SD card slots - do you use RAW and JPG or only RAW?

ecostigny · 12-30-2019, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by fsge

Only one out of maybe 10. Corrupted one was from Panasonic

I've had thumb drives corrupted, but not memory cards (so far).

hypermodern · 12-30-2019, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by sergysergy

I just use RAW because for good or for bad I always end up retouching all my pictures.

Me too!

WorksAsIntended · 12-31-2019, 01:17 AM

SD cards are very unsecure in terms of data integrity.
Therefore I write RAW to both cards in mirror mode which already saved me from data loss twice.
Cards these days are cheap enough to just get bigger ones, if you need more space.

wanderer2 · 12-31-2019, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by feidlera

My Pentax K-3 ii has 2 SD slots. When I got the camera it seemed logical to save to one SD card as RAW and to the other as JPG. Now I'm not so sure. I typically use the RAW version and make edits so now I'm wondering if I shouldn't save to both cards as RAW and have more photo capacity. Is there a good reason to save to one card as RAW and the other as JPG?

I use the Raw in one slot and JPG in the other method so as to have small files for emailing, etc., while doing all editing with the Raw files.

reh321 · 12-31-2019, 07:01 AM

Both of my cameras have only one slot, so I record both JPEG and ‘raw’ there even though I hardly ever even look at the ‘raw’ file - only when I was way off in exposure.

**BigDave** · 12-31-2019, 09:33 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clickclick

I do RAW+ and put them on the same card. When it comes to processing, I use a lot of shots as the jpegs out of the camera, but if I want to hit the RAW file, I want it right there with the jpeg for organization.

Ditto on this technique for the same reasons. It is easy to pull both in at the same time, and organization of the images is simplified. If its just snap shots that I don;t want to process, the JPGs are there. Serious stuff, the JPGs are there for reference. I even file the original JPG and DNG together for future use.

However, to each his own!

automorphism · 12-31-2019, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by VSTAR

Was on vacation overseas once and wanted to leave my daughter a few of our photos. Went to print and realized I only stored in RAW on the card. Needed to wait until I was near a computer to turn the few into JPEG to print. Otherwise I really only care about RAW.

Most cameras made in the last ten years have a Raw develop feature...I know the K50 has it for example. I actually used it once, on vacation, when I was trying to identify a bird that I found that was underexposed but I only had a Raw file. It works decently well if you just need a few photos printed.

Wasp · 12-31-2019, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by VSTAR

Was on vacation overseas once and wanted to leave my daughter a few of our photos. Went to print and realized I only stored in RAW on the card. Needed to wait until I was near a computer to turn the few into JPEG to print. Otherwise I really only care about RAW.

On most cameras you can "develop" the raw files into JPEG from the playback screen/menu. It can be a bit of a hassle but it works.

pentasonic49 · 12-31-2019, 02:40 PM

I'm the odd one out, my K3ii is set for JPEGS on both cards, and the K5 with only one slot is set for JPEGS also, the camera is set for the minimum resolution, (2 Mp) as it is used mostly for posting pictures on forums which prefer lower file sizes. Even at 2 Mp, the pictures are very good on my 27" monitor.

**clickclick** · 12-31-2019, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

On most cameras you can "develop" the raw files into JPEG from the playback screen/menu. It can be a bit of a hassle but it works.

And for motion correction pixel shift on my K-1 II, it's almost mandatory. (I believe RawTherapee has options, but need to double check on the motion correction side)

**UncleVanya** · 12-31-2019, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by pentasonic49

I'm the odd one out, my K3ii is set for JPEGS on both cards, and the K5 with only one slot is set for JPEGS also, the camera is set for the minimum resolution, (2 Mp) as it is used mostly for posting pictures on forums which prefer lower file sizes. Even at 2 Mp, the pictures are very good on my 27" monitor.

2 Mega pixels are plenty for that. I often set my camera for raw+ with small jpgs for that reason.

**Mikesul** · 12-31-2019, 07:01 PM

I shoot RAW+ with RAW on card 1 and JPG on card 2. I try to use reliable, fast cards such as SANDISK and usually at least 64gb. I download the files after each session but keep the files on the card. Periodically I dump the DCIM to the computer for backup on an external HD.

ZombieArmy · 12-31-2019, 10:00 PM

I usually don't even look at my photos until a few days later, so even if I did have multiple card slots it'd just be for redundancy with pure raw.

michealm · 01-12-2020, 07:00 AM - **1 Like**

On the Cameras with 2 slots Raw on slot one and JPG and Video on slot 2, this gives me an image or video I can upload to a video display or social media without corrupting the raw files, for the single slot cameras I shoot raw only. The only exception is if I am at an event where I will be using multiple cards (and batteries) in which case I shoot raw to card 1 then card 2 - for these events I will never look at the photos until I get to a computer. When I am working as a second shooter for someone else I save raw to both cards at the same time just in case a card fails, it is one thing if I loose my images, but not if someone else is paying me for their event. I find it helps with write speed (buffer problems) if both cards are identical.

It depends on your workflow, what you are shooting and where! If you are going to be away from a computer for days on end and shooting almost a full card a day (I miss those days), you probably want to optimize space, so if you are editing I would recommend raw only. If you are only posting to Social Media or don't require heavy editing JPG might work for you, as someone who exclusively used film for longer than Pentax has had Digital it took a long time for me to add editing to my workflow - if I didn't catch it first time on film it was no good, that was also my workflow when I got my first digital.

If you are not sure - use Raw, you will have the advantage of non-destructive editing and easy changes to colour and light in editing.

The next question is are you saving DNG or PEF format for your Raw files?

12-31-2019, 01:17 AM	#33
WorksAsIntended Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 639	SD cards are very unsecure in terms of data integrity. Therefore I write RAW to both cards in mirror mode which already saved me from data loss twice. Cards these days are cheap enough to just get bigger ones, if you need more space. Last edited by WorksAsIntended; 12-31-2019 at 09:24 AM.

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12-30-2019, 08:06 PM	#31
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by fsge Only one out of maybe 10. Corrupted one was from Panasonic I've had thumb drives corrupted, but not memory cards (so far).

12-30-2019, 11:52 PM	#32
hypermodern Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 131	Originally posted by sergysergy I just use RAW because for good or for bad I always end up retouching all my pictures. Me too!

12-31-2019, 03:51 AM	#34
wanderer2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 301	Originally posted by feidlera My Pentax K-3 ii has 2 SD slots. When I got the camera it seemed logical to save to one SD card as RAW and to the other as JPG. Now I'm not so sure. I typically use the RAW version and make edits so now I'm wondering if I shouldn't save to both cards as RAW and have more photo capacity. Is there a good reason to save to one card as RAW and the other as JPG? I use the Raw in one slot and JPG in the other method so as to have small files for emailing, etc., while doing all editing with the Raw files.

12-31-2019, 07:01 AM	#35
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Both of my cameras have only one slot, so I record both JPEG and ‘raw’ there even though I hardly ever even look at the ‘raw’ file - only when I was way off in exposure.

12-31-2019, 09:33 AM - 1 Like	#36
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	Originally posted by clickclick I do RAW+ and put them on the same card. When it comes to processing, I use a lot of shots as the jpegs out of the camera, but if I want to hit the RAW file, I want it right there with the jpeg for organization. Ditto on this technique for the same reasons. It is easy to pull both in at the same time, and organization of the images is simplified. If its just snap shots that I don;t want to process, the JPGs are there. Serious stuff, the JPGs are there for reference. I even file the original JPG and DNG together for future use. However, to each his own!

12-31-2019, 11:13 AM	#37
automorphism Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 791	Originally posted by VSTAR Was on vacation overseas once and wanted to leave my daughter a few of our photos. Went to print and realized I only stored in RAW on the card. Needed to wait until I was near a computer to turn the few into JPEG to print. Otherwise I really only care about RAW. Most cameras made in the last ten years have a Raw develop feature...I know the K50 has it for example. I actually used it once, on vacation, when I was trying to identify a bird that I found that was underexposed but I only had a Raw file. It works decently well if you just need a few photos printed.

12-31-2019, 11:34 AM	#38
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,655	Originally posted by VSTAR Was on vacation overseas once and wanted to leave my daughter a few of our photos. Went to print and realized I only stored in RAW on the card. Needed to wait until I was near a computer to turn the few into JPEG to print. Otherwise I really only care about RAW. On most cameras you can "develop" the raw files into JPEG from the playback screen/menu. It can be a bit of a hassle but it works.

12-31-2019, 02:40 PM	#39
pentasonic49 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: weston-super-mare Posts: 395	I'm the odd one out, my K3ii is set for JPEGS on both cards, and the K5 with only one slot is set for JPEGS also, the camera is set for the minimum resolution, (2 Mp) as it is used mostly for posting pictures on forums which prefer lower file sizes. Even at 2 Mp, the pictures are very good on my 27" monitor.

12-31-2019, 03:16 PM	#40
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by Wasp On most cameras you can "develop" the raw files into JPEG from the playback screen/menu. It can be a bit of a hassle but it works. And for motion correction pixel shift on my K-1 II, it's almost mandatory. (I believe RawTherapee has options, but need to double check on the motion correction side)

12-31-2019, 06:35 PM	#41
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,384	Originally posted by pentasonic49 I'm the odd one out, my K3ii is set for JPEGS on both cards, and the K5 with only one slot is set for JPEGS also, the camera is set for the minimum resolution, (2 Mp) as it is used mostly for posting pictures on forums which prefer lower file sizes. Even at 2 Mp, the pictures are very good on my 27" monitor. 2 Mega pixels are plenty for that. I often set my camera for raw+ with small jpgs for that reason.

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12-31-2019, 07:01 PM	#42
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	I shoot RAW+ with RAW on card 1 and JPG on card 2. I try to use reliable, fast cards such as SANDISK and usually at least 64gb. I download the files after each session but keep the files on the card. Periodically I dump the DCIM to the computer for backup on an external HD.

12-31-2019, 10:00 PM	#43
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	I usually don't even look at my photos until a few days later, so even if I did have multiple card slots it'd just be for redundancy with pure raw.

01-12-2020, 07:00 AM - 1 Like	#44
michealm New Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Carlingford, NB Photos: Gallery Posts: 22	On the Cameras with 2 slots Raw on slot one and JPG and Video on slot 2, this gives me an image or video I can upload to a video display or social media without corrupting the raw files, for the single slot cameras I shoot raw only. The only exception is if I am at an event where I will be using multiple cards (and batteries) in which case I shoot raw to card 1 then card 2 - for these events I will never look at the photos until I get to a computer. When I am working as a second shooter for someone else I save raw to both cards at the same time just in case a card fails, it is one thing if I loose my images, but not if someone else is paying me for their event. I find it helps with write speed (buffer problems) if both cards are identical. It depends on your workflow, what you are shooting and where! If you are going to be away from a computer for days on end and shooting almost a full card a day (I miss those days), you probably want to optimize space, so if you are editing I would recommend raw only. If you are only posting to Social Media or don't require heavy editing JPG might work for you, as someone who exclusively used film for longer than Pentax has had Digital it took a long time for me to add editing to my workflow - if I didn't catch it first time on film it was no good, that was also my workflow when I got my first digital. If you are not sure - use Raw, you will have the advantage of non-destructive editing and easy changes to colour and light in editing. The next question is are you saving DNG or PEF format for your Raw files?