iPhone 8 RAW vs JPEG image quality

[ccglows]

Could someone with an iPhone 8 kindly show some examples of RAW vs JPEG image quality? Particularly showing examples of dynamic range and editing ability.

I'm looking to get an iPhone X which will most likely have the same sensor, so I'm assuming images will look the same. I'm not a fan of the default Camera app's image processing as it has the smudgy watercolor effect from aggressive noise reduction and crushes blacks/shadows too much.

Last year there were impressive examples of RAW vs JPEG on the iPhone 7 but I'd like to see some more photos with the new sensor.

Here's an example from last year's iPhone 7:

 

[ccglows]

I am kind of new to the whole photography thing but I don’t think comparing RAW vs JPEG right out of a camera or device is a fair.. apples to apples, comparison.

JPEG is an image file that has been edited by the camera/processor to look ‘right’. Much of the data that existed in the RAW file that made the JPEG is discarded, saving file space and limits edits that can be made.

RAW images have not been ‘processed’ by the camera/device but contain ALL of the image data and therefore can be edited much more in post-processing.

The point of shooting RAW is when you know you want to edit and need/want all the data (WB, shadows, etc)

The point of shooting JPEG is letting the camera/device do 90% of the editing for you and leaving you some data where you can make basic edits.

I understand, I'm intertested in:

- Seeing the same edit filter applied to both JPEG and RAW (see how each fare in regards to detail preservation)
- Seeing edited RAWs vs standard JPEGs

In regards to the second, given the vast majority of edited RAW files look significantly better than standard JPEGs from the camera app, it's interesting that Apple hasn't improved the native image processing to look more like an edited RAW, since the sensor is clearly capable of producing such nice images?

 

[PBz]

I understand, I'm intertested in:

- Seeing the same edit filter applied to both JPEG and RAW (see how each fare in regards to detail preservation)
- Seeing edited RAWs vs standard JPEGs

In regards to the second, given the vast majority of edited RAW files look significantly better than standard JPEGs from the camera app, it's interesting that Apple hasn't improved the native image processing to look more like an edited RAW, since the sensor is clearly capable of producing such nice images?

Very much agree. Do you have a preferred Camera app for taking RAW images with iPhone?

 

[ccglows]

Very much agree. Do you have a preferred Camera app for taking RAW images with iPhone?

I've never owned one before so I'm not sure (will be my first time).

From what I've read though, Camera+, VSCO and Lightroom Mobile all have RAW editing capabilities

 

[fred98tj]

I use PureShot for the camera app. Any that produces raw output should work well. Just find one that like and use, use, use it to get comfortable with it.
I also use Lightroom for image processing.

Here’s a read on raw processing and what it can do.


https://gregbenzphotography.com/photography-tips/shooting-raw-on-an-iphone

 

[BrickbookPro]

I’ve enjoyed shooting raw and editing in affinity photo for ipad (seriously best $20 I’ve ever spent on editing software. It does everything I used to do on photoshop.

 

[macTW]

I’m new to the editing. Besides playing with settings until it looks nice, how do you know what to do to the raw?

And is Lightroom the app to use?

 

[fred98tj]

I’m new to the editing. Besides playing with settings until it looks nice, how do you know what to do to the raw?

And is Lightroom the app to use?

Probably easiest is to goggle search on mobile Lightroom. There is a lot to it.
It also has a built in camera app that takes really really good HDR photos.
LR is what a lot of pros use for years. It has a learning curve for sure.
You could also try SnapSeed.

 

[ccglows]

I’m new to the editing. Besides playing with settings until it looks nice, how do you know what to do to the raw?

And is Lightroom the app to use?

The general idea of RAW is to process it by boosting shadows/blacks, and dropping highlights/whites without losing quality. This alone vastly improves most photographs. The default dynamic range appearance of photos (as mapped for screens?) looks too contrasty compared to what our eyes naturally see.

Apart from that, you can alter the colors/apply LUTs to give it a specific feel.

In my opinion the two most important post-processing steps is dynamic range + color. Everything else is just a bonus on top of the original shot's lighting, subject, composition, etc.

This is an example of a photo with high dynamic range and by default most camera sensors (especially a smartphone's) would struggle to capture all of the highlights and the shadows (such as the bushes to the left), making it look really contrasty and "cheap" looking. By capturing all the detail at once, the result looks stunning.

This is likely what the native app would capture, as a comparison.

 

[Jacoblee23]

You can’t use portrait mode though with any other camera app to my knowledge so that stops me from using it.

