Michigan's Otherside Paranormal Forums

Is it worth shooting in raw format for paranormal investigations? I haven't shot much in raw format, but think I need to take a night and experiment with it. If you get a picture that needs a little better image quality then raw can do this for you. Raw is more work unless you batch save. If you think you have captured a great picture raw data is better to prove it.
1) RAW files takes much lower space than TIFF ones, and RAW shooting is faster than JPEG (This is usually the case, not always.)
2) In RAW files color depth is 12 to 14 bit while in JPEG color depth is only 8 bits per channel
3) Main advantage of RAW. Color displacement is done by CPU in computer which is much more powerful then image processor in camera. Result is highier detail And RAW conversion software uses much more sophisticated algorithms than even possible in any digital camera.
4) A raw file is comparable to the latent image contained in an exposed but undeveloped piece of film. It holds exactly what the imaging chip recorded. Nothing more. Nothing less. This means that the photographer is able to extract the maximum possible image quality, whether now or in the future. do a better job of processing the image.
5) A raw file is tagged with contrast and saturation information as set in the camera by the user, but the actual image data has not been changed. The user is free to set these based on a per-image evaluation rather than use one or two generalized settings for all images taken.
6) The biggest advantage of shooting raw is that one has a 16 bit image (post raw conversion) to work with. This means that the file has 65,536 levels to work with. This is opposed to a JPG file's 8 bit space with just 256 brightness levels available. This is important when editing an image, particularly if one is trying to open up shadows or alter brightness in any significant way. This is the one part that could allow you to pull something you think is there out of a picture or disprove it.

I say it's worth testing it out. My next camera will be able to shoot in RAW format when it's time to upgrade again. I have a sort of "middle of the road" camera. Not a point and shoot but not quite a full blown DSLR.

My mother could tell you all about using RAW or any other kind.
She is a pro photographer.

The camera she just bought was 8,000 dollars. I didn't even know camera's could be that expensive!

She sometimes goes to "spooky locations" with me and shoot's pictures. Although I am not a real "ghost hunter" I do have a interest in it so if there is a mysterious public place or a place with a story attached I will go and check it out.

She has got some very cool and interesting pictures, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Oh man, what I would give for a camera like that......someday....(cue the song from Fival)