Jpeg - Tiff - Raw ?

Generally I shoot using Jpeg fine but recently I am exploring Raw and Tiff files. I was wondering which format others on here prefer.

Also If shooting in Raw which bit depth 12 or 14 is better?

Bazza

I used to shoot in jpeg then went to raw then back to jpeg now back to raw again

I liked jpeg when I was shooting lots of photos and where I wasn't really looking to get a particular shot - now I shoot raw as I take a lot fewer pics and am generally after something in particular.

Nearly always shoot best quality jpegs if I'm honest because I just find the hassle of dealing with raw files too time consuming.

If I'm somewhere that I really want to get the best results then I will shoot raw.

Now higher capacity CF cards are so much cheaper I guess I could shoot in Raw+jpeg and look through the jpegs to identify which Raw files are worth taking forward.

100% RAW. Highest bit rate available with camera I am using.

I actually like the control I have over light balance and, to a small degree, exposure when processing RAW images

Steve

Here's a quick video discussing Jpeg & RAW files



Steve

I am just starting to explore RAW and Lightroom as my understanding is that you have much better control over adjusting exposure etc.
I have heard recommended that you can export from Lightroom as Tiffs to do your final editing and then flatten and save as JPEG at the end of the process.

If you have Photoshop as well as Lightroom you can do all the work that you want to in Lightroom and the use a command "Edit in PS" and the image will automatically open in PS with all the adjustments you have made in Lightroom. You can then edit the image as you wish in PS and save as whatever format you wish to.

There is no need to save as a TIFF between stages. The two programs work seamlessly together.

In lightroom you can also export in any format you wish if you do not wish to edit any further in PS. You can dictate the size and, if jpeg, the quality.

Steve

Bazza,

I find it depends on what processing I have to do on the images, the amount of images and where they will be used.

If I photograph an event (live band, wedding, play etc) then I use RAW as I will be after the best images, and RAW, while time consuming gives maximum control over the final image.

I quite like panoramic shots, but taking 20 shots, then converting them to JPEG just to stitch them is irritating, so I shoot them in JPEG.

To be honest, I use RAW more often than not, mainly because Bridge it pretty good at handling RAWs now.

Like I said it depends on what you are shooting, if you photogaphing something for use on the web, then of course, why use RAW?

Alan.

RAW person here.