Raw is either 12 or 14 bits of colour depth depending on camera model.
JPG is 8 bits.
Therefore you have 4 or 6 more bits of dynamic range.
There is a good write up in NTP.
http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...ad.php?t=25432
regards, Kym Gallery Honest & Direct Constructive Critique Appreciated! ©
Digital & film, Bits of glass covering 10mm to 500mm, and other stuff
This post has a lot of info in it that should help you also
http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...ad.php?t=47708
Cat (aka Cathy) - Another Canon user - 400D, 18-55,75-300mm Kit Lens,50mm f1.8, Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro, Sigma 28-70 f2.8-4 DG, Tripod and a willingness to learn
Software used: PhotoImpact, Irfanview and a lot of plugins
We don't make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of photography all the books we have read, the movies we have seen, the music we have heard, the people we have loved. - Ansel Adams
It's not about out of camera quality. Raw has many, many times the information of a jpeg. Jpegs are lossy files, when the camera compresses compresses the file into a jpeg it throws away the unused data. RAW retains everything, but must have post camera processing to bring out the best in the image.
There are lots of articles on the topic, including some on here. Have a hunt around.
Odille
“Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky”
My Blog | Canon 1DsMkII | 60D | Tokina 20-35mm f/2.8 AF AT-X PRO | EF50mm f/1.8| Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM | Fujifilm X-T1 & X-M1 | Fujinon XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS | Fujinon XC 50-230mm F3.5-5.6 OIS | Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4R LM OIS | tripods, flashes, filters etc ||
As everyone has said Raw contained more information and great when you need to recover a photo and also post production. Personally find too much mucking around with the RAW file if you don't know what your doing can create unwanted noise and photo will not be as sharp.
Personally I try and get the photo right in camera and shoot Jpeg.
Aka - Gaston A
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Gear List
Camera:Nikon D90 + MB-D80 Batteries grip
Lenses: Nikon 24-70 F2.8 & Nikon 50mm F1.8
Tripod: Velbon Sherpa 803R
Flash: Nikon SB600 with a range of diffusers
Software: Adobe Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS3