RAW vs JPEG in LightRoom (Overexposure Recovery)

[cdifoto]

I set up my tripod and took 2 images in RAW+JPEG. The first is correctly exposed based on the readings provided by a Sekonic L-358 handheld incident meter. The second is overexposure by 1 full stop. I then recovered the overexposed images in LightRoom with the exposure slider, placing it at -1 to indicate a 1 stop reduction in exposure. Here are the results. Each image is labelled. No additional processing/sharpening/etc was performed on these images. They are straight from the camera aside from the exposure recovery.

20565

20566

20567

20568

Still a good argument for RAW, in my opinion. At least where exposure might be iffy.

[adam75south]

dammit, you've convinced me.

so did you use the recovery slider at all, or just the exposure? i'm not 100% sure what that one even does but it sounds like it would be good for this.

edit...700 posts!

[cdifoto]

dammit, you've convinced me.

so did you use the recovery slider at all, or just the exposure? i'm not 100% sure what that one even does but it sounds like it would be good for this.

edit...700 posts!

In this test I only used the exposure slider. I did not touch recovery. Recovery is for highlights only, but isn't a magic bullet. It has to be used conservatively or you get a really washed out/greyish looking image.

On a side note, I also see slightly more detail and color in the correctly exposed RAW than in the correctly exposed JPEG. I always thought I couldn't tell a difference but side by side it's more obvious. Might not mean as much in the real world though, and if you're good at exposing properly (or at least much closer than 1 stop over), it probably wouldn't matter at all.

[timmciglobal]

Well it makes sense honestly, jpeg just doesn't have the data at a certain point which the raw image still has.

It's really that simple.

Tim

[cdifoto]

Well it makes sense honestly, jpeg just doesn't have the data at a certain point which the raw image still has.

It's really that simple.

Tim

What, you don't "test" new things "just to see"? :)

[timmciglobal]

Good point :p

Still, doesn't suprise me. I'll never shoot jpeg again unless I'm forced to for something. If nothing else you can use the "Base standard" export of all your RAW's as you go have dinner and still get the "jpeg" you would of if you want with the flexibility of fixing/editing the ones you choose.

Tim

[cdifoto]

Good point :p

Still, doesn't suprise me. I'll never shoot jpeg again unless I'm forced to for something. If nothing else you can use the "Base standard" export of all your RAW's as you go have dinner and still get the "jpeg" you would of if you want with the flexibility of fixing/editing the ones you choose.

Tim

I wanted to see how LR handled it, not that I expected anything different compared to DPP or RSP. I don't usually fudge my exposures that bad so either/or would generally work for me. I'd do RAW at a wedding for sure. Sports and general snaps I'll have to see.