 Susan Shepard |
When should I use Raw? Can any photgrapher use DNG format?
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Richard Lynch |
I am not exactly sure what you are asking here. The file format is one developed by Adobe to attempt to help develop a standard format (many cameras use proprietary formats). This format may or may not be recognized either by your camera (for storage purposes) or your editing software (if it is not an Adobe product). You can get a converter here: SO...while everyone can use the format, it really depends on your workflow whether you will be using the format or not. I hope that helps.
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Ariel Lepor |
I asked a question recently about RAW. Basically, it is if you want to be sure you can get the best results with more control over lighting and color. If you are going to have to take lots of pictures and don't have the room, don't shoot RAW, but if you get everything set up in a natural scene, you can get better results with editing if you use RAW.
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Richard Lynch |
With memory being less and less expensive, I would suggest getting the memory you need and shoot RAW, rather than shooting JPEG for convenience of size. Compact Flash cards at 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB, or even a portable drive like the Wolvarine come in handy (I have a 60GB). I figure for the money spent I have better quality images--just like you would if adding a better lens. JPEG is a lossy format, meaning that there is some degradation when the file is saved...and you lose the opportunity to work with RAW. I don't think it is the best methodology to pay a lot of money for your equipment to get good results, and then have it save to a less than optimal format, especially when you can solve the problem for $200--and shooting all day in RAW. For that you can shoot 12,000 RAW photos at about 8MB without downloading.
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W. |
"Can any photgrapher use DNG format?" Photographers can, snapshooters cannot.
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Irene Troy |
Susan – RAW will provide you with the most data for each image thus making it possible to correct many exposure and color errors post capture. RAW does use more memory, but as Richard points out, memory is cheap and losing your opportunity to take that once in a lifetime shot right is more frustrating than paying a little more for more memory. Richard – forgive me if I hijack this thread for a moment; however, your comments about the Wolverine drive could not have come at a better time for me. I have considered getting this drive, but have heard mixed reviews and wondered about your experience. Have you found this method of in-field backup reliable? Have you ever lost images because the backup drive malfunctioned? Thanks for any info you can offer. Irene
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Richard Lynch |
Irene, I had a few different drives (Sima and others), and have tried different solutions (lugging a laptop, voluminous cards), and I mention the Wolvarine because I find it terribly convenient. It has a power pack for the car, works with 220v, has a rechargable battery, works with Mac and PC (I use both), and has never lost an image for me. I was pretty lucky with the Sima as well, but do remember losing a card of images once (possibly user error). Thankfully it was only a few images. The Sima I had was only 4GB, so it became outdated when I moved up to using GB cards. My 60GB Wolvarine cost less than $100, so with just two 1GB cards I can shoot nearly continuously, offloading one while I replace the other (the only downtime being at the switch). It is also smaller than the Sima, quicker, and has more port types. You can fit it in a pocket, but it is probably better placed in your camera bag. If you get one, DON'T LEARN TO USE IT ON THE ROAD! Test it out at home by shooting a few images of your toaster or something and just get it to work, check that you can safely download, and understand the features and functions. it will take an hour of your time, but it will be time well spent so that you are ready to use it when you need it.
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W. |
Irene, the Wolverine is just one portable Photo Storage Device. Here are a dozen alternatives: http://www.steves-digicams.com/digi_accessories.html#storage But you may also want to consider an iPod. You get 4 gadgets for the price of 1: an MP3 player, a portable harddisk, a video player, and a very capable Photo Storage Device. I've used one for that for 3 years now: 10GB of music, 30GB photo storage.
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Richard Lynch |
There are plenty of devices, and I only comment on what I use. I have an iPod too, but I keep music on it ;-) The larger iPods cost about 40% more than an equal sized Wolvarine ($150 80GB). In fact if you get a 80GB Wolvarine and a 4GB iPod Nano, you can have both for the cost of an 80GB iPod ($249). Also, an iPod would need to be rigged with a card reader to use it in the field, right? Mine doesn't have a card reader, and I wonder how that works--or if it does. Do you use the iPod in the field WS? The Wolvarine reads 7 different card types without any additional equipment--doing what it was made to do, wherever you are. Doesn't look like the reviews on that site have been updated in a while. Most are from 2003, and the newest is from 2005. I would bet with the way the market is that a lot of those devices aren't even available but on eBay.
