Which image file type is right?

[WhiteD3]

I have a 8MP Konica Minolta Dimage A2 which I usually use in hi quality JPEG mode but it can do RAW, TIFF, JPEG+RAW (saves one of each) and JPEG (in 3 different quality modes).

I know that the RAW and TIFF files are significantly bigger than the JPEGs and also take a long time (up to 10 seconds) to write to the memory card.

So, which type of image format should be used, and when?

Cheers.

[dullbird]

i use .raw at all times but then I like to have the option of post process.

you can get faster cards to write to unless what your saying is your camera can't write that quick.

all i know about jpeg is that each time its opened and saved it compresses that little bit more...so each time losing that bit more quailty.

i dont think this happens with tiff so out of the to that would be my recommendation.

I only use jpeg now if i know I have to bag off a lot of shots on a smallish card. but now I own three 4g cards its not a problem so always .raw for me

[dmdigital]

The problem you face is the time it takes to write the RAW or TIFF image with this camera. For that reason you will be best off shooting in the highest quality JPEG unless you really want to be able to post process the images a lot more.

General rule though is shoot in the highest quality available that will still get you the shot.

To use the analogy of the 35mm film and prints:
RAW is basically sensor data as captured. Think of it like an undeveloped negative from a film camera. JPEG is like a developed slide film. This means that with RAW you can redevelop the negative again and again before you then go on to develop the print. With JPEG you are limited to how you can develop it for printing since all you have to work with is completed shot.

Hope that makes sense.

[WhiteD3]

Thanks for that info. Did a bit of a test:

Size = 3264 x 2448
Write time:
Jpg (Hi quality) = 8s
Raw = 16s
Tiff = 25s

Writing to a Scandisk 512MB CF card.

[dmdigital]

That's very slow for the JPEG's my Coolpix 8700 does the same size JPEG in about 2 to 3 seconds.

Is the Sandisk card you have is it a standard Sandisk CF, Ultra or Ultra II? All these are very slow cards.

The camera should be able to take up to a 2GB card and possibly even a 4GB (but you'd need to check and with JPEG 2GB is a good size). About the only way to speed it up is to get a faster card. I'd suggest a SanDisk 2GB Extreme III as the camera's circuitry probably won't be able to give any better performance and so they'd be no points in the Extreme IV (unless you got it cheaper).

If you know someone with one of these cards, try it in your camera and see if it makes much difference.

[WhiteD3]

That's very slow for the JPEG's

It's the original CF card that came with the camera so I assume it's sllooooooowwwww. I'll have a look around for a 2GB Scandisk Extreme.

The manual is short on detail about how big a card it'll take.

[WhiteD3]

To the new Scandisk Extreme 4GB CF:
Size = 3264 x 2448
Write time:
Jpg (Hi quality) = 4s, was 8s
Raw = 8s, was 16s
Tiff = 12s, was 25s

So basically the new card has halved the write time.

[dullbird]

thats good news..........
and is this a normal extreme as you can now get extreme 3

[dmdigital]

thats good news..........
and is this a normal extreme as you can now get extreme 3
...and Extreme IV and Ducati cards which are even faster.

I suspect it won't matter which Extreme as the bus speed in the camera will become the limiting factor. Given the speed has halved is probably as good as it will get.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

With my 350D I use a 4Gb Sandisk Extreme III and an 8Gb Extreme IV.

If Im not doing sporty things or trying to catch things in flight etc I use RAW - never had a problem with speed. If I need continuous shutter then I use the highest quality jpeg - again, never had a speed problem.

I realise the image size of the 350D is smaller than those of the new(er) cameras, but so too is the techniology thats writing the data.

I do have the option of RAW & jpeg - that does seem a bit slow although its not often it slows the camera down and as yet I havent found a real point to that option, though I can see where it would be handy.

Before I bought the Extreme IV I spoke to Canon technical to see if the camera would write that fast - apparently it will.

Jon

[dmdigital]

RAW+JPEG is useful if you want to review shots with someone without processing the raw files. I hardly use it either as I'm normally either back home to download or I have my laptop which can display the RAW images.

One other thing I forgot to mention about the cards is it pays to FORMAT them in the camera every so often as they do build up a degree of fragmentation of the file structure and this has been known to cause issues.

[WhiteD3]

thats good news..........
and is this a normal extreme as you can now get extreme 3


Extreme III