HDR: Raw or JPEG?

[PDub]

Previously ive been using, as with all my shots, RAW files, bracketed or single then processed directly in Photomatix.

Does exporting the original RAW image to a JPEG hold any benefits to creating a HDR? Im also using a Sony A700 which can be very hit and miss when importing RAW files into certain programs.

Just read this on Stuck In Customs HDR guide...

Note: You will see that I have 5 JPGs here. I used Lightroom to convert the 5 RAWS to 5 JPG. You can use Photomatix to open up the RAW photos as well, but Photomatix itself will do the conversion on its own. After speaking with the engineers at Photomatix, they tell me it is a little better to do the conversion on your own.

Also Photomatix themselves say a similar thing on their website.

Ive done some ok HDR images but would like to improve.


Thanks.

 

[Sebastian]

Raw file holds more info about the photo and when you are creating HDRs it's crucial to use files with greatest about of data. RAW for me.

 

[Jimmy_Lemon]

If I was going down the route suggested then I would use tiffs not jpegs, as they hold more info than a jpeg and would have the same effect as the jpeg method, I would think.

...as it is I just chuck the RAWs in.

 

[PDub]

Raw file holds more info about the photo and when you are creating HDRs it's crucial to use files with greatest about of data. RAW for me.

I would agree with you in most cases, especially if using a single raw to generate a HDR image.

This is taken from Photomatix website...

As a side note: Though shooting in RAW is definitely better than shooting in jpeg for the dynamic range, this is not really relevant anymore when several exposures are used -- if your bracketed shots properly cover the scene's dynamic range, jpegs will work as well as RAWs for creating an HDR image.

And

Do I need to process bracketed RAW files to TIFF format first?
The answer depends on your needs and preferences. If the quality of raw demosaicing/debayering or proper white balance adjustments are important to you, it is better to first process your bracketed RAW files in your favorite RAW converter, and then combine the converted TIFF or JPEG files in Photomatix. Additionally, Photomatix transfers less metadata when the source files are RAWs than when they are TIFFs or JPEGs.
When generating an HDR image, having Photomatix directly process the RAW files is theoretically better for the accuracy of the 32-bit HDR image produced -- the data in RAW files represent the linear luminance values captured by the camera sensors, which is exactly what is needed for an HDR image. Also, the calculation of HDR values can rely on the exposure information retrieved from EXIF data when RAW files are used.
However, the RAW conversion of Photomatix Pro and Photomatix Light is not as full-fledged and sophisticated as the RAW conversion done in Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, Bibble, DxO or other applications specialized in RAW conversion. Note that if you have Lightroom and Photomatix Pro, it is easy to integrate both processes with the free Lightroom Export Plug-In to Photomatix Pro.

 

[Digifrog]

RAW or TIFFs only. I never go anywhere near JPEGs, HDR or not.

Personally I like to process each RAW in ACR first, then fire the 16Bit TIFFs in Photomatix.

 

[PDub]

Thanks for the feedback guys.