Few things

[Colethodan]

On my sony a200

For the best images always use RAW yes or no?

with the raw i cant see the file on my pc.. im running vista 64 bit and it did not work.. is there any other way to view raw?

What settings are the most popular on P mode. what iso etc?

I may be being a bit noob but i am one

Cheers

 

[Harvey_nikon]

RAW doesn't give you the best image, it however, enables you to correct certain mistakes easier than a JPEG so its silly not to shoot in RAW

You will need a RAW viewer to view/edit them. I am lucky as work have given me Adobe 4 master collection so I use that with a plugin. There are free WAW viewers out there, I just don't know any but someone will.

As for settings, that entirely depends on the situation.

 

[Colethodan]

thanks for the advice

 

[boyfalldown]

RAW doesn't give you the best image, it however, enables you to correct certain mistakes easier than a JPEG so its silly not to shoot in RAW

the bit about RAW files isn't quite true - they are the data collected directly from your sensor with no processing applied and they do make certain changes, not just corrections easier to make. A good way of thinking of them is as digital negatives, they do need work to get the best out of them.

JPEG files are processed and a compressed file format. They contain much less data then RAW files and it is harder to change certain things, like White Balance for example. This is the reason why some togs prefer RAW files from camera, but others prefer JPEG for the same reasons, particularly the ease JPEG provides. Is not silly to prefer one over the other :shrug:


Cheers

Hugh

 

[Harvey_nikon]

As the op is obviously just starting out it makes sense for them to use RAW over jpeg as its going to be more forgiving if they make any mistakes.

Other than the smaller file size and slightly reduced time needed to work on them I really do not see the point in shooting in Jpeg. I prefer to have full control over my images, as said, its personal opinion.

I guess I just see it as driving a manual car over an automatic one, I like the extra control.

 

[HoppyUK]

You could argue (so I will ) that there is no difference between Raw and JPEG. The JPEG engine in the camera is fundamentally the same as anything used in post porcessing, and just as good for what it does. The difference is that it doesn't have such a wide range of controls, and you have to decide what you want it to do before you take the picture, rather than after it. When you've finished with Raw processing, you end up with a JPEG anyway.

I would also say that a newcomer should steer clear of Raw initially, unless they are keen to try it and are both computer and image literate. It's no good saying you can alter white balance, adjust your levels and sharpening in Raw if you don't actually know what you are doing

I hardly ever use Raw, and I know professionals that do the same. But I do take care about what JPEG parameters the camera is set to, and select White Balance and exposure settings carefully. Doesn't everybody?

Raw is just an insurance policy for the incompetant. Discuss

More seriously, I often shoot both Raw and JPEG, but hardly ever touch the Raw; it's just there if I need it. Seems like a pretty foolproof way to me.

 

[boyfalldown]

I hardly ever use Raw, and I know professionals that do the same. But I do take care about what JPEG parameters the camera is set to, and select White Balance and exposure settings carefully. Doesn't everybody?

Raw is just an insurance policy for the incompetant. Discuss

More seriously, I often shoot both Raw and JPEG, but hardly ever touch the Raw; it's just there if I need it. Seems like a pretty foolproof way to me.

maybe - or maybe not - I shoot raw mainly because I don't like throwing data away as you do in JPEG ......but this discussions been done to death so many times

As the op is obviously just starting out it makes sense for them to use RAW over jpeg as its going to be more forgiving if they make any mistakes.

I don't agree with this. Its also more complicated and takes work in post processing to get the most from the files. JPEG doesn't need post processing. You may want to but you don't need to.

Hugh

 

[Harvey_nikon]

I don't agree with this. Its also more complicated and takes work in post processing to get the most from the files. JPEG doesn't need post processing. You may want to but you don't need to.

I always jump in with both feet and think its the best way of learning. I guess I saw RAW as not only being more forgiving if I mess up a shot as I am learning something, but as a way of me to be able to learn post processing as well.

In fact, its helped me learn more about white balance etc than I doubt I otherwise would have. I could see what difference the changes in white balance make instantly without having to take 5+ photos and change the settings each time.

Personal preference at the end of the day