Can't seem to cut Raw -- Help

[Geoff F]

As Dave said, shooting Raw & Jpeg does take up extra card space, but your images may not show on some software without a jpeg. So as a compromise, I shoot Raw & Small Jpeg.

Raw Therapee is a bit on the slow side, especially if you have an older computer; although I find version 3 is a lot quicker and easier to understand. But, as I previously said, it produces the best quality of any of the free converters which I have so far tried.

But the small print is . . . works well when it is in a good mood - when it is feeling a bit 'liverish' it is worse than any teenager!

I will try that Scarab converter and report back.

At the moment I have several hundred photos to sort and convert, our week long regatta has just finished and besides my official duties of Chief Gofor, I have to take photos of all the events and the best ones get included into next year's programme.

So unless Scarab makes instant sense to me, I may leave it until I have more time. Also, the computer specs do appear a bit daunting so it may not work for me anyway.

[Geoff F]

Well that didn't take long. Scarab Converter tried and deleted!

I found it to be along the lines of the average basic converter, like DPP and the many others of that ilk.

For me the adjustments were just too basic. If that is all I could edit I might just as well shoot Jpeg.

It is fast and a clean straightforward layout so it would suit anybody who just wants a basic converter.

But one of the main features which I want, unless I couldn't find it on Scarab, is an eydropper for measuring RGB brightness levels. Essential, I find, for avoiding overexposed highlights, the Scarab Converter just works by guesswork.

I'm glad I tried it though, and perhaps I will now be a little bit more willing to accept Raw Therapee's tantrums in future.

[albannach]

Importanti in high contrast lighting situations, RAW records a greater contrast range than JPEG, which might be worth knowing.

As mentioned, RAW is just a "bare bones" file, not a finished product. RAW files will normally require contrast and white balance adjustment and sharpening.

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

Hi Turkeyneck,when I got my 400D and started shooting in RAW,it used to drive me nuts,that nothing looked sharp ect,I was getting better results from my compact.The truth is you have to make adjustments to RAW images to get the best out of them,

Just FYI, until recently, Canon cameras have recently sufferent from extreme over softness in theie images, especially 400D vintage ones.