 

[Irock619]

RAW vs JPG has nothing to do with image quality but has everything to do with post processing ability. Shooting RAW gives you more data to play with during post. Image quality and DR depend on the sensor and lens.

Haven’t really tested RAW on my 8+ but here’s a couple from my 7+. You can see the how much editing power shooting RAW gives you.

 

[GadgetGeek407]

This is interesting. So basically raw is to edit after not that an app lets you by default take better pics then the stock camera app is that right

 

[ccglows]

RAW vs JPG has nothing to do with image quality but has everything to do with post processing ability. Shooting RAW gives you more data to play with during post. Image quality and DR depend on the sensor.

Haven’t really tested RAW on my 8+ but here’s a couple from my 7+. You can see the how much editing power shooting RAW gives you.

View attachment 722067 View attachment 722068

Well it depends how you define "quality". Resolution? Dynamic range? Color reproduction? Noiselessness?

In the case of a RAW image, I think the standard noise creates a higher quality, more detailed image over the noise-reduced JPEGs of the camera app (looks quite bad when zoomed in). And you can bump up the shadows and reduce the highlights while retaining better image quality over a standard JPEG. It's also not compressed in any way. So in those ways, RAW does have better image quality.

 

[Irock619]

This is interesting. So basically raw is to edit after not that an app lets you by default take better pics then the stock camera app is that right

Basically RAW provides more data to manipulate in post processing. When you look at the file size of an image, RAW vs JPG the size is substantially smaller in JPG. That's because the processor is compressing the image (easier to email and share) and applying filters like saturation, whites, blacks, highlights, shadows, etc...

Serious photographers don't want their camera's applying any type of editing. That's why they shoot using manual camera settings and in RAW format. RAW gives you a full size, uncompressed image that has more data to be manipulated. Unfortunately we have to rely on 3rd party apps to get RAW images on an iPhone.

 

[v0lume4]

RAW vs JPG has nothing to do with image quality but has everything to do with post processing ability. Shooting RAW gives you more data to play with during post. Image quality and DR depend on the sensor and lens.

Haven’t really tested RAW on my 8+ but here’s a couple from my 7+. You can see the how much editing power shooting RAW gives you.

View attachment 722067 View attachment 722068

That's really impressive. I love how, with the RAW images, you don't get the ridiculously overly-noise-reduced photos that Apple seems to love so much. I'd rather have SOME grain, rather than nearly none at the expense of my photo looking like a watercolor painting. At least with the RAW images, you get to dictate how much noise reduction to add in post.
[doublepost=1506708462][/doublepost]

This is interesting. So basically raw is to edit after not that an app lets you by default take better pics then the stock camera app is that right

I think you're on the right track. A raw image is essentially sensor data.

A JPEG image is an IMAGE file that your phone creates/compresses from the RAW data. In addition, the JPEGs that your phone saves typically has some noise reduction/minor edits automatically applied to it already.

Does that make sense?

 

[Irock619]

Well it depends how you define "quality". Resolution? Dynamic range? Color reproduction? Noiselessness?

Yes pretty much, which RAW vs JPEG has no affect on those elements. IQ depends on the sensor, lens, and of course the photographer regarding composition etc..

In the case of a RAW image, I think the standard noise creates a higher quality, more detailed image over the noise-reduced JPEGs of the camera app (looks quite bad when zoomed in). And you can bump up the shadows and reduce the highlights while retaining better image quality over a standard JPEG. It's also not compressed in any way. So in those ways, RAW does have better image quality.

Not better IQ but more image processing ability. There are 3 steps to photography....taking the shot with good equipment to achieve good image quality, Post processing (this is where you need the full, uncompressed image) then printing/framing.

If youre somebody who just takes photos to share on social media then JPEG is for you and IQ is not really important. It’s great that cell phones are capturing better images every year, but they will never be as good as my Canon 80D or a Canon 5D MK3 etc...

 

[GadgetGeek407]

That's really impressive. I love how, with the RAW images, you don't get the ridiculously overly-noise-reduced photos that Apple seems to love so much. I'd rather have SOME grain, rather than nearly none at the expense of my photo looking like a watercolor painting. At least with the RAW images, you get to dictate how much noise reduction to add in post.
[doublepost=1506708462][/doublepost]
I think you're on the right track. A raw image is essentially sensor data.

A JPEG image is an IMAGE file that your phone creates/compresses from the RAW data. In addition, the JPEGs that your phone saves typically has some noise reduction/minor edits automatically applied to it already.

Does that make sense?

Yes. What's a good app

 

[Irock619]

Yes. What's a good app

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/procam-5/id730712409?mt=8