What image quality should I shoot with?
As you might expect, the tradeoff for these detailed files is that RAW files are quite a bit larger than JPEG files. Still, most professional photographers shoot in RAW because it gives them more information to work with in the post-processing phase.
The highest quality format for photos can be one that is uncompressed or lossless. Going by that logic, you can say lossless RAW or TIFF formats are the best.
An image size of 1280 x 720 pixels is large enough to be HD standard and is commonly used in photography and film. This size uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is also common in filmmaking.
Choose JPEG for quick and simple shots. RAW is the way to go for detailed, stylised shoots In order to edit your photos later, RAW is the best format to shoot in. If you want to spend a lot of time adjusting the white balance, colours, and tones of your images for your portfolio, you should shoot in the RAW format.
PNG is a high-quality graphics format – generally higher in quality than JPEGs, which are compressed to save space. The PNG format uses lossless compression and is generally considered a replacement to the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF format).
There isn't a great deal of difference between the two, but the JPEG is sharper than the RAW file. This is understandable as the in-camera processing has sharpened the JPEG image whilst the RAW file doesn't have any sharpening.
While JPEG files APPEAR sharper than RAW files, this is not necessarily the case. The sharpness seen in a JPEG file is the result of your camera's processing system. The processing systems available for a computer are far more advanced than the system your camera is utilizing.
RAW provides far more image information, allowing you to capture more detail and greater dynamic range from your camera sensor. 2. More flexibility for editing: When you transfer images from your camera's SD card to a hard drive for editing, you will appreciate the image quality you get from RAW data.
The amount of JPEG compression is typically measured as a percentage of the quality level. An image at 100% quality has (almost) no loss, and 1% quality is a very low quality image. In general, quality levels of 90% or higher are considered "high quality", 80%-90% is "medium quality", and 70%-80% is low quality.
It is 717 gigapixels, or 717,000,000,000 pixels, in size. The distance between two pixels is 5 micrometres (0.005 millimetre), which means that one pixel is smaller than a human red blood cell.
Should you always shoot in RAW?
RAW files are uncompressed, so they take up more space on your hard drive but they retain all of the image data. This makes them ideal for editing because you have more information to work with. That's pros love shooting in RAW. However, RAW files are not as easy to edit as JPEGs.
Professional photographers and serious enthusiasts capture still images as raw files whenever possible. The reason is simple: raw files provide more image data and give photographers much greater control over white balance, saturation, sharpening and contrast in their images.

Raw has more options for correcting exposure issues
With a JPEG, white balance is applied by the camera, and there are fewer options to modify it in post-processing. With a raw file, you have complete control over white balance when editing the image. Lost detail in overexposed highlights cannot be recovered in a JPEG.
Because RAW files are unprocessed, they come out looking flat and dark, as you can see above. RAW images need to be viewed and processed using your camera's software, or in more commonly used, robust software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, etc prior to being ready for display or print.
The JPG format: makes big files much smaller
Some quality is compromised when an image is converted to a JPG. This is because the compression is 'lossy', which means that certain unnecessary information is permanently deleted. A JPG does, however, allow you to create a smaller file size than you could with a PNG.
RAW captures more information and tries to maximise the Dynamic Range in the pictures. This may lead to them looking a bit dull, less saturated/vibrant and have low contrast between high and lows.
Raw Files Take Up More Space
Being that these files carry more raw information and data, they tend to take up a lot more space than a JPEG file. Remember it is giving you everything as is, not a compressed file.
- The file sizes are larger than JPEGs therefore they take up more storage space on your memory card and computer.
- Raw files come out of the camera appearing flat. If you don't process them they are no good. You cannot upload raw files directly to social media or online.
To shoot in RAW on your Android phone, it needs to support an Android operating system called the Camera2 API. This must be implemented by the device's manufacturer and cannot be added via an app. So if your phone doesn't support it, then RAW shooting is not available.
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) files are one of the most common ways to store digital photos. Many modern cameras use them to shoot and store images. JPEGs go through a compression process to significantly reduce the image file size — making them easier to store and load on webpages.
Is JPEG better than RAW for wildlife photography?
RAW files are much easier to work with in post-processing compared to JPEG files. Since RAW files contain all the image data, you have more control over adjustments such as exposure, white balance, and sharpness without losing image quality.
