Why I don’t shoot in raw

I had recently discussed image files with a fellow blogger friend and thought I’d share this with you guys. If you take any form of DSLR/mirrorless photography, and if you haven’t you ought to take a look at RAW files.

First of all, what is RAW?

RAW is simply a type of image that is completely uncompressed and captures all image data. Because the image is not compressed in any way, you’d be able to produce a higher quality of an image when shooting in RAW. When I say “shooting in RAW”, I mean to select RAW image type in the camera setting so all images produced are RAW image type, rather than JPEG.

You probably wonder why I am choosing not to take RAW photos when it produces higher quality images. Just like buying a camera, there are no right or wrong choices when it comes to photography. There are only the choices that fit your style, budget and usage, and the choices that don’t fit. So yes, after all these years, I still shoot in JPEG. Read on to find out why.

1. RAW file sizes are a lot bigger than JPEG. One RAW image can be as big as 25mb, whereas JPEG images (compressed images) are usually 5-6mb. To shoot in RAW, I’d have to shell out more moola to get a bigger SD card.
2. RAW files require lots and lots of computer power to edit, process, move and copy. Thought I already have a 2-year-old MacBook Pro, it is still not powerful enough to smoothly edit photos in Lightroom/Photoshop. I’d have to get a much more powerful computer to handle RAW files.
3. My photo styles are more of an everyday snap. Whether or not the photos look the sharpest and richest is not as important as someone who focuses on breathtaking travel imagery.

If you google RAW files, you will find a thousand articles telling you that shooting in RAW is the way to go. I want to remind you that there is no best way when it comes to photography, there is only THE way that works the best for you. And for me, spending more financial resources on getting another computer, and another large SD card just so I can shoot in RAW is simply not feasible for me. What do you think my fellow blogging and photography friends? Do you feel the same or you feel otherwise? Let me know!!