Shooting in Raw -when?

[gena]

I was getting all excited about the possibilities of shooting and working on images in RAW format. Then I looked at my 1 GB memory card and saw that my capacity will go down to about 93 images! Whew - wondering under what circumstances and frequency you experts out there shoot in RAW. Certainly for serious portrait work? Perhaps not on vacations when you want lots of photos, but maybe for those special shots?
Also, and I'm going to try this today, I'm worried if its going to be difficult to load and find those RAW images to use and the RAW screen. Any words of encouragement
Thanks so much; I love this forum.

[Jodi Frye]

I rarely use raw...unless like you said...for important stuff...stuff I'm getting paid for ;) Yes for the same reason...space ! I'm happy with my jpeg's for now.

[turkbrando]

Just recently got into it and I must say I love it. Having a powerbook and a 2 gig card I don't find it differcult to store my images and clear space. (burning to dvd's is your only realistic option) There's much to learn, and the format itself does not guarantee success, but, your chances are greater than jpeg. So with that said, for now, I'm shooting everything in raw.

[gena]

OK - love hearing both sides! What is a powerbook?

[treedog]

I'm certainly not an expert.......
I shoot everything RAW. I get 178 images on my D70 using a 1gig card. I love the flexability in post processing. I really like the fact that I have a digital negitive in it's purist form with shooting RAW. When on the road vacations etc I take my laptop if I fill my card. I havent had the need to get another card yet but i'm not shooting anything serious. Just a hobby (OK maybe obsession) for me.

Jim

[turkbrando]

A Powerbook is a Apple portable laptop. They make two portables, ibook and powerbook.

[editor]

When I don't have my laptop with me to backup my photos I have a device that lets me put photos on my iPod. It's from Belkin, called the Media Reader for iPod w/ Dock Connector and it's around $50. It works with some but not all iPods.
http://www.belkin.com/index.asp

(although I would shop around for better prices)

Then I just connect my iPod and transfer the images onto my laptop

[sharkman]

I shoot all my photo's in RAW, I use a Nikon D70, I have a 4gb microdrive, I get 710 photo's in the raw mode. I like the control over the photo that you have using Raw.

[Jodi Frye]

710 raw photos ? Well I suppose if I had that luxury I would shoot in Raw exclusively as well ;)

[turkbrando]

I have a Ipod "camera connector", which I have yet to take out of the box, with a 2 gig card and the powerbook, I have yet to experience a problem. I am more then aware that I'm obsessed now.

[gena]

Well, what a wealth of information! Thank you all :) I too have a Nikon D70. If I could get 178 on my 1 gig card, I'd be happy. It seems it usually does indicate less images than you actually end up getting. I didn't know you could get a 2 GB memory card. I also didn't know you could load photos onto an ipod. I am learning sooo much here. Well, wish me luck, I've been asked to make some head shots for a local theatre group - my second paying job. I'm going to try raw.
Hey -Mr. Dave Cross, I feel like I'm speaking to a celebrity getting a reply from you.
Appreciate you all very much!!!

[sergegagne]

Gena,

I'm exactly in the same situation as turkbrando below. Now, I always use RAW and I wouldn't go back. It gives me much more latitude to improve my photos just as if I was "reshooting" them.

I use 2 512mg cards, and one card can hold 69 RAW files, which is not an inconvenience for me.

Hope you can manage with RAW.

Serge

[Moxie]

I don't have such an issue with space...my main problem with switching to RAW full time is the speed. It takes my camera (Sony DSC-V3) about 15-25 secs to record a RAW image.

[treedog]

Gena,

It sounds as though you need to update your firmware on the D70. One of the issues on version 1 was that the counter was inaccurate.

I will look for a link and post in a few.....

Off dinner

Jim

[treedog]

Gena,

Here's a thread on the firmware

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=15106850

and here's the link for the firmware upgrade

http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=13580&p_created=1116261036&p_sid=ZeQ1MJQh&p_lva=61&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9NyZwX3Byb2RzPTE5LDAmcF9jYXRzPTE4NiZwX3B 2PTEuMTk7Mi51MCZwX2N2PTEuMTg2OzIudTAmcF9zZWFyY2hfd HlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Hope this helps

Jim

[gena]

Jim,
Thanks so much. I'll get on that D70 update.
Gena

[gena]

Jim (and all)
Hooray, I finally got the nerve to try updating the firmware on my D70. (I didn't even know it had firmware!) and it worked!!!
Thanks so much for telling me about this.
Also took a bunch of pictures today in RAW and I'm lovin it.
Gena