33 Comments

• Nicole:

  I shoot in raw as it gives me more option in post processing.

  November 17, 2010 at 5:42 pmReply

• Sascha Vogt:

  I usualy shot ing both, but your poll doesn’t offer this option.

  November 17, 2010 at 5:45 pmReply

• Sam Cox:

  I shoot RAW in order to preserve as much info as possible. I resort to JPEG when shooting bursts and then only because I can capture so many more shots before filling my buffer.

  November 17, 2010 at 5:50 pmReply

• Kaydub:

  I always shoot with possibility of post-processing in mind, so RAW gives me more flexibility.

  November 17, 2010 at 5:53 pmReply

• jean-luc brouard:

  always RAW, more flexibility available.
  just use bigger cards if you want more room.

  November 17, 2010 at 6:16 pmReply

• Stephen Van Tuyl:

  RAW gives me more options in post

  November 17, 2010 at 6:36 pmReply

• Tim:

  I shoot RAW but I’m beginning to think that shooting in JPEG would be better:

  Shooting JPEG forces you to get things like exposure and white balance right in camera, therefore meaning that you don’t have to spend time at your computer trying to get it looking perfect.

  November 17, 2010 at 6:39 pmReply

  • tomdinning:

    How do you figure that, Tim? Getting the exposure ‘right’ can be done by the photographer or the camera depending on whether you set you camera on manual or auto and this can be done in RAW or JPEG. Shooting in JPEG means you leave a lot to the computer in the camera which uses a range of pre-sets to figure out what it thinks you need and don’t need. That’s like having a wife. This can be OK when you’re in a hurry or sloppy or don’t really care what you get. When you start caring about your images and how they look I’m sure you will reconsider. And stay single.

    November 18, 2010 at 5:08 pmReply

• Shane:

  I shoot RAW only.

  I have the time and enjoy processing my images and learning the process that goes along with it. I like that I have total control and not the camera.

  If, on the other hand, I was short on time, or large files were a problem, I’d have no problem shooting jpg. Many photojournalists/sports photogs shoot in jpg for that reason.

  November 17, 2010 at 6:49 pmReply

• Ann:

  I selected JPG but these days it really depends what I am shooting. Mostly its JPG due to file size but if its somethiing special and I’m only ever going to get one chance at it then I’ll shoot RAW and JPG to give me the best chance of getting a good result.

  November 17, 2010 at 6:50 pmReply

• leppod:

  Everybody shoots RAW. The question really is do we let the camera process the information captured or do we want to control that aspect as well.
  IMO those who don’t understand what is best for them (let alone someone else) debate the “issue”.
  Those that know are comfortable with their choice and there is nothing to debate. I shoot RAW because I want to process the image myself. Just like I did in the chemical darkroom years past. I couldn’t care less what you do…it’s all fine with me.

  November 17, 2010 at 7:07 pmReply

• Rob:

  RAW, there’s another format? ;)

  November 17, 2010 at 10:03 pmReply

• tmvmedia:

  I tend to shoot in both. I use a Sony a550 and an a100. Both provide the capability of recording images as jpg AND raw.
  Why? Jpgs go on Flickr and raw files get processed into TIF for prints.

  November 17, 2010 at 10:58 pmReply

• astaroth:

  I shoot in NEF + low quality JPEG. I use the JPEG’s for preview faster the images and the NEF for post-processing when I like one.

  November 18, 2010 at 12:31 amReply

• Scott:

  Usually RAW.
  But I have a 1D now – on my trip to Japan I did RAW+jpeg, with jpg on SD card, then loaded the jpgs straight on to iPad for social networking and kept the RAWs for myself for later.
  I found it to be a really neat way of doing things.

  November 18, 2010 at 1:26 amReply

• Kathleen:

  I shoot both but only use the JPG for viewing when I’m on the road and then use the RAW for processing after I get home.

  I used to use JPG only but now there’s no contest. RAW all the way.

  November 18, 2010 at 6:22 pmReply

• Beverly Everson:

  I always shoot both. I like to be able to view my image in jpg but process the Raw files.

  November 18, 2010 at 6:26 pmReply

• Liju Augustine:

  I used to shoot in jpeg, but once I started with RAW, never went back.

  November 18, 2010 at 8:42 pmReply

• Pete McEvoy:

  I used to take JPEG, but when I started taking underwater photos, I got really burned when my white balance was wrong, and I had no way to fix it after. Now, my attitude is “space is cheap” and “I may never get to take this photo again” so use RAW – it’s the most information that my camera can capture – why risk getting it wrong?

  November 18, 2010 at 11:14 pmReply

• Tim:

  99% the time RAW.

  The only arguments in favour of JPG are due to limitations, either in hardware (buffer-size / DAC processing rates) or the user’s processing time (which is a pathetic excuse).

  November 19, 2010 at 1:03 amReply

• Adrian Spencer:

  Nearly always .Nef but Jpg if it’s only a casual/fun shoot.

  November 19, 2010 at 1:46 amReply

• Brighton Photographer:

  I love RAW. It allows me to save different exposures of an image and blend them together in Photoshop to get some really punchy results, especially in Black and White. Here’s how I do it-
  Using Photoshop and Lightroom creatively with Exposure bracketing
  http://heatherbuckley.co.uk/using-photoshop-with-exposure-bracketing/

  November 19, 2010 at 5:26 amReply

• Tim Pier:

  I shoot both RAW and lower quality JPEG. The raw for better post processing, the jpeg for faster viewing and sharing.

  November 19, 2010 at 6:08 amReply

• Tracy Williams:

  Flash storage is too inexpensive not to shoot raw.

  November 19, 2010 at 8:02 amReply

• stevedias:

  I shoot in both jpeg fine & raw, for max. options, for those shoot & print pics.

  November 19, 2010 at 8:46 amReply

• Richard Keeling:

  Always RAW. Storage is cheap and these days of high enough capacity. RAW images allow the greatest post-processing capability, one that has been increasing as image software improves. I often find subtleties in RAW images shot years ago thanks to ever-better software.

  November 19, 2010 at 9:50 amReply

• jonwes:

  As a “newcomer” I shoot in both jpeg and raw,but I find myself leaning towards editing raw files as I learn more about the art.

  November 19, 2010 at 9:55 amReply

• peni:

  RAW only. Contains more information. Storage media is cheap. Data is priceless.

  November 19, 2010 at 7:49 pmReply

• SexyNinjaMonkey:

  I can’t be arsed doing any editing so jpg is just easier for me.

  November 20, 2010 at 1:08 amReply

• Luke Stanton:

  For me Raw is better if you need to do a lot of post processing. if you need to edit your photographs, Jpegs will lose a lot of quality whereas Raw doesn’t

  November 20, 2010 at 11:20 amReply

• Mark:

  I shoot in both RAW and high res JPG on my Canon XSi. Most of the time, the JPG is just fine, but for those rare occasions that it is not- I have the RAW to work with. I don’t often go to the RAW and can usually get what I want from the JPG and I find that is faster. I would rather take pictures than post process pictures! The only draw back is the shorter bursts, but hoping to get a 7D by spring and that should be much improved!

  November 24, 2010 at 4:12 pmReply

• victory:

  RAW, better to post processing

  November 27, 2010 at 9:08 pmReply

• Nicolas:

  I shoot JPG almost all the time, because I don’t make money out of my photography. I shoot RAW when I’m going to do a HDR photo or when the subject is important.

  December 23, 2010 at 2:32 pmReply

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