Shooting RAW

[scott1120]

I will shooting another PTA event this Friday. Since I am still learning and alsways seem to get my exposure, wb, etc. wrong I was thinking of shooting in RAW (or whatever Nikon calls it). Can CS2 convert the images? Should I set the camera (Nikon D50) to RAW+JPG? I have a 1gb card.

[DJ.]

Yes, CS2 will convert your Nikon NEF (raw) files.

RAW + JPEG is a preference. If you have enough space on your card for both and you feel that some of the jpegs will not need post processing, especially white balance, then go for it. It might save you some time.

[HFMarshburnJR]

For what it is worth, the 1GB card will give you approximately 70-80 images if you shoot Raw+JPEG. If you are expecting to shoot more images than that and you have your heart set on shooting RAW, I would recommend either getting additional memory cards (FWIW -I shoot with a 4GB card in my D70 as a primary, with additional 2GB and 1GB cards in my bag). As an alternative, think about shooting in JPEG Fine format with the camera set to Aperture priority mode. Set the WB to Auto and set the ISO at 800 to start if this is an indoor event (set it at 400 if it is outdoor). Then you just have one adjustment to make (Aperture) to get the shutterspeed you need to stop the action. Get comfortable moving your camera settings around on the fly and then move to RAW as your skill increases. If you aren't selling these images, then RAW is more of a liability to you at this time given your stated gear. Also, if you don't have a wide aperture lens (F1.4 - F2.8 at the wide end) and you are shooting these kind of school events, you might consider getting one. The 50mm F1.8 lens is a very inexpensive addition to your kit (approx. $100) and it will help you get the exposures you need. One last piece of advice from this fellow amateur Nikonian - as you shoot with the lens closer to wide open, you have to pay closer attention to the focal point due to shallow depth of field.

Sorry for the rant - take all of this advice for what it is worth. It is just my opinion that RAW may be more of an issue than an absolution for you at this point. Good Luck.

[Wes]

Personally, I've found RAW to be rather liberating. As always, I try to get it right in camera. I shoot almost exclusively manual on my D200. I set my WB for the environment (sunny, shady, etc.), set the ISO, set the aperture, and set the shutter speed. Take a few test shots, review, and adjust. I usually only have to repeat the process 1 or 2 times before I'm zeroed in. IF I get almost any of these settings wrong I can make mass corrections in batch with just a few clicks. I think the only thing I can't adjust later is ISO. Anyway, for me, RAW has speeded up my post processing workflow. In a few minutes I can make adjustments, apply them to a whole batch of images, and be done with it all in a fraction of the time that it used to take me when I shot JPEG. As Scott Watters would say, "YMMV".

I'm not sure how many images you'll be able to store on a 1Gb card shooting RAW+JPEG. Your D50 has a 6.1mp sensor; my D200 has a 10.2mp sensor. If I shoot RAW+JPEG Fine I'm only going to get about 69 images on a 2Gb card. The 70-80 figure quoted above seems possible.

Hope that helps.

[HFMarshburnJR]

At the risk of starting a RAW vs. JPEG debate - which I was not trying to do (for the record, I am making the transition to shooting RAW myself right now and I find that it gives me additional latitude as well - I have however spent the last two years getting to know the controls of my camera and what adjustments I should be making to get it as close to right in the camera as I can). I was offering an alternative that would both maximize the functionality of the tools Scott possesses and some advice that might help him learn the controls of his camera a little better instead of relying on the "fix it later" approach. Just my opinion based on personal experience - FWIW.

HFM

[arcproducts]

Scott,

I shoot with a D70s and the only combination of RAW+JPEG is with the jpeg being basic and not fine. Check the options on your camera. It will state it in the settings. So even though you will be getting shots in raw also, the jpeg photos won't do you much good for anything past 4x6 or 5x7.

Check it out and good luck.

[Hogleg 44]

Raw + jpg definitely if you don't expect to take more pictures than that card can hold in that mode. Howard said 70 to 80 images.
If, during the event, you see that you are taking to many for the card to hold, switch back to jpg only.

[jeffkohn]

I've never seen the point in RAW+JPEG personally; with the right workflow it won't really save you any time because even without making RAW adjustments you can easily batch convert the NEF's to get TIFF's or JPEG's at least as good as the in-camera JPEG's. I agree with the other poster that if your only RAW+JPEG option is JPEG basic then don't bother, because there will be noticeable compression artifacts in the JPEG's.

[scott1120]

Originally Posted by HFMarshburnJR

For what it is worth, the 1GB card will give you approximately 70-80 images if you shoot Raw+JPEG. If you are expecting to shoot more images than that and you have your heart set on shooting RAW, I would recommend either getting additional memory cards (FWIW -I shoot with a 4GB card in my D70 as a primary, with additional 2GB and 1GB cards in my bag). As an alternative, think about shooting in JPEG Fine format with the camera set to Aperture priority mode. Set the WB to Auto and set the ISO at 800 to start if this is an indoor event (set it at 400 if it is outdoor). Then you just have one adjustment to make (Aperture) to get the shutterspeed you need to stop the action. Get comfortable moving your camera settings around on the fly and then move to RAW as your skill increases. If you aren't selling these images, then RAW is more of a liability to you at this time given your stated gear. Also, if you don't have a wide aperture lens (F1.4 - F2.8 at the wide end) and you are shooting these kind of school events, you might consider getting one. The 50mm F1.8 lens is a very inexpensive addition to your kit (approx. $100) and it will help you get the exposures you need. One last piece of advice from this fellow amateur Nikonian - as you shoot with the lens closer to wide open, you have to pay closer attention to the focal point due to shallow depth of field.

Sorry for the rant - take all of this advice for what it is worth. It is just my opinion that RAW may be more of an issue than an absolution for you at this point. Good Luck.

Thanks Howard - that's the kind of advice i was looking for. The last event I shot there I used aperture priority and ISO 800 and WB on auto. I don't have a 50mm yet, but since I will doing all the PTA events next year I guess I need to pick one up. My biggest problem right now is holding the camera steady.
Like someone else mentioned I would rather get the exposure right in camera, because my editing skills are not very good.