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W. |
"The larger iPods cost about 40% more than an equal sized Wolvarine ($150 80GB)." They also have 3 more applications... "In fact if you get a 80GB Wolvarine and a 4GB iPod Nano, you can have both for the cost of an 80GB iPod ($249)." You then also have 2 'machines' instead of just 1, that you need to keep charged, that you can lose, that, generally, require twice as much attention. "Also, an iPod would need to be rigged with a card reader to use it in the field, right?" Correct. "Mine doesn't have a card reader, and I wonder how that works--or if it does. Do you use the iPod in the field WS?" Yes. I've done a few intense 3 week photo trips to Africa, South America, Antarctica, etc. with it. Came back with THOUSANDS of exposures each time, but never even got close to maxing out the iPod. I also always take it on repo's, weddings and other location shoots (don't do much studio; rent one if I need one). But more for backup purposes, for 'just in case' (e.g. the unlikely event that 3 of 5 CF cards should all fail simultaneously) – so for peace of mind really – rather than for 'simply' storage in the field. But in real life I've never actually had to use it for either purpose. "should The Wolvarine reads 7 different card types without any additional equipment" Impressive.
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W. |
""Also, an iPod would need to be rigged with a card reader to use it in the field, right?" "Correct." Whoaa. Faux pas. That ain't right: I just checked, current generation* iPods are NOT to be rigged with a card reader. They have a 'Camera Connector' (http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories.html) connecting the dock with the camera via your camera's USB cable. *I still have a 3G iPod of the pre-dock era, WITH a cardreader. So I CAN use my camera while simultaneously uploading photos to the iPod off a full card.
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Irene Troy |
Hi Richard and thank you for the info on the Wolverine. I am primarily a writer (nature, travel and tourism) and have to carry a laptop with me on my trips. However, increasingly, I find myself in places where I cannot access the laptop for days at a time. The external hard drive that I carry for backup runs on the USB port of the laptop. I need some means for downloading images from the memory card and securing them until I can either copy them to the laptop, the external drive or a secure disk. From talking with others who do similar work, I have come to the conclusion that the type device that will work best for me is something such as the Wolverine. There are many conflicting reviews online about these devices, but until I saw your post I had yet to find anyone who used one. I get somewhat paranoid out on the road and live in fear of losing images or data before I get it backed up and sent to my home office or the client. I tend to be overly cautious and backup everything multiple places. That is why keeping images on a memory card for more than a day drives me nuts. I always think that somehow the image will get destroyed before I can download it! Thanks again for your input. Irene
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Richard Lynch |
WS -- >"should The Wolvarine reads 7 different card types >without any additional equipment" Well, I guess you know it can't play music and videos, but it is also cheaper (by far) than an iPod and does what a photograper needs it to. I didn't realize the 80GB iPods were $350, not $250--so it is a savings of $250. I am also not sure why I'd want to play video on a photo shoot...or store lots of data that will take up drive space. When I am shooting pictures and emptying cards, the drive does that...and you suggest newer iPods do not have the capability--so it really isn't an option. Music on my iPod, and photos on my portable drive--which can store other files, but I don't ever use it for that. If I fill something up with music or other files, there isn't much room for images, and that is what I needed it for. I like knowing I have plenty of room to work with. Which 7 cards types? CompactFlash (type I & II)/MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, xD-Picture Card. It is actually 8 but I guess they consider CF and Microdrive the same. I mostly use the CF slot, but have an older camera that takes SmartMedia (and CF), a video camera that takes a memory stick and cameras for the kids that take xD cards. Comes in handy on vacation with the family, where they'd have to keep track of multiple cards--and those xD cards are really small and easy to lose so I'm not interested in getting them each more than the one in their camera. They take enough pictures to fill their card, I can clear it off, and give it back. A 3GB iPod won't take on a lot of photos if it is full of music. Irene-- I know the feeling. I have several CF cards that I rotate, and I back them up to the Wolvarine and try not to delete them if I don't have to. 4 1GB cards hold about 600 images, so I'm usually good. However, I've also been on vacations with little access to electricity, no internet, and the laptop would end up being hardly more than a portable drive. I'm looking at the reviews on Amazon right now and all of them are positive--even the one with 2 stars sounds like a rave. I'm sure some people experience user error, but that's why I suggested giving it a little workout before you go live.
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Who Me? |
When should I use Raw? Depends if you like sushi.
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