Which picture control should I use when shooting RAW if the camera histogram is based on the JPEG preview?
Asked 2/7/2020
2 views
2 answers
0
When shooting RAW, I understand that picture controls/profiles do not change the RAW sensor data, but they do affect the embedded JPEG used for the camera LCD preview and histogram. That means a flatter picture control can make the in-camera histogram look narrower, while switching to a more contrasty profile later in post can make highlights or shadows appear clipped.
Given that the shooting histogram is based on the preview JPEG rather than the RAW data, what picture control is best to use for exposure when shooting RAW? Is it better to use Flat, Neutral, or Standard, and are there any settings that make the in-camera histogram a better guide for RAW exposure?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
4
Many advices say RAW files are not affected by picture control.
However, when shooting, LCD shows preview according to picture control selected.
The "many advices" are precisely correct, so I think you maybe are not getting the meaning. The raw data in the raw file is Not affected by the camera settings (other than exposure). However, raw files also include an embedded JPG file which is affected by the camera settings. This JPG data is used to show the rear LCD preview and the histogram (which raw cannot show), but the raw data is not affected by it. The raw file is only affected by whatever settings you apply later in the raw editor. This makes them be rather different pictures, controlled in very different ways.
One complication about understanding this is if you might be use a simplest photo editor (like Irfanview or Faststone), these will OPEN raw files, but they are NOT raw editors, and they ignore the raw data and simply use the JPG data, which just means you wasted the effort and bytes of selecting to shoot in raw. That offers NONE of the many advantages of raw, so if you want to shoot JPG, then just shoot JPG.
Originally by user38978. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38978
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Picture Control does not change the RAW data; it changes the embedded JPEG preview, which is what the LCD, histogram, and highlight warnings are based on.
So your concern is valid: a contrasty profile like Standard can make the histogram look more clipped than the RAW really is, while a flatter profile can make it look safer. For RAW shooting, many photographers prefer a flatter/low-contrast preview because it gives a histogram that is a bit closer to the RAW’s usable latitude.
A practical approach is to use a picture control with contrast reduced as much as possible. That makes the preview histogram less misleading for exposure decisions. If you later apply a different profile in post, the histogram may shift because that profile adds contrast.
Also note: some software ignores the camera’s exact picture-control tweaks, while the manufacturer’s RAW software is more likely to read them correctly.
Bottom line: use Picture Control only as a preview/exposure aid. For RAW, expose based on the preview histogram knowing it is only an approximation, and do your real tone/contrast decisions later in the RAW editor.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI6y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How reliable is the in-camera RGB histogram for RAW when Picture Control affects the JPEG preview?
How can I make my Canon's LCD preview and histogram closer to the RAW exposure?
Why do cameras show JPEG-based histograms instead of a true RAW histogram?
What data does the Canon 5D Mark III use for the histogram in Live View?
Which camera settings still matter when shooting RAW on a Nikon D7000?