Image Quality

With the D300 , is RAW the better way to go for quality then TIFF ? I just

got a D300 and wondering what I should use. Thank you.

Out of the camera, raw leaves more options open then JPEG. JPEGS are far smaller than even compressed raw.

 

I use Photoshop CS3, so I open either in the raw converter and save as a .psd still in layers. That .psd becomes the master to make all final JPEGS for prints or computer display. All are kept in separate sub folders.

 

If you are talking about saving from NX, then save as a TIFF and bring that into photoshop for any final work.

 

I normally output from the cameras as raw+JPEG.

 

TIFF files are used by the graphic arts industry and usually will not be accepted by PHOTO printing services.

Raw is best.

 

Use RAW if you can. Raw lets you make some changes to the image after the fact

very easily, Tiff does not. Depending on what you shoot, there is more often than

not no reason to shoot tiff instead of highest quality JPEG anyway. You won't see

the difference in prints, and will only see the difference on-screen at 100%.

 

So, if you are shooting and need the images quickly (without photoshop futzing

around for instance) shoot highest JPEG and be careful of exposure and you're good

as gold.

I used to shoot RAW/jpg to be able to use the jpg when it comes out of the camera OK and to have the best range of adjustments in postprocessing when it needed it. I have since changed to RAW only because:

 

(1) the number of pictures I have stored has become hard to manage, so Lightroom enables me to tag all my pictures and shooting RAW forces me to put the pictures through Lightroom.

 

(2) shooting RAW/jpg increases the storage requirement by about 30% for the jpg.

 

I tried TIFF output a couple of times but I don't see any advantage in it so I ignore it now. The RAW output is the most flexible one.

Finding a post processing program process the files you shoot, no matter what format you shoot them in, is the key to your success.

 

RAW gives you the most flexibility in correcting the picture if the exposure or white balance is way off.

 

Many programs offer 30 day demo versions that you can download online. I suggest you try the main ones and see how they work for you.

Initially I shot raw and converted the "keepers" to tif. Now I archive the modified raw files which usually are smaller than tifs. Even the raw files aw previewable in Windows Vista now. Leaving the images raw is less confusing than keeping jpegs and/or tifs and raw.

You may want to read Hogan's ebook on this, I really liked his analysis of the

various settings. His recommendation is 14-bit RAW, unless you need a high frame

rate, in which case he recommends 12-bit RAW. He also recommends to use the

lossless compression mode for the NEF's, since you don't lose any quality that way

but same some space. The reason he recommends RAW is as mentioned above,

the RAW allows for more accurate post processing. The TIFF is recommended only

if you need to send your shots to an editor directly without having time to convert

them, and the editor insists on TIFF.

 

For myself, I have also used the JPEG L-fine setting to save space on my card. I

only do this on "snapshots" where the quality is not as critical, but having many

shots allows me to select the best ones. I'll invest in a bigger card soon...

 

Cheers.

I shoot 14 bit raw + jpeg (for a quickie reference image that can be seen on anything). I process any potential "keepers" in NX and save them as TIFFs. Raw gives you the most PP options in NX, but TIFF is far more universal.

I agree with Peter, I use Capture NX to process my raw images too, but you'll need a speedy computer to deal with NX and D300 RAW files. Did you get NX with your D300?

 

I also agree with Tachion, I recommend Thom Hogan's ebook too.

TIFF also applies all your in-camera settings to the final image. Look at it as a JPEG with much more bit depth, which works better for some people's work flow. When using 3rd party software applications for post this MAY have an impact.

I strongly disagree that TIFF makes any sense for anything but the law enforcement

application with the D3 (the time stamp function). For anything but the very largest

prints (and I would argue even with them) the final output of a TIFF is identical to a

highest quality JPEG.

 

If you need more than that, you should be shooting RAW anyway, and saving psds

of your edits. TIFF makes no sense to me unless as Tachion says "you need to

send your shots to an editor directly without having time to convert them, and the

editor insists on TIFF."

 

RAW + JPEG is great, but alas, my D50 only shoots RAW plus lowest qual jpeg, so

it's useless to me. Oh well, I'm saving for a D300.

Thank you Ronald , Peter , Dwight , Elliot , Wayne , Tachion , Peter , Jim , Todd and Peter , I appreciate you all taking your time to help me with this. Best of Light !!!