ugly out of the camera

erson83

I've been shooting mostly raw now, and as much as I try to have the settings correct during the shoot, most of my shots come out of the camera looking--well, less then desirable. After a few minutes in post they seem to come around, but what gives? Anybody else have issues with raw files? I use a canon 40 d and the 70-200 L 2.8, 12-24 tokina, and the much heralded (sp?) tammy 28-75 (i think thats the focal). So...whats up?

Tee Why

RAW images have no processing and I'd say almost always require processing.
Having said that why not post an unprocessed RAW image just converted to JPEG and a processed JPEG so we can see, along with the exposure and settings/EXIF.

That way we can better access what may be happening.

davidweaver

Can you post some unprocessed and processed examples? That would help tons!

erson83 wrote:

I've been shooting mostly raw now, and as much as I try to have the settings correct during the shoot, most of my shots come out of the camera looking--well, less then desirable. After a few minutes in post they seem to come around, but what gives? Anybody else have issues with raw files? I use a canon 40 d and the 70-200 L 2.8, 12-24 tokina, and the much heralded (sp?) tammy 28-75 (i think thats the focal). So...whats up?

pyry

I'm guessing the camera doesn't bother applying much of the develop settings to raw files (why would it anyway...).

You could shoot RAW+jpeg and/or make a setting preset into your raw processing software that gets you into the ball park.

erson83

maybe its my settings..I've looked at some raw images and I've seen they are decent with one gallery, and suck on another. What is an average setting for your camera's at the following conditions? dusk, around 6:30. Sun goin down, bright sky, but sun not over head? I use an f stop around 4-7.1 and an ISO of 200-400. I use a flash on some, but maybe I shouldn't? so lets have it--what settings do you all like to use in this type situation?

I know it's a vague question, but just gimmie ballpark

David_S85

What software are you using to look at or edit the .CR2 pics out of the camera?

erson83

David_S85 wrote:

What software are you using to look at or edit the .CR2 pics out of the camera?

Im not comfortable with the beast that is photoshop unfortunatly (takin a class at the local Community College in the fall) so now I use the canon software provided which is actually quite nice (IMHO) It allows me to adjust the levels and most things I assume you can do with photoshop by way of image control. It's the after processing stuff Idon't understand in PS that I can't get. (the layering, selective color and so on)

Sorry to sound like a complete amature, but I want to deliver for my clients. I have a few post in the "people" forum that shows the final product that, i feel, is respectable. your thoughts are always appreciated

Tee Why

Picture is worth a thousand posts. I think if we can see the images that you are talking about we can offer more specific advises.

David_S85

If you use Canon DPP software (which I recommend, but just barely), a .CR2 file will open with all the settings you set in-camera as Photo Styles. If you had chosen Neutral or Faithful, your RAW file will reflect a fairly blah appearance, which sounds like what you are experiencing. In other words, no "pop" to a photo.

If you want more contrast or saturation, you might want to try experimenting with some user settable Picture Styles in your 40D. I'd suggest any of the User Defined 1 through 3 selections to begin with, that way you won't overwrite the main six the camera offers.

Using DPP to view your RAW .CR2 file, these user settings will make it look as if the RAW file has been edited, but it isn't. DPP applies those tweaks to the basic RAW as a default opening method assuming that's the way you want to save a subsequent .JPG or .TIF file. You can in fact do anything you want to with the .CR2 file — keep those initial in-camera Picture Style settings or move those sliders in the software to any other personal taste.

The main intent with Picture Styles is to save an in-camera-made .JPG file with your interpretation of how a picture should look out-of-camera. So if you want higher contrast and very little saturation, or a black and white filtered look, you set up a Picture Style in your camera ahead of taking pictures. Your RAW .CR2 file (if you have chosen to shoot both RAW and JPEG images at the same time) is actually unaffected. But the first appearance of it in DPP will look as if it has the Style applied to it. Still, you can do anything you want to the RAW later. Just not the out-of-camera .JPG image.

Anyway... if you save another .JPG image from DPP of your RAW just as you set up Picture Styles in the 40D, and without changing any of the sliders in DPP, you will pretty much save it with those same Picture Styles applied. (do remember to save the file name as something a little different).

Short of learning more advanced editing in post production, this might be a good start in pre-tweaking your shots.

erson83

David_S85 wrote:

If you use Canon DPP software (which I recommend, but just barely), a .CR2 file will open with all the settings you set in-camera as Photo Styles. If you had chosen Neutral or Faithful, your RAW file will reflect a fairly blah appearance, which sounds like what you are experiencing. In other words, no "pop" to a photo.

If you want more contrast or saturation, you might want to try experimenting with some user settable Picture Styles in your 40D. I'd suggest any of the User Defined 1 through 3 selections to begin with, that way you won't overwrite the main six the camera offers.

Using DPP to view your RAW .CR2 file, these user settings will make it look as if the RAW file has been edited, but it isn't. DPP applies those tweaks to the basic RAW as a default opening method assuming that's the way you want to save a subsequent .JPG or .TIF file. You can in fact do anything you want to with the .CR2 file — keep those initial in-camera Picture Style settings or move those sliders in the software to any other personal taste.

The main intent with Picture Styles is to save an in-camera-made .JPG file with your interpretation of how a picture should look out-of-camera. So if you want higher contrast and very little saturation, or a black and white filtered look, you set up a Picture Style in your camera ahead of taking pictures. Your RAW .CR2 file (if you have chosen to shoot both RAW and JPEG images at the same time) is actually unaffected. But the first appearance of it in DPP will look as if it has the Style applied to it. Still, you can do anything you want to the RAW later. Just not the out-of-camera .JPG image.

Anyway... if you save another .JPG image from DPP of your RAW just as you set up Picture Styles in the 40D, and without changing any of the sliders in DPP, you will pretty much save it with those same Picture Styles applied. (do remember to save the file name as something a little different).

Short of learning more advanced editing in post production, this might be a good start in pre-tweaking your shots.

David:perfect! Thanks

pyry

erson83 wrote:

Im not comfortable with the beast that is photoshop unfortunatly (takin a class at the local Community College in the fall) so now I use the canon software provided which is actually quite nice (IMHO) It allows me to adjust the levels and most things I assume you can do with photoshop by way of image control. It's the after processing stuff Idon't understand in PS that I can't get. (the layering, selective color and so on)

Sorry to sound like a complete amature, but I want to deliver for my clients. I have a few post in the "people" forum that shows the final product that, i feel, is respectable. your thoughts are always appreciated

Give Lightroom a try, it's basically a great library software with a good raw converter - much less scary than Photoshop, but gets the job done.