Choosing The Image File Format

Each time that you press the shutter release, you capture an image with the image sensor. The image is then written to a file in a user-selected format with or without applying your chosen camera settings. Most digital cameras offer two format: JPEG and RAW.

The JPEG format is a compression format; it uses a mathematical algorithm to smartly reduce the file size while losing minimal image quality. If choosing to use JPEG format you should generally use high quality settings. Shooting in JPEG format allows you to capture more images on a memory card.

RAW image files are proprietary files that have minimal processing applied to them by the camera plus they hold more information than JPEG files. A RAW file can be processed with much more flexibility and adjustment range than is possible with JPEG.

JPEG Versus RAW Formats
JPEG	RAW
All camera settings embedded in file	Image stored with minimal processing from sensor, allowing more post-shoot changes
Fastest, most convenient format	Most flexible, adaptable format
Smaller file size	Larger file size
Easily viewable images	Requires RAW conversion software
Camera shoot and file-to-memory speeds faster	Camera shoot and file-to-memory speeds slower
Fast to view	Slower to view
8-bit file (less picture information)	16-bit file (more picture information)

© 2011 Emily Sheehan