> Lee Jones wrote:
> >> It could also allow for in-camera adjustment on the dynamic range
> >> and shadow detail.

> > Even if the hardware supported this accurate a view, I don't see
> > how you could control the adjustments rapidly enough to capture a
> > changing scene -- it's fidly work that takes time you don't have
> > when taking the photograph.

Olin said:

> You may not have time for it with some photographs. =A0Sometimes you have=
 all
> the time you want to set up.

Prior to my so far 3 x KM DSLrs I had a Konica Minolta 7Hi "prosumer"
with 5MP sensor, sub VGA LCD EVF(electronic viewfinder) and rear LCD.
I used the EVF almost exclusivelt, giving DSLR type viewing. I found
it extremely good to use. Better would have been better but it was
usable for detail, speed of response and general utility. The ability
to see changes live was extremely useful. The 7Hi died and after
having a 7D DSLR and 5D (same inside) I bought an A2 which is meant to
be big brother to the 7Hi. It was disappointing despite having a true
VGA EVF. The EVF is better but not so much more so as to make upi for
other shortcomings compared to the 7Hi. I have since bought another
7Hi. An immensely usable camera. I do prefer the DSLR optical path for
its visual quality, but the sub-VGA EVF is still an utterly marvellous
device.

> > Much better results are achieved by using the raw mode (Canon: CRx;
> > Nikon: NEF) of higher end cameras where the actual photosite readings
> > are kept as 14 to 16 bit values =A0and the conversion is done later in
> > a higher end computer where you can see the resuls of your adjustments
> > and tweak them to get what you previsualized (i.e. with Photoshop or
> > equivalent).

> Yes, that would definitely be better. =A0I haven't used a high end digital
> camera yet and wasn't aware this was a option. =A0I expect the image file=
s are
> much larger in raw mode? =A0Still, with the price of 10s of Gbytes little=
 with
> respect to a high end camera, this doesn't sound like a problem. =A0As lo=
ng as
> the companies publish the raw mode image file format spec, this would
> definitely be how I'd use such a camera.

For my A700 12 MP APSC (half frame) DSLR the highest quality JPGS are
typically 3MB - 9 MB (median around 5-6 MB) and compressed RAW files
are 12 MB +/- 1 MB. (I use the in camera lossless compression to get
maybe 25% size saving. The RAW file contains a low res (1.5 MP) jpg as
well as the actual RAW data. The variation in file size is probably
due  both to the JPG size variation and the variation in lossless
compressibility of thr RAW data. A raw RAW file should be about
constant size.

The A700 and many modern cameras have parallel on sensor-IC A2D
converters to get at the signal near its source.

Most people provide full RAW spec but I understand that Nikon may have
a part of theirs secret - their are many after market RAW converters
(free and for $) so whatever they 'hide' can't be overly necessary
(and/or secret).

While "rolling your own" offers endless fascination, the black magic
of RAW image processing is so arcane and the experience base from
competent players is so vast that it is almost certainly better to use
somebody else's converter or perhaps a GNU or similar offering. Life
is too short and too full ... :-).

I presently shoot in Compressed Raw + JPG - it save 2 files (3 if you
count the embedded small jpg in the raw file). Thjis allows the use of
the "good enough" jpg for most purposes (assuming you set the camera
moderately correctly) plus the backstop of the RAW file when you want
to do something special or need to work on a disaster.

RAW allows POST setting of colour balance, sharpness, and more.  A
great toy but can eat up life.
Being able to shoot with colour balance 'wrong" can be very useful.
Set up for flash and there is a moment when background tungsten or
candle light may be better. Preset memories help, but teh ability to
just take the photo and adjust it properly later can be "useful". You
can somewhat cotrrect a bad colour cast from a jpg but RAW genuinely
takes you back to the stage before that.



             Russell

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