjusting any settings on your own and can just take photos as they come out of the camera.
Smaller file sizes
JPEG files are compressed in order to reduce their file size. If you have limited memory card capacity, or you’re bulk uploading a bunch of images on cloud storage, you can save a lot more space with JPEGs compared to RAW photos.
Easier editing
JPEG files are much easier to edit than RAW files. This is because JPEGs are already processed and contain less data than RAW files. This makes them faster to process and easier to edit.
Conclusion
Overall, RAW photos have a lot of advantages over JPEGs. This is especially true if you’re shooting with a high-quality camera and want to be able to make edits in post more easily. However, there are some edge cases where it might be better to shoot in JPEG format instead (if you need your images processed quickly or don’t have a lot of storage space). It’s important to consider your options and think about how you’re going to use the photos that you take when deciding which format is right for your camera.