For regular photos, then 3:2 or 4:3 would suffice. When choosing a format, think about the type of camera you have. To maintain quality, the ratio of your image size should never exceed your camera sensor's. For instance, if you're using a micro four-thirds camera, stick to 4:3 or 1:1.
References
- https://medium.com/hd-pro/the-relationship-of-image-quality-and-image-resolution-581c35fc0b39
- https://www.picturecorrect.com/how-diffraction-affects-sharpness-in-photography/
- https://www.upscale.media/product/jpeg-images-into-high-quality-photos
- https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/sharpness.htm
- https://www.markdelong.com/blog/what-makes-a-powerful-photo
- https://www.upscale.media/product/png-image-enlarger-and-enhancer
- https://www.quora.com/Why-do-RAW-photos-look-blurry
- https://www.canva.com/features/sharpen-image/
- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/features/lens-sharpest-aperture-sweet-spot
- https://picwish.com/photo-enhancer
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/a-sharp-image-of-a-distant-object-is-obtained-on-a-screen-by-using-a/
- https://www.culturedkiwi.com/apps-to-fix-blurry-images/
- https://veteriankey.com/radiographic-quality/
- https://www.fotor.com/blog/how-to-sharpen-an-image-in-photoshop/
- https://lenscraft.co.uk/photo-editing-tutorials/how-does-image-sharpening-work/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-advantages-disadvantages-using-different-5e
- https://meanderingwild.com/raw-or-jpeg-photography/
- https://wildromanticphotography.com/melbourne/tips-advice/should-i-shoot-in-raw-or-jpeg-or-both/
- https://www.canva.com/learn/beginners-guide-aspect-ratio/
- https://www.adobe.com/au/creativecloud/file-types/image/comparison/jpeg-vs-png.html
- https://www.techsmith.com/blog/jpg-vs-png/
- https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/how_tos/9398-testing-knife-sharpness
- https://fotoforensics.com/tutorial-estq.php
- https://www.fotor.com/features/sharpen-image/
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/the-ability-of-an-eye-lens-to-change-its-to-form-sharp-images-is-called-1/
- https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/How-Do-I-Know-If-My-Knife-or-Tool-is-Sharp-W43.aspx
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-deal-noise-sharpness-issues-long
- https://www.canva.com/learn/image-enhancement/
- http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kgoya/microscopy_tutorial/glossary.htm
- https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/standard-photo-sizes.html
- https://happymoose.nz/blog/howto-check-photo-resolution-windows-mac-osx
- https://prpdg.org/how-to-project-a-professional-image-at-a-job-interview/
- https://archive.nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/courses/117104069/chapter_8/8_32.html
- https://www.hellotech.com/blog/the-best-tv-picture-settings-for-every-major-brand
- https://byjus.com/biology/study-of-the-parts-of-a-compound-microscope/
- https://www.slrlounge.com/raw-vs-jpeg-jpg-the-ultimate-visual-guide/
- https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/high-resolution.html
- https://fixthephoto.com/highest-quality-image-format.html
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/if-you-use-the-coarse-adjustment-knob-to-focus-on-an-object-with-the-high-power-objective-what-problems-will-you-encounter-explain.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564362/
- https://fstoppers.com/education/11-ways-improve-sharpness-your-images-part-3-535645
- https://digital-photography-school.com/4-ways-make-photos-stand-clarity-slider/
- https://www.adorama.com/alc/how-to-fix-blurry-pictures/
- https://illustratorhow.com/sharpen-image/
- https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/how-to/raw-vs-jpeg.html
- https://www.tumblestonphotography.com/2018/12/11/what-makes-a-photograph-good/
- http://knifegrinders.com.au/Manuals/Sharpness_Chart.pdf
- http://www.sprawls.org/ppmi2/IMGCHAR/
- https://blackeyelens.com/why-you-should-shoot-in-raw-with-mobile/
- https://lenscraft.co.uk/photography-blog/raw-vs-jpeg/
- https://www.learningwithexperts.com/photography/blog/how-do-they-measure-camera-lens-quality
- https://amateurphotographer.com/technique/improve-your-photography/raw-vs-jpeg-pros-and-cons-of-raw-and-jpeg/
- https://www.lightroompresets.com/blogs/pretty-presets-blog/16183624-raw-vs-jpeg
- https://sleeklens.com/blog/photography-tips-and-tricks/pros-cons-of-shooting-in-raw/
- https://skylum.com/blog/what-is-camera-aperture-in-photography-and-what-does-it-do
- https://www.slideshare.net/PARTHPMT/radiologyimagecharacteristics
- https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/stories/operation-night-watch/story/ultra-high-resolution-photo
