Digital SLR Cameras Forum

Digital SLRs Forum Discuss digital SLRs, lenses, RAW conversion, or anything else related to digital SLRs. You may also want to see the Nikon, Canon, and Sony camera forums.
Digital Camera Pro Reviews >>
Read and Write Digital SLR Reviews >>
Digital SLR Buyer's Guide >>
Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Senior Member OldSchool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,421

    One reason why I shoot RAW...

    The shoot RAW vs. JPG question often comes up. I thought that I'd highlight one of the benefits of shoot RAW... And this is the greater ability to tease information out of areas that are blown highlights or deep shadows.

    The attached image is a tricky exposure. It is a pool in a cave with a sun spot. This version is what the camera would provide if I shot JPG. Note that there is no information in the sun spot. It is a digital white (255,255,255). And, there is absolutely nothing you can do with that in a JPG.

    However since I shot this RAW, I was able to back down the exposure while simultaneously pulling info from the shadows resulting in better compositional balance. The result is presented here:

    Swimming with the Sun Rays

    Just wanted to pass this case study along. I am purely a hobbyist here.
    Cheers,
    Tim

    p.s. For those interested, I shot with a Nikon D70, ISO 9000, 1/60, f4.2. I used Nikon Capture to process, and Paintshop Pro to downsize and sharpen.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails One reason why I shoot RAW...-dsc_9590_mex060114_noprocesssmall.jpg  
    Samurai #17 |;^\

  2. #2
    drg
    drg is offline
    la recherche de trolls drg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Route 66
    Posts
    3,404

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    This is exactly the reason to shoot RAW. Its not so much you are teasing more information as much as you are making the decision on what to do with what was captured. Less defaults with RAW.

    Great colors and the rays of light falling across the water!
    CDPrice 'drg'
    Biography and Contributor's Page


    Please do not edit and repost any of my photographs.






  3. #3
    has-been... another view's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Rockford, IL
    Posts
    7,649

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    I've been a big fan of RAW since I got Photoshop CS, and learned the hard way about bit depth (which is helping you here). One thing though - a burned out area is a burned out area, whether it's a RAW or jpeg capture. Personally, I think people worry too much about this, because with any medium (even color neg) this area would probably be burned out. Since you have more bit depth, you can pull more detail out of the shadows though.

  4. #4
    Senior Member OldSchool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,421

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    Hi av,

    I think we are saying the same thing, but I don't agree totally that a "burned out area is a burned out area" when it comes to JPGs. There is the added variable of how does the camera convert the raw data into a JPG. A (255,255,255) in a JPG doesn't necessary mean that it is also a (255,255,255) in the raw image that the JPG was created from. The converse is true for shadows. That's all I'm trying to say.

    Tim

    p.s. Now if it's (255,255,255) in the raw image, then there is nothing to recover.
    Samurai #17 |;^\

  5. #5
    has-been... another view's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Rockford, IL
    Posts
    7,649

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    Quote Originally Posted by OldSchool
    Now if it's (255,255,255) in the raw image, then there is nothing to recover.
    Yup - that's what I was saying.

  6. #6
    Senior Member freygr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Portland, OR, USA
    Posts
    2,522

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    Quote Originally Posted by OldSchool
    Hi av,

    clip........

    p.s. Now if it's (255,255,255) in the raw image, then there is nothing to recover.
    You forgot ( 0,0,0) in the raw image, then there is nothing to recover.

  7. #7
    Senior Member OldSchool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,421

    True, but...

    I find (255,255,255) much easier to accomplish than (0,0,0)!... Some how this post got hijacked by 8 bit numbers ;^).

    My original point is that if I shot that shot JPG, it would have a lot more (255,255,255) AND (0,0,0) in it. Shooting RAW allowed me to recover highlights and shadows that would have otherwise been lost.

    This was just supposed to be a simple an anecdote for the JPG vs. RAW question that pops up from time to time here....

    Cheers,
    Tim
    Samurai #17 |;^\

  8. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    England, UK
    Posts
    3

    Re: True, but...

    You are quite right, Oldschool (like the nick by the way), shooting raw allows for a much higher degree of post-capture adjustments in those tricky shots -- very much akin to adjusting your camera's variables after taking the picture. And if the WB is wrong (often the case with some cameras under tungsten light), then only RAW processing will allow you to alter it to the value it should have been.

  9. #9
    I can't member!?!? dmm96452's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Millersville, Maryland
    Posts
    488

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    Quote Originally Posted by OldSchool
    p.s. For those interested, I shot with a Nikon D70, ISO 9000, 1/60, f4.2. I used Nikon Capture to process, and Paintshop Pro to downsize and sharpen.
    Uhmmm? ISO 9000
    We improve ourselves by victories over ourself. There must be contests, and you must win.
    Edward Gibbon

    Canon T2i
    Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS
    Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II
    Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di
    Canon 24-105 f/4L IS
    Canon 70-200 f/4L USM
    Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM
    Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM
    Canon Speedlight 220EX

  10. #10
    Senior Member OldSchool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,421

    ISO 9000 because I'm inside a cave!

    Quote Originally Posted by dmm96452
    Uhmmm? ISO 9000
    Check out the originating post:

    http://forums.photographyreview.com...ead.php?t=17233

    Cheese,
    Tim
    Samurai #17 |;^\

  11. #11
    Junior Member Revolver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Racine, WI USA
    Posts
    28

    Re: One reason why I shoot RAW...

    I was wondering about the ISO 9000 too, but the link seems to be a deadend for me. How do you achieve ISO 9000 with a D70? The "...I was inside a cave!" doesn't quite explain that.

  12. #12
    Senior Member OldSchool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,421

    Hey Revolver...

    Quote Originally Posted by Revolver
    I was wondering about the ISO 9000 too, but the link seems to be a deadend for me. How do you achieve ISO 9000 with a D70? The "...I was inside a cave!" doesn't quite explain that.
    Good catch. Now I see the question. I miss-typed and meant to say the shot was at ISO 900. Sorry.

    I guess I goofed on the link too. Try this one:

    Swimming with the Sun Rays

    BR,
    Tim
    Samurai #17 |;^\

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •