All that really matter are the final output and how one wishes to achieve it. At the local camera club every week we see many superb images, some from raw files, others from JPEGs, and no-one knows which. They compete well on an equal basis, which is partly due to the image size being limited to around A3 (16x12) printed and 1600x1200 px projected, and partly because visiting competition judges, and others viewing the prints or projected images, look at the photographs not the pixels.
There is probably much advice around the web for those who wish to utilise JPEGs, but here are several points:-
As well as adjusting features such as the Custom Image settings as desired, the D-Range tools in the camera can also be helpful, as can the HDR Capture Mode.
When setting exposure for JPEGs, it is essential to protect important highlight areas - it is impossible to recover them after over-exposure.
JPEGs should be recorded in the camera at the greatest size and quality (minimum compression).
If deemed necessary, JPEGs are amenable to editing in computer software without
noticeable loss of quality (for the images sizes noted above viewed normally) - always working only on a
copy of the original JPEG file.
It is advisable to complete the desired edits in one session, so that the product is saved as another JPEG file only once.
Edited images should be saved at the highest JPEG quality to minimise compression artifacts.
The photos that I take along to the club are almost always produced from camera JPEGs, often tweaked in PaintShop Pro. When they lose out it is mainly because of deficiencies in their artistry and creativity (both are not my forte), as they usually compete quite well for technical image quality. However, another good feature of our Pentax cameras is that we can review on the rear screen the last JPEG just captured, then choose to save its raw data as well, if we should feel the need for it.
But as always, to each his own.
Philip
Last edited by MrB1; 03-31-2018 at 05:39 AM.