Reader Quiz
Okay, so you've been following along as I explore the wonders of RAW format, right? Think you can tell a camera-produced JPEG from the RAW-processed JPEG?
OK, let's find out! Look for:
1) noise in shadows
2) color balance
3) sharpness with minimal graininess
4) appropriate contrast
5) highlight detail
So, which is the RAW-processed file? Is it...
A?
Or is it B?
OK, let's find out! Look for:
1) noise in shadows
2) color balance
3) sharpness with minimal graininess
4) appropriate contrast
5) highlight detail
So, which is the RAW-processed file? Is it...
A?
Or is it B?
posted by NT at
1:54 AM
9 Comments:
A?
My camera will do RAW but I never bother. I'm too lazy to mess with it and I am purely a recreational photographer.
I hadn't taken pictures in ages but I pulled out the camera for my son's orthodontist appointment. I was very impressed with the pictures I took there.
I should drag it around with me more often just to get back into the habit of shooting again.
First guess: B is the RAW. Warmer color, less washout of the white part of the bread.
Second guess: A is the RAW. Running it through a couple of my photo programs in my Mac, the data seems more complicated in A.
Unless you have done something tricky, like making them both RAW or both not RAW!!
Thanks for playing!
It is, in fact A.
But, being a sneaky person, today I swapped in a different version of A, which I freely admit is being a cheaterpants.
Why did i swap? Well, the JPEG for A just didn't resemble the rendered RAW file I was seeing at home (for instance, it was blowing out the highlights). So I tinkered until the resemblance was closer.
Now, ironically, I think the two versions look more alike now than they did before. The camera's JPEG did a pretty good job with this tough, low-light situation. The RAW version's color-balance is better, to my eye, and the tonal range is smoother.
I wonder if RAW work is worth it for internet photos. Maybe its value only shows up in prints, which have finer resolution than monitors. Your top-notch camera and a little iPhoto or Picasa enhancement might be enough for monitors.
The "A" I saw had the white part of the bread too bright, almost washed out. Was that my aging eyeballs or too much RAW work?
A's filename ended in something like "jpg.jpg," which was another hint I missed.
My G-11 says it has a RAW mode, but have not checked it out.
This is fun. Think of another quiz, I will try, too.
I think for posting on the web RAW is indeed usually overkill, especially as it adds about an hour's work to every image.
On the other hand, it allows me to easily produce effects like those on the previous post (Winter Flowers), which I have NO IDEA if I could generate using a simple image editor.
"Winter Flowers" was stunning, so now I guess I have to learn RAW!! My camera can't approach your lens, but I will see what happens.
The latest version of iPhoto in my Mac, and probably yours, claims RAW capabilities plus simplified conversion to jpeg. Now, I will leave you alone, and go experiment. The "Winter Flowers" sold me.
Alas, Apple has been very slow updating their RAW profiles, and do not support my camera. Check the website to see if they support yours.
If they did, I'd probably be using Aperture instead of Lightroom.
Apple iPhoto Snow Leopard does list my Canon G11, but not your Panasonic. I will give it a try. Remember, my camera is just a p&s, but it does shoot RAW. I barely know what RAW is, but will learn.
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