Track day -- JPG or RAW?

mercphoto

I have a paying track day gig this Saturday at a local race track that I've shot at quite a bit recently. Up-front money to shoot the day and fork over the JPG's. And I still have the potential for additional sales through collages, special effects, prints-on-metal, photo books, etc. Its also a great networking opportunity, both for the photography and for my day-job profession.

Normally I shoot RAW, even for a track day event. My Aperture workflow makes RAW pretty simple and painless. But what I've noticed from the last four track days I've done I almost never adjust the exposure or the white balance after a shot. About all I do is small bump the contrast, the saturation, and add some sharpening. And that is making me consider shooting JPG this weekend with the corresponding small bumps to the in-camera settings. I plan on taking an insane number of photographs this weekend, far more than I can capture on my existing assortment of cards. And while I have an Epson P-2000 photo viewer its only mildly helpful. Slow to dump cards, and eats through its proprietary battery. (it will soon go on sale, email me if you just have to have it, even after my glowing review)

Nervous to abandon the safety of raw, especially for a paying gig, but I think its the right thing to do.

Will be using a Canon 40D, 70-200/2.8L, 24-70/2.8L, 10-22, 580-EX.

Thoughts?

Richard

mercphoto wrote:

Thoughts?

You're probably on the right track, but a paying gig is not the best time to try anything for the first time. If possible, try to shoot something similar for a few hours in JPG first, just to make sure you haven't missed any gotchas.

BCSPhotoguy

I usually shoot JPG for the track days that i have done. Only downside is that ihave found is if its very sunny, it makes for some extra work to make the brighter colour plastics look normal. I shot RAW in the begininng but i found it just added to my work - but no real benefit.

But as mentioned - for the paying gig - stick with what you know! Borrow some cards maybe? I am not sure with the Canons, but with Nikon its fairly quick to change between RAW and JPEG. If you can do it, try half the day or sessions on each. Just make sure you have the needed pictures with the method you know you will get the results!

I may PM you aout the viewer. I was really close to looking for one as my laptop freaks out and shuts off when i am downloading a 16gb card! But...now not so sure!!!

mercphoto

BCSPhotoguy wrote:

I may PM you aout the viewer. I was really close to looking for one as my laptop freaks out and shuts off when i am downloading a 16gb card! But...now not so sure!!!

The Epson will download the 16GB card, but it will take quite awhile, and that alone will nearly wipe out the battery. But feel free to inquire about a purchase! !

Long time ago I shot track stuff JPG only. Switched to RAW when I started shooting night motocross, which required relatively heavy post processing to make a stellar image. I've stayed with RAW even for the day stuff mostly "because". I might buy another 8G card (won't be enough, but will help) and bring the Epson and continue to shoot RAW. What really made me re-think this has been my recent experience with the nearly identical post-processing after the race...

Sam

OK, why not soot both RAW and jpg?

Best of both worlds.

Sam

Richard

Sam wrote:

OK, why not soot both RAW and jpg?

Best of both worlds.

Sam

Yes, but it sounds like Bill has a storage issue for the number of pics he anticipates.

mercphoto

Richard wrote:

Yes, but it sounds like Bill has a storage issue for the number of pics he anticipates.

Exactly.... that's the only reason I was considering shooting JPG. Otherwise RAW only.

torags

mercphoto wrote:

Exactly.... that's the only reason I was considering shooting JPG. Otherwise RAW only.

Shoot raw; more flexibility. You'll be shooting into and out of the sun in the same series as they pass.

Each shooting site has different requirements (settings) & if you're like me I run to the action without changing settings. I have a better chance of saving a great capture

You'll be shooting continuous so you'll heave more than you keep. I delete in the cam if the series didn't turn out the way I wanted

Consider getting the latest greatest cardreader they are worth it. It took an 1 1/2 hr to download a 4g, with the card reader 20 minutes. I got one that takes CFs and SD's. (I have a D90)

my .02

jonh68

I say shoot jpg. If you are nailing exposure, wb etc already, you will do fine. I hardly ever shoot RAW for my assignments for the paper and get along fine.

mercphoto

torags wrote:

Shoot raw; more flexibility. You'll be shooting into and out of the sun in the same series as they pass.

That's what I ended up doing. I did buy an extra 8G card, but I also just got more diligent about when I took a shot. As a result I came home with fewer shots than normal but still got all the shots I needed. Just a lot fewer redundant shots. And at some point the redundancy adds no extra value, just extra work.

torags

mercphoto wrote:

That's what I ended up doing. I did buy an extra 8G card, but I also just got more diligent about when I took a shot. As a result I came home with fewer shots than normal but still got all the shots I needed. Just a lot fewer redundant shots. And at some point the redundancy adds no extra value, just extra work.

Jeeze that's exactly what I figured out.

I thought 8fps was the greatest until I realized how much more I was heaving. Now I wait until almost the last second and then rip.