How much would I want RAW images as an option in my new camera?

anc001 · 1st August 2010, 12:41 PM

Hi folks,
well its been 5 years and its time to upgrade my trusty Ricoh G3 with a new camera. The GF and I predominantly use the camera to take macro shots of plants out in the field to help us identify and record them back in the office. There is also the typical happy snap usage and so forth. Potentially we might also look at getting a nice printout of the odd picture onto a canvas or what-have-you.

The GF has done a bit of reseach and likes the Ricoh CX3 to match the above uses. The only question mark raised in her reading is that it only takes JPG images, not RAW images, but this doesn't seem like a big drawback to me as big printouts won't be common and if she does want to do one she'll probably play with it in photoshop first so might be able to make a good image for printing anyway?

Would love to hear from OCAUers who know about this area, regarding the importance of RAW images and their potential uses- and also any other feedback on this model.

thanks in advance for your time, folks.

Ken Rockwell · 1st August 2010, 12:47 PM

Please have a read of this article: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm

dche5390 · 1st August 2010, 12:54 PM

Haha! I can't control myself. SYN is going to have a field day.

anc001 · 1st August 2010, 1:06 PM

thanks for the link, it paints a clear picture.

Its not unusual for me to take a hundred or so photos a day, so methinks JPG is the go there.

csimpson · 1st August 2010, 2:03 PM

Oh my god, it's Ken Rockwell!

Zee · 1st August 2010, 2:13 PM

I call sock puppet.

Z...

waffles · 1st August 2010, 2:41 PM

I'm just disappointed that ken doesn't have a "my gear" link to go with the "my website"

xtortion · 1st August 2010, 3:01 PM

Brb, mircowaving popcorn.

Deftone2k · 1st August 2010, 3:43 PM

lolwell i just lol'd well

csimpson · 1st August 2010, 4:02 PM

In any case, before this goes off-track further: OP, the CX3 is very nice camera. However, RAW allows significantly more potential for editing than JPEG, as plenty more data is saved in each file without suffering lossy compression. If your partner or you value occasionally playing around with photos - increasing the exposure, sharpness etc. - I personally think RAW is invaluable.

If you're content with the photos as they come out of the camera, and the limited editing potential this gives you, RAW isn't so much of a drawcard.

Statitica · 1st August 2010, 4:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csimpson

In any case, before this goes off-track further: OP, the CX3 is very nice camera. However, RAW allows significantly more potential for editing than JPEG, as plenty more data is saved in each file without suffering lossy compression. If your partner or you value occasionally playing around with photos - increasing the exposure, sharpness etc. - I personally think RAW is invaluable.

If you're content with the photos as they come out of the camera, and the limited editing potential this gives you, RAW isn't so much of a drawcard.

What he said...

SyN · 2nd August 2010, 3:21 PM

OH HAI, KEN!!!

MickybD · 2nd August 2010, 3:49 PM

I don't have any personal experience with the Ricoh CX3, but thought you might be interested to read the following reviews (if you haven't done so already):

As for the need for raw format, I find it invaluable for my shooting and take every photo in raw. However, raw takes more time and effort post-shot and from your description it sounds like you would not really see the benefit from it. I'm not meaning to suggest you couldn't benefit from it, but from your description it seems that for your style and subject matter and desired results that jpg is fine.

The thing with raw is that you have to set your camera to that recording mode prior to taking the shot, so it would be no good after the event when you are looking through your photos deciding then that you want to blow one up for canvas etc and perhaps therefore should have used raw. You would need to make that decision in advance. So, for me, using raw as my default is better overall as it gives me maximum flexibility. (Keeping up with the post-processing is a huge pain, though.)

Joehax · 2nd August 2010, 3:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Rockwell

Please have a read of this article: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm

lol, very nice

dche5390 · 2nd August 2010, 4:32 PM

RAW didn't mean much to be when I was simply enjoying JPGs out of my D40 (as per Ken's suggestion). But once I wanted to venture into the digital darkroom, RAW became a no-brainer.

RAW is not for everyone. I've seen many a great photo from in-camera processing from PnS'.

1st August 2010, 12:47 PM	#2
Ken Rockwell Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Jolla CA Posts: 2	Please have a read of this article: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm __________________ My Website

1st August 2010, 12:54 PM	#3
dche5390 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,937	Haha! I can't control myself. SYN is going to have a field day. __________________ Storytellers of love + life

1st August 2010, 2:03 PM	#5
csimpson Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 7,629	Oh my god, it's Ken Rockwell! __________________ twitter

1st August 2010, 2:13 PM	#6
Zee Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tatabanya, Hungary Posts: 5,585	I call sock puppet. Z... __________________ Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines...

1st August 2010, 3:01 PM	#8
xtortion Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bankstown Sydney Posts: 3,914	Brb, mircowaving popcorn. __________________ Got Adobo?

1st August 2010, 2:41 PM	#7
waffles Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 276	I'm just disappointed that ken doesn't have a "my gear" link to go with the "my website"

1st August 2010, 3:43 PM	#9
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1st August 2010, 4:02 PM	#10
csimpson Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 7,629	In any case, before this goes off-track further: OP, the CX3 is very nice camera. However, RAW allows significantly more potential for editing than JPEG, as plenty more data is saved in each file without suffering lossy compression. If your partner or you value occasionally playing around with photos - increasing the exposure, sharpness etc. - I personally think RAW is invaluable. If you're content with the photos as they come out of the camera, and the limited editing potential this gives you, RAW isn't so much of a drawcard. __________________ twitter

2nd August 2010, 3:21 PM	#12
SyN Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 6,977	OH HAI, KEN!!! __________________ You are now conscious of your breathing pattern. The one hundredth member of OCAU Camera Club Mark II Non-existant Fujifilm Finepix X100 club member #100

2nd August 2010, 3:49 PM	#13
MickybD Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 456	I don't have any personal experience with the Ricoh CX3, but thought you might be interested to read the following reviews (if you haven't done so already): http://dpreview.com/reviews/Q210grouptravelzoom/ http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...oh_cx3_review/ http://www.trustedreviews.com/digita...3/Ricoh-CX3/p1 http://www.digicamreview.com/2010/04...commended.html As for the need for raw format, I find it invaluable for my shooting and take every photo in raw. However, raw takes more time and effort post-shot and from your description it sounds like you would not really see the benefit from it. I'm not meaning to suggest you couldn't benefit from it, but from your description it seems that for your style and subject matter and desired results that jpg is fine. The thing with raw is that you have to set your camera to that recording mode prior to taking the shot, so it would be no good after the event when you are looking through your photos deciding then that you want to blow one up for canvas etc and perhaps therefore should have used raw. You would need to make that decision in advance. So, for me, using raw as my default is better overall as it gives me maximum flexibility. (Keeping up with the post-processing is a huge pain, though.) __________________ OCAU Trades: Many successful trades over a number of years. Most recent sales: slawbear, humanrace, Tomee, Swaz, Shortass_Jr, Lukey, nafe \| Most recent purchases: Desert Fox, bboowwyy

2nd August 2010, 4:32 PM	#15
dche5390 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,937	RAW didn't mean much to be when I was simply enjoying JPGs out of my D40 (as per Ken's suggestion). But once I wanted to venture into the digital darkroom, RAW became a no-brainer. RAW is not for everyone. I've seen many a great photo from in-camera processing from PnS'. __________________ Storytellers of love + life