RAW vs. JPEG

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Many have asked me if I use RAW or JPEG and which one is better. I use RAW and I honestly think that it makes editing so much easier and better. Most photographers use RAW but I suggest that if you’re a beginner to use JPEG, especially if RAW confuses you. Today, I’ll be talking about RAW and JPEG and it’s up to you on which one you want to use.

RAW

A RAW file is not exactly an image file. RAW is a file format that captures all image data recorded by the sensor when you take a picture. Opening a RAW file requires a special software. When shooting in RAW, you record all of the data from the sensor. A RAW file is uncompressed which means, an 8-megapixel camera will produce an 8 MB RAW file. When using RAW, you can capture more brightness than JPEG. JPEG records 256 levels of brightness while RAW records 4,096 to 16,384 levels. RAW is not exactly suitable for printing directly from the camera. The file is waiting to be processed by your computer.

JPEG

JPEG is a standard format readable by any image program. Unlike the RAW file, JPEG is compressed and it’s fairly small in file size. JPEG is basically the exact opposite of RAW. JPEG is lower in dynamic range and higher in contrast. It’s immediately suitable for printing, sharing, or posting. The reason why you can immediately share a JPEG file is that it’s already processed by your camera. There’s usually no need for editing when using a JPEG file.

I personally find that using RAW is a lot easier but it can be very complicated and confusing. It’s also annoying how you can’t immediately share the photos because it needs to be processed first. In all honesty though, processing a RAW file is not really a con for me because I rather edit the pictures before sharing them. There are many photographers that use RAW and that don’t. If you don’t want to use RAW then it’s okay because it’s may be complicated to you and that’s very understandable. It doesn’t matter if the most amazing photographer uses RAW because, in the end, it’s all up to you. If you’re not comfortable with it or think that it’s too much work then go ahead and use JPEG. For those that want to explore the photography world and learn more, then I suggest using RAW. It may be hard at first but you can do anything you set your mind to.