What is sRaw?
After searching the net to find out what the differences between standard RAW and sRAW – I thought I would post it here incase other people end up searching for it too.
sRaw is quite simply is a small version of a standard RAW file, roughly 1/4 the size. This sRaw file format is ideal for when you know you won’t need to print any thing bigger than approx 6″x4″.
RAW vs JPG – A brief guide & 101 – RAW vs JPG, the constant debate! Which is best for what you need?
SRAW could be a great file format for some – if space is at a premium or if you definately know you won’t be needing to print a bigger size in the future. The smaller sRAW file should write quicker to your card as well, so this is a big advantage. This could be quite a useful format to be honest, as there is a number of times when I’ve wanted to shoot in RAW, but just taking small snapshots – that definately don’t need to be bigger – IE for quick web shots, where I still want to be able to edit the white balance and the exposure if needed. sRaw is available on the higher canon range, it is definately on my Canon 40D!
Edit:Sept ’08 – Found a little more info from ‘starchild’ on the ‘soocool.com’ forums.. so added it here too
“ It needs to be added that 1/4 size sRAW does pixel binning of 4 neighboring pixels in Bayern pattern:
G B, R G, into a single pixel with (R, G, B) values. The effect is pretty similar to what Foveon or film-capture does; since the need for demosaicing disappears (i.e. you don’t need to interpolate for the missing color values), the resultant image becomes quite sharp. I’ve been finding the 2.5mp sRaw option on 10mp 40D to be extremely sharp and noise-free.“
Thanks for that extra bit. (Although there is another thought on this down in the comments – so not 100% on the reliability of the quoted text above)
These great books I have found have way more about the Raw format and worth looking into:
Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Real World)
Adobe Camera Raw for Digital Photographers Only (For Only)
Understanding RAW Photography
Cheers, I just got myself a Cannon 40D and was wondering about that too.
Just got a 40D, cheers, save me some time searching the net
still nothing to open them though… unless i’m missing something?
Clint, what do you use to view normal RAW files?
Lightroom 1.3.1 supports sRaw
Thanks! Saved me some time. I got my 40D for Xmas and noticed the sRAW option immediately.
Since it is limited to 4×6 prints, is it appreciably better than JPEG, considering the hassle-factor of converting to JPEG for photo sharing and processing with 3rd party vendors like Shutterfly.
Happy New Year.
Thx dude for answer, I was just wondering about that myself.
That’s nonsense. First of all by taking binning 4 pixels into 1 RGB pixel, all you’re doing is binning two green pixels, only reducing the amount of data by 25%.
Secondly this wont work very well – due to the spacial differences between the different coloured pixels you will get colour artifacts at edges, if the edge falls in the middle of a rgbg pixel block.
MG, I’ have noted your comment within the quoted text above, hopefully someone else will verify, thanks for getting in contact
Just a word of warning, I just got back from a trip where I took over 3000 photos and took some in sRAW for all the reasons mentioned in the article. However, the sRAW format isn’t supported by Apple, so suprise to me when I tried to open them in Aperture. Canon’s supplied software (I have the 40D and love it) will open the files fine, but not Aperture or presumably iPhoto. Search Apple’s support site for this article: TA25114 . It’s too bad, but now you know.
Thanks for the addition Alan
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