new Nikon D5100

[bryn]

I noticed on my new D5100 there is only one size of RAW.NEF file to use
while with jpegs there are several. Why the restriction?

[TonyW]

raw NEF files are basically just the raw data from the sensor so they can have few if any options. jpegs are processed in the camera so they can have different sizes and file compression so you get these as choices.

The whole point of raw files is that you get to control the processing and not the camera so that's why you get all the data and not just an editied version.

Tony

[JulieM]

My older dSLR had only the one RAW setting so when I acquired my newer one, I was surprised to see it offers three size options for RAW; the regular 21 mp, and two sRAW formats of 10 mp and 5 mp. I don't know exactly what is done to the sRAWs in camera to make them smaller but I've always gone on the assumption that you'll want to capture as much information as possible if shooting RAW, so I go with the full-sized RAW setting.

[TonyW]

Julie - I didn't know about Canon's sRAW - looks like they average sensor sites so you finish up with less pixels and so smaller file size. Actually my Nikon has some NEF file options but they are 12 or 14 bit and lossless and not quite lossless compression but none effect the pixel dimensions as Canon's sRAW do and there's not a huge difference in file size like sRAW.

Tony