wolfe with an e's blog
Chapter 4: JPG, DNG or JPG+DNG?
The Leica Q2 Monochrom journal.
Image file format is a constant source of argument among photographers. If you shoot in DNG (Digital Negative) format, you can edit the raw sensor data for finer control in editing. So why wouldn’t you shoot RAW? Because the DNG files are huge and the final image is likely be converted to a JPG anyway.
On the other hand, if you shoot JPG, the camera can give you a near flawless final image in a small file that doesn’t eat up camera batteries. So why wouldn’t you shoot JPG? Because JPG discards much sensor data, limiting your editing to minor tweaks.
Now if you shoot both JPG+DNG, you have the best of both worlds. So why wouldn’t you shoot JPG+DNG? Because more data ultimately costs you more in memory, time and battery life to burn those dual files. And if you’re using Leica’s FOTOS app, accessing at the DNG part of the dual file for editing is not as easy as you’d think.
Decisions. Decisions. After comparing JPGs and DNGs I’m still on the fence. When the JPG’s are well-shot, they look great. The DNGs though may be worth the extra effort, memory, and battery power associated with shooting RAW. I find that my tastes and editing skills change over time, so it can be useful to go back and completely rework a DNG file.
Read the next chapter: The problem with JPG+DNG files on your iPad
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Photography Leica Q2 Monochrom