Originally Posted by jeffkrol 
Easy to say when you don't have a hard drive full of "fake" 16bit TIFF's.
Good thing I still have the RAW... Actually what bothers me is not 16 vs 8 and does it matter but 16bit is just a lie. ..I really do expect to at least know the basics of what my software can and can't do. Honestly though, this is a lot harder then most imagine.
Two thoughts:
(1) I never have a hard drive full of anything. You need to investigate a good redundant backup scenario.
(2) The web is full of rumors and "expert" opinions and claims, some of which are simply a sales pitch. A lot of scanners that claim 16 bit have been shown to be 12, for example; the scans are still lovely. If it really matters to you, why not go to the source (the people who make your software package) and ask customer support?
You can download trials of just about every RAW processor on the market and do your own head-to-head comparison with your own images. The software's only half the equation; your own processing preferences and skill level matter just as much as the number of bits.
Good luck!
