RAW vs JPEG image formats:

When you select your camera’s “Image setting,” you usually see two options: RAW and JPEG. Every photographer has faced this decision at some point, and many do not know what to decide. There are several reasons why you should make the right decision from the beginning so you don’t waste hours of time later trying to fix mistakes. What is the difference between RAW and JPEG?

A RAW file contains unprocessed data from your camera’s digital sensor. In other words, your camera does not process the data automatically; therefore, you have complete control over the processing of the image through software programs. On the other hand, a JPEG is processed and compressed by your camera instantly upon taking the picture. It determines colour, brightness, and sharpness and eliminates data it thinks is unnecessary to decrease file size. Thus, JPEG files are always ready to go and can be easily viewed online, but they contain less image information.

Related: Learn more about image file types

You might want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of shooting in RAW before you decide to do capture your moment.

One advantage of using RAW files is that they retain all of the original data captured by your camera's digital sensor. These advantages include increased image quality. Since RAW files are not compressed, they capture a wider dynamic range (the difference between light and dark areas of the image) and a wider range of colors. Therefore, recovering blown-out highlights and lifting shadows to reveal hidden details are much easier to accomplish when using RAW files. Color correction is also more accurate since RAW files typically have either 12 or 16 bits of color information (depending on your camera model), whereas JPEG files typically only have 8 bits of color information. Therefore, for professional photographers, portraits, commercials, or any situation where lighting may be difficult, RAW files provide the ability to create a photo that meets your standards.

There are two disadvantages of using RAW files. One disadvantage is that RAW files are significantly larger than JPEG files. Typically, RAW files can be anywhere from two to six times larger than JPEG files. As a result, you will run out of memory on your memory cards more quickly, and you will need to purchase more storage overall. Another drawback of using RAW files is that they cannot be shared or used until they have been converted using specialized editing software. This adds time to your workflow, creates multiple versions of the image that need to be stored, and may cause a delay in your camera performance during long periods of continuous shooting.

Just like shooting in RAW has its advantages and disadvantages, so does shooting in JPEG. They are listed below:

Using JPEG files offers 3 [DG4.1]advantages. The first advantage is that JPEG files are very small and therefore fast to view. Since JPEG files are already processed in-camera, there is no additional processing required before sharing them online, uploading them to a server, or sending them to a client. Second, due to their small size, you can fit many more images onto one memory card. Thirdly, since they are processed in-camera instantly after taking the picture, you do not experience delays when continuously shooting. JPEG files are ideal for casual photography, travel photography, social media photography, and simple workflows.

There are two drawbacks to using JPEG files. The first is that JPEG files eliminate permanent image data in order to compress their size. Therefore, when you need to correct exposure problems, recover details lost in bright areas (blowouts), or alter colors extensively in post-production, you have limited material to work with, and degradation occurs more rapidly. Secondly, since JPEG files typically only have 8-bit color depth, they limit the number of tones available for editing.

It is recommended to use RAW files whenever possible in situations where image quality and creative freedom are important factors in post-processing.

Examples of situations where RAW is preferred include:

• Professional portrait photography where precise skin tone corrections are made
• Landscape photography, where recovering highlight detail and reducing noise is essential
• Low-light situations where reducing noise is critical in post-production;
• Commercial content creation where clients typically require large amounts of resolution to allow for heavy editing
• Unpredictable lighting conditions where there is potential for errors resulting from auto-exposure in-camera
• Heavy editing requirements where extreme enhancements in color correction and exposure compensation are necessary

On the other hand, I would suggest using JPEG whenever possible in situations where speed and ease-of-use outweigh extensive post-processing requirements.

Specific circumstances such as the following warrant shooting in JPEG format:

• Daily photography
• Social media content sharing
• Events requiring quick delivery (such as press photography or quick client turnaround)
• Casual photography workflows
• Beginners not familiar with post-processing software programs

Most digital cameras have the capability to record both formats at once. This allows you to have a ready-to-go JPEG for easy-sharing purposes while maintaining the higher-quality RAW file for further editing later. Although recording both formats will consume twice as much memory per shot, this can be beneficial for situations where speed & quality are equally important.

When it comes to choosing, determine whether the RAW or JPEG format best fits your workflow. There are no formats that are absolutely better than others. RAW is ideal for photographers who care about image quality and have a great deal of desire for flexibility in editing their images. JPEG is ideal for photographers who prefer a fast shoot, simple edits, and smaller file-size images. The correct answer will be based on your shooting style, the level of editing you intend to do with an image, the amount of storage space you can dedicate to your files, and ultimately, the degree of creative control you wish to have over your files immediately upon capture. Many photographers find themselves using both formats at different times; this is likely the most practical option of them all.