Firstly let’s be clear here, we are talking Raw and Jpeg straight out of camera or if you prefer in camera files not processed in software after taken from camera

JPG

JPG is a processed and compressed file format that is designed for sharing straight out of camera. The camera uses the data collected when you take an image, compresses and processes that data using the camera manufacturers format (formula) so that you can then transfer that image straight from your camera and share it with friends and family on social media, emails or straight to a phone etc.

If you want you can further process a jpeg in processing software to try and improve the overall look however the camera’s jpeg format does not provide all data collected from the original image, that does not mean that you can’t improve a jpeg that is straight out of camera, only that there is a limit on what you can do due to the reduced amount of data that jpeg provides.

Raw

A Raw file is more like a complete snapshot of all the data that your cameras sensor collected at the time you took the image. All data is saved to your memory card in a raw file and there is no in camera processing done, this provides you with much more information to then process in editing software giving you greater flexibility to make the image look the way you want.

There are many free and paid for editing software choices, I personally use Lightroom, Photoshop and Topaz programs for all my editing and sometimes Gimp which is a free offering.

So Which One To Use ?

JPEG is the choice if you are a just shooting images of family, your travels or just for fun, you can share the jpeg files straight to social media etc. which makes them ideal for this style of photography. Plus you don’t have the extra time and expense of additional software to process the images unless that is what you want to do.

That is not to say that professional photographers don’t shoot in jpeg format as some do and they get great results for their style of photography.

RAW is the choice of most professional photographers for the main reasons I spoke about earlier – Greater information, Data and Flexibility in post processing so you can create images that look the way you desire and also allows for better quality and larger prints.

Which Format Do I Use And Recommend ?

For those that want to know, I mainly shoot in Raw however in some situations where warranted I will use Jpegs and I mostly get great results, however I always refrain from recommending one over the other and simply say, try both and which ever one gives the results YOU want is the one that is right for YOU.