You shoot RAW for best image quality, and you shoot JPEG for ease of use, speed and storage space.
Here are the sizes of a typical 42MP image*:
- X.Fine JPEG: 27 MB
- Compressed RAW: 43.2 MB
*The sizes will vary by a bit depending on the kind of information you’re shooting.
That’s a savings of about 40%.
What we need to determine is whether you lose quality by shooting JPEG. Here’s a test of a frame shot in RAW and JPEG, and then processed in ACR.
First, stills just exported from ACR with no correction (except choosing the profile) (Click to enlarge):
Compressed RAW:
JPEG:
Now, stills processed^ in ACR and exported as half-size JPEGs (Click to enlarge):
Compressed RAW:
JPEG:
EXIF – ISO 800, 1/25th shutter, f/4.5 at 51mm on a 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6mm lens. Neutral picture profile. X.Fine JPEG quality. Multi-metering, underexposed by -0.7EV.
^Here’s the torture that was applied to the images:
Clarity, Vibrance and Saturation where not bumped.
Takeaway
There is no doubt. If you want the best image quality and flexibility, you must shoot RAW. But people have known this for over a decade.
