RAW Question

[Antlershed]

Im sitting at the airport waiting for my plane to leave for New Jersey and am contemplating shooting all my pics in RAW. First, my camera has RAW and then it has RAW + jpeg. What is the difference? Im assuming I want to be shooting in just RAW. My second question is, does photoshop 7 have what i need to make adjustments and then convert to a jpeg? I already have PS 7, so im hoping i dont need any other software. Thanks.

[Slider]

Photoshop 7 will not convert Raw to Jpeg. What brand Camera do you have? Check your software that came with your camera. It may convert your photos.

This will explain the difference between Raw-Jpeg,Raw,Jpeg and tiff files.
http://photo.net/learn/raw/

[popeshawnpaul]

Raw+jpg is the best of both worlds.  If you have the card space, shoot with it because it takes two pictures, one in raw and one in jpg.  If you shoot raw only that's fine, but you will have to convert the images later to jpg or some other format like a tiff.  The difference between jpg and tiff is that jpg compresses the photo and degrades the quality, while tiff keeps it at high quality and doesn't compress the file smaller like a jpg does. 

I shoot all raw, all the time.  I use the software that came with my camera to convert it to jpg if I need to.  PS7 will be fine because you can convert the raw file to jpg or tiff, and then work on that file in PS7. 

So, if you have unlimited card space shoot raw+jpg.  Otherwise, just shoot raw.  You have the conversion software as a camera couldn't be sold without it...  Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Elkman]

What he said^ 
If your using Nikon, you can get the plugin for PS7 to work with RAW, if you don't already have it.

http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=13869&p_created=1139419614&p_sid=5gNJi_fj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NTIsNTImcF9wcm9kcz00MiZwX2NhdHM9MCZwX3B2PTEuNDImcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PVJBVyBwbHVnaW4gZm9yIENTNw**&p_li=&p_topview=1

[Elkman]

I believe the Canon Codec can be found here.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=215&modelid=15206#DownloadDetailAct

[Antlershed]

Thanks guys. I had some time on my flight to read the camera manual. Think i will shoot in RAW + jpeg cause i should have the space. I will have to look for the software that came with my camera when i get home. Im shooting the D80.

[columbiaman]

Is there a program to batch process raw pictures into jpg?

[popeshawnpaul]

Yes.  For Canon it's DPP or Digital Photo Pro that comes with the camera.  I'm not sure with Nikon...  Adobe Lightroom also does it, but that program is a little expensive.

[grandpawrichard]

Two Great software programs that handle RAW images are Gimp and Picasa, and the best part is they are FREE!

http://www.gimp.com
http://picasa.google.com/

Dick

[Curly]

Another free program is called Irfanview. 

http://www.irfanview.net/

[Antlershed]

Just got back to WA. Now I have about 500 pictures to go through... 

[boneaddict]

I was trying to download gimp and thats when I got a virus and nuked my laptop.  Beware of the source.  What were you doing in Jersey. I have a close friend back there.

[huntnphool]

I shoot both RAW+jpg just so when I load them on my laptop I can look at them real quick rather than having to convert first. For me its just faster even though it does use more space on the card. I load my pics from the day each evening so its not a big deal but if you couldnt do that it might cause you to run out of card room before you have time to download.

[Antlershed]

My sister moved back there in July, so I was going to visit. We hit DC, Arlington, Pentagon, NYC...all in three days. I filled up almost 10GB of card space since I wasn't doing anything with them til I got back here. Of course we skimmed most of it, but I am exhausted from all the walking. I can say I survived the Harlem Subway station though. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Be aware that not all converters are equal.  Some of the cheap and free ones do not do a good job.  The quality of the iimage suffers.  Even Adobe's converter may not always be the best solution.  For example, the new Canon 50D camera shows better quality results with DPP, the software that comes with the camera, rather than Adobe.