“Fine” is usually not a separate format from JPEG — it’s a JPEG quality setting, typically meaning lower compression and higher file quality than “Normal.” Some cameras may also offer “Extra Fine” or similar.

RAW and JPEG serve different goals:

• RAW keeps more original sensor data and gives you more flexibility for editing later.
• JPEG applies the camera maker’s processing (color, contrast, sharpening, noise reduction, etc.) and then compresses the result.

So your mentor’s point is really about workflow and taste: if you like the camera’s rendering and want ready-to-use files, Fine JPEG can be a good choice. But the camera preview is not inherently “more correct” than what you could do from RAW; it’s just the camera’s interpretation.

A Fine JPEG can be an excellent balance when you want smaller files, faster writing, larger effective buffer capacity, and minimal post-processing. RAW is better when you want maximum editing latitude. If your camera supports it, RAW+JPEG is often the safest compromise: you get the camera’s processed JPEG and still keep the RAW for later.