Comments About The 'Lowly' JPEG Format

All images from JPEGs. (click to enlarge any image)

I think it is unfortunate that JPEGs still get so much criticism.  Yes, raw files are better and can be manipulated much more than JPEGs.  They inherently possess better image quality.  I admit that freely.  Also, RAW files are either 12 or 14-bit in color (16-bit in medium format cameras) while JPEGs have only 8-bit color.  On the other hand, JPEGs can often can be used straight out of the camera with minimal or no editing.  I believe that if you are exposing your images as carefully as you should be (remember ‘getting it right in the camera’?), JPEGs can serve the majority of many photographer’s needs.  Shooting in RAW always gives you maximum flexibility but do you always need that?  Do you always want to have to edit each of your images?  RAW requires that.  I think JPEGs have earned a place in our photography.

Contrary to what you may have been told, today’s JPEGs are very, very good to excellent in quality.  There are some benefits to offset some of the drawbacks to using JPEGs.  First, you get to see the actual color science your camera manufacturer intended.  RAW files are only close approximations engineered by the editing software companies.

Second, if you are thoughtful and careful in how you set up and use your camera, very little if any editing needs to be done.  They can be excellent for most purposes right out of the camera.  However, if you desire, they can be edited quite a lot without degradation including correcting white balance, raising shadows, reducing highlights and adjusting contrast.  They just can’t be manipulated as much as RAW files can.  ‘Getting it right in the camera’ becomes more important than if you use the RAW file format.  Shooting RAW allows you to be a bit’ sloppy’ in your technique, in my opinion.  As an example, think about the sports photographers who shoot professionally, in JPEG.  One of the reasons they are professionals is they can shoot JPEGs and make outstanding photographs in poor or low light and under high contrast situations.  They produce excellent images.  Yes, making excellent images in JPEG can be done.

This was a very high contrast scene.  Deep
shadow in front and bright summer sun behind.

I have found over the years that I can shoot JPEGs successfully in two ways.  I can either adjust my settings in-camera for the specific composition which is before me which results in little necessary editing or I can set my camera settings to have the lowest contrast, lowest color saturation, lowest sharpness, lowest noise reduction and the flattest Picture Style, Film Simulation or whatever your camera’s manufacturer calls it.  In other words, I set my camera's menu setting to whatever gives me a file very similar to a raw file.  I then adjust the JPEG in my editing software to taste.  Either way, most of the time my JPEG files will be just fine for posting here, sending to friends and even making moderately sized prints.

All that said, I still primarily shoot RAW for all the reasons we know but sometimes I do like to shoot accompanying JPEGs in my Fujifilm camera.  I love the look of several of the ‘actual’ film simulations which can’t quite be replicated in Lightroom.  

I recommend you try shooting JPEGs on occasion.  If nothing else, ‘getting it right in the camera’ will make you a more thoughtful and better photographer.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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