RAW Images and JPEG Images

The file formats used in digital cameras are RAW format and JPEG format.

Understand the differences between these file formats and use them accordingly.

What Is RAW Image?

Besides JPEG format which is widely used as a file format for photos, some digital cameras support shooting in RAW format.

The characteristics of RAW format are that it allows you to perform the development process after shooting and that its image quality does not degrade from development. However, as all the information captured by the image sensor will be stored, the file size becomes large. In addition, it cannot be handled in some applications.

Differences between RAW Images and JPEG Images

RAW images and JPEG images have the following advantages and disadvantages.

	RAW Images	JPEG Images
Advantage	Adjustable after shooting Image quality does not degrade from editing	Small file size Supported by many applications Large number of images can be shot with continuous shooting
Disadvantage	Large file size Not supported by some applications	Image quality degrades when saved

It is recommended that you select a format according to your requirements; for example, shoot snapshots in JPEG format and shoot in RAW format to edit after shooting.

Tip

What Is the Extension for RAW Images?

The extension for RAW format is unique to each camera manufacturer. The extension for RAW format shot with Canon digital cameras is ".CR2" except for some models.