- https://www.learningwithexperts.com/photography/blog/image-sharpness-the-factors-that-affect-it
- https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282942&p=1885350
- https://careerstonegroup.com/blog/70/Five-Tips-for-Creating-a-Positive-Professional-Image
- https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/resolution-is-not-sharpness/
- https://www.photoreview.com.au/tips/shooting/why-shoot-raw/
- https://www.fotor.com/features/unblur-image/
- https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2023/01/10/the-beginners-guide-mastering-photo-sharpness
- https://www.imatest.com/support/docs/23-1/sharpness/
- https://silentpeakphoto.com/photography/photography-tips/how-focal-length-affects-your-photos/
- https://www.canto.com/blog/convert-png-to-jpg/
- https://expertphotography.com/shooting-raw-format/
- https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/photoshopbasics/sharpening-and-noise-reduction/1/
- https://www.howtogeek.com/393080/what-does-it-mean-for-a-photo-to-be-sharp/
- https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/what-factors-determine-the-image-quality-of-a-photo.html
- https://repairit.wondershare.com/photo-repair/fix-low-quality-picture.html
- https://www.safalta.com/doubts/graphic-designing/634e2a71f77289640529ef06
- https://www.sodapdf.com/blog/when-should-i-use-png-or-jpg/
- https://www.upscale.media/
- https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/raw-vs-jpeg.html
- https://capturetheatlas.com/how-to-take-sharp-photos/
- https://www.imatest.com/solutions/display/
- https://giggster.com/guide/photography/get-sharper-images/
- https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/digitalimaging/processing/sharpness/index.html
- https://www.tonybrownphotography.com/post/3-main-elements-of-a-good-photograph
- https://helpx.adobe.com/in/lightroom-cc/how-to/sharpen-photos.html
- https://medium.com/@eclipseoptics/sharpness-and-resolution-4d06476206de
- https://www.slrlounge.com/techniques-10-characteristic-of-great-photos/
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp
- https://ntiindia.kar.nic.in/cddistrictlevel/ielearn/category/Scientific%20Articles/NLFARA95.pdf
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/sharpening.html
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/professionalism-image
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acutance
- https://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/why-your-images-arent-sharp-and-how-to-fix-them
- https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce571/image-sharpness
- https://photographypro.com/sharp-photo/
- https://www.polarpro.com/blogs/polarpro/the-three-elements-of-the-exposure-triangle/
- https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/increase-resolution.html
- https://fstoppers.com/education/11-ways-improve-sharpness-your-images-part-2-534249
- https://www.davemorrowphotography.com/shutter-speed-chart
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-sg/000141910/adjust-the-screen-resolution-color-depth-refresh-rate-and-size-of-fonts-and-icons-on-your-windows-desktop
- https://www.quora.com/Does-sharpness-affect-image-quality
- https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282942&p=1888163
- https://dsp.stackexchange.com/questions/54687/python-how-to-compute-the-sharpness-features-of-image
- https://www.photoreview.com.au/tips/shooting/sharpness-acutance-and-resolution/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-fix-blurry-pictures/
- https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/highest-quality-image-format-photographers/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-test-resolution-sharpness-your-ip-camera
- https://support.shutterfly.com/s/article/Photo-Resolution-Tips-1
- https://www.adorama.com/alc/how-to-take-achieve-sharper-images/
- https://www.websitebuilderinsider.com/how-can-you-sharpen-an-image-without-changing-the-colors-fiverr/
- https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/resolution
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/improve-your-tvs-picture-by-changing-this-1-setting/
- https://thephotoacademy.com/en/magazine/how-do-different-lenses-affect-the-photo-quality
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-guide-to-understanding-focal-length
- https://lco.global/spacebook/telescopes/refracting-telescopes/
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shoot-raw-photos
- https://raw.pics.io/sharp-png-image
- https://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/17-tips-for-taking-tack-sharp-photos
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/name-two-factors-on-which-the-focal-length-of-a-lens-depends/