RAW is wonderful! 😀

The file sizes can be something like twice the size of a maximum resolution JPEG and even more sometimes, but RAW isn’t an image format as such that you can open up in a standard program. Basically a RAW file is the information that came directly from your sensor, un-compressed and generally (unless you’ve applied changes in-camera which defeats the object somewhat) un-processed. When you open up the file in your RAW editor, basiclly the computer re-constructs the image from the RAW data as it would be before the camera compresses and converts it to a JPEG, meaning you get much more data to play with when you edit. This means when you apply changes to saturation, contrast, brightness, sharpness, etc, it’s done BEFORE conversion to JPEG, so you maintain the absolute highest quality possible for your final image, and the only thing you generally need to do to your final JPEG photo is down-size it.

Doesn’t the S2-IS have the option to shoot RAW?

Anyway… It’s 02:46am… Why on Earth am I sitting here writing stuff about cameras?! Ah I know, because I’m sad, and ever so slightly obsessed. 🙂

Paul

the S2 cannot shoot RAW, but luckily iPhoto has the power to handle RAW now, so im “future proof”:D. i use that primarily for photo storage. most of the editing is done in photoshop elements for me.

Sam

cheers for the comments guys! a few more for your viewing pleasure:

The dragonair 747 was a real highlight.

Sam

Was your camera set to auto-white balance for the Concorde shot? If so it looks like the fog confused it a little! 🙂

Good work there, despite poor conditions. The 747 heading into the sunset’s a cracker!

Paul

thanks paul! as per the concorde shot, i was experimenting with different white balances…i thought this one (tungsten) was interesting, and kind of gave a blue sky type illusion along with fog. with automatic, the shots looked good but a bit dull.

Sam