Tuesday February 3
 
17:28
 
G1 Review: RAW vs JPEG

The first thing that’s immediately apparent when you compare RAW and JPEG on the G1 is just how much detail is lost in the conversion to JPEG. I always shoot RAW with my D60 and intended to do so with the G1 anyway, but even if I didn’t, this would be enough to switch me over to RAW.

Take this ISO 800 example:

ISO 800, shot RAW+JPEG.
Top: Original
Middle: In camera JPEG, default settings
Bottom: Lightroom 2.2, default RAW settings (NR 0/25; Sh 25/1/25/0)

There’s no doubt that the in camera JPEG is cleaner, but where has the horizontal thread detail gone? The RAW image may be noisier, but it still has all the detail remaining, which I prefer.

It’s not that the JPEG’s are bad – the smoothness can be quite pleasing. But if I want smoothness I can run the RAW through NeatImage or NoiseNinja. How can I get back detail lost?

In camera NR can be turned down and sharpening can be increased, but it still doesn’t recover the detail lost.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Review
1. Introduction
2. EVF, LCD, and Focus
3. RAW Magnification
4. RAW vs JPEG
5. High ISO
6. Kit lens – Barrel Distortion
7. Kit lens – Purple Fringing
8. Miscellaneous Observations
9. Conclusion

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 – Main Page