Ricoh GR Raw vs Jpeg

[BlackXList]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what people are choosing to shoot with their GRs?

I know that on the surface that seems like an obvious choice, but I believe that with the GR it's a little more complex.

One of the attractions of the GR is how spectacular the B/W is, (with my old GRDII I only ever shot in BW Jpeg, because the images looked how I wanted them to straight out of the camera).

I've currently got my GR set up to shoot RAW and B/W Jpeg together, and I've just got back from 6 weeks away shooting mainly with the GR.

I'm wading through the RAW files at the moment, obviously I'll have to convert them to B/W in post, but I doubt the results will be the same as the Ricoh's own rendering.

So logically, I'm not going to get the same B/W result that attracted me to the camera in the first place.

Am I crazy in thinking that I should give the Jpegs a go wherever possible?

 

[sevres_babylone]

At really high ISOs (12800, 25600) there is definitely an advantage to the RAW files.
I've made it a habit to shoot RAW+JPEG after a trip with my R-D1, when, amazing as it seem now, the cost of SD cards led me to shoot JPEG, and there were some shots with blown highlights where I could have recovered information with RAW.
Aside from hard-drive space issues, which I don't see as significant, I don't see why you wouldn't continue what you're doing, and only use the RAW files in situations where the JPEG disappoints, or where you want the color. I have to admit I haven't really tweaked the JPEG setting with black and white (although I use their "slide" rendering for color), and am comfortable with Silver Efex Pro for my conversions.
I guess as well, it's a matter of taste (or facility in customizing the jpeg settings); unlike you I generally used RAW files for B&W with GRD2 as well. But I also have to admit I go back and forth between color and black and white a lot.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Have you tried the in-camera raw conversions?

I shoot raw+, but because the GR files translate easily in LR 4 (unlike Sigma Merrill and Sony A, which I have been using more), I don't mind the pp work, which is usually minimal.

But I have recently been playing more with in-cam raw development, and I'm pleased with results so far. Especially since the original remains right next door.

My first GRD was the III; at that time I shot all BW jpgs. The best of those hold up quite well, no regrets. I'm just more conservative/conservational now about maintaining raw originals for an uncertain future.

 

[Michael Markey]

Raw + for me but I don`t really look at the raw any more to be honest.
I just regard than as a back up.

 

[:: Mark]

I only shoot the Ricoh in RAW. The files are not huge, it is really easy to get the same tonality as the JPEGs with Lightroom, and you do not loose shots that might have benefited from more DR, better high ISO, or a different white balance...

Beyond file size, I have never really understood why anyone would shoot JPEG - although I usually leave the black-and-white preset enabled so that the LCD in black-and-white.

 

[craygc]

I only shoot in raw. But as with all my Sony sensor cameras (being ISO invariant) I use, I almost permanently have -2/3EV dialled in, which wouldn't allow me to correct as a jpeg in post. BTW, Im never overly enamoured with straight out of the camera B&W.

 

[BlackXList]

I know that the conventional wisdom is always RAW (which I'm fine with of course).

I suspect the answer is to continue to shoot both, and use the Jpegs when they cut it, and the RAW files when they'd benefit from a bit of help.

I'm just wondering if I'm chasing myself in circles trying to make the RAW file look like the Jpeg.

 

[35photo]

RAW only...

 

[rhl-oregon]

I know that the conventional wisdom is always RAW (which I'm fine with of course).

I suspect the answer is to continue to shoot both, and use the Jpegs when they cut it, and the RAW files when they'd benefit from a bit of help.

I'm just wondering if I'm chasing myself in circles trying to make the RAW file look like the Jpeg.

Sounds like you have the answer in paragraphs 1 & 2; the ongoing question in para 3 applies to everything in the life of an ego, not just image processing. ;-) ... my only advice there is to occasionally let yourself be caught, and not just be the chaser. Also, try chasing in spirals or zigzags once in a while! So ends my nonutilitarian advice. Ain't the GR great?

 

[jsrockit]

I'm wading through the RAW files at the moment, obviously I'll have to convert them to B/W in post, but I doubt the results will be the same as the Ricoh's own rendering.

So logically, I'm not going to get the same B/W result that attracted me to the camera in the first place.

Am I crazy in thinking that I should give the Jpegs a go wherever possible?

This is about having confidence in your own PP abilities.