Hey everyone--

I think it is great that we have a true dialog going on with different opinions about a very important topic in digital photography. Let's keep it going and discuss what we think are the pros and cons of each capture medium. This can become an extremely valuable thread. Workflow efficiency is certainly a consideration--and Will is absolutely correct--you CAN nail a wonderful portrait with jpeg--time and time again. I have to leave for work now but later I will talk about why I prefer RAW now--even with stunning 20"X24" prints from jpegs hanging in my office.

With respect to all opinions,

I always shoot in raw, I like that format very much. It was slow in the beginning until i discovered how to make up right workflow. Today when I hear that someone says that raw slows down your workflow then I think that person have not developed efficient workflow.

It is easy to edit lots of pictures in same time with great converter as ACR. When the editing is ready then I just let the computer work for me with Photoshop Image processor. In the meantime I can do other thing, like typing my thoughts of raw-files here.

Aloha! and YEE HAW!
OK...I only recently started shootng RAW files. I've been shooting digital for about 4 years now, but just a few months ago started using RAW files on my location sessions. Now I shoot RAW for everything...that is RAW + basic JPEG.

I love the things you can do to an image in the RAW format: adjust the temp of the light, the tint, saturation and contrast, and of course the exposure. And I love that you can open several copies of the same file with different adjustments, sandwich them and mask in or out whatever you want. (Thanks to Steve Dantzig for bringing this to my attention)

However, when previewing with my clients, I always use the JPEGs. Much faster.

I certainly appreciate Will's comment also. As I said, first 3 + years I only shot fine JPEG, and I have some very nice 40x50s hanging in my studio shot in JPEG and with only 6.2 MP capture. In fact, I was still only shooting fine JPEG in studio untill a couple weeks ago when I forgot to switch back from RAW + JPEG after a product shoot. Now I just leave it that way all the time....
SPC II

Hi everyone,

Here is a very brief article explaining why I choose to always shoot RAW. Please note the continued need for exposure control.

http://www.dantzigphotography.com/Raw.htm

Thanks Steve for sharing. It all about how efficient you are in your workflow, if you are new in something then it goes slower, when you handle your new talent then it is much more easier.

One more thought about working in Camera RAW is that RAW is the digital equivalent of a slide or transparency. I imagine that in the near future professional photography contests will require (and some do now) that the image submitted - in some categories - be original and made in RAW. This is to help reduce the possibility of constructed and/or manipulated images in Photoshop.

Tony