Objective: To find out what file type your camera is set to shoot at and know what the different file types are.

A week or so ago I had a class at my studio.  One of the exercises we did was to open up the menu on our digital SLR cameras and see what the camera was set to shoot at.  On the camera's menu it will be under "Quality" or "Image Quality".  This is one of those time when you have to read your manual.  I know...the horror!

The Canon SLR has these choices.  Nikon will have similar ones but perhaps with slightly different letters.  I know that some Nikons use choices like JPEG Fine, JPEG Normal and JPEG Basic.  This will change from model to model and brand to brand.

RAW- Raw format, large size file
RAW+L- Raw plus a large JPEG copy
RAW+M- Raw plus a medium JPEG copy
RAW+S- Raw plus a small JPEG copy
L- Large JPEG
M- Medium JPEG
S- Small JPEG

After some of these choices you have a graphic that looks like a 1/4 circle or one that looks like steps.   This icon is how the image is compressed.  For the best quality, use the rounded one.  The RAW+ selections record two identical images on your card.  one is the Raw file and one is a copy in JPEG format.

If you are a novice shooter, you do not need to be shooting in RAW.  RAW requires specific software to convert into a more usable form.  Professionals often shoot in RAW.

Here is a basic guideline:

L, or Large JPEGS: Best quality, will make nice size prints, takes up the most room on your card.

M, or Medium JPEGS: Medium quality, makes moderate sized prints and takes up a little less room on the card.

S, or Small JPEGS: Lowest quality, best for web and email and perhaps tiny prints and takes up the least space on the card.

My personal opinion- shoot as big as you can and get more cards.  Cards are getting cheaper every day.  If you know that the images are only destined for the web and you will never print them, then it would be okay to shoot them using the S setting (or the smallest file size setting).  The way I see it is what if you are just shooting casually and you have it set to a lower setting and it happens, you get THAT image?  You know, the awesome moment that you didn't expect?  Maybe it is even your best picture to date?  Then, you sadly find that the file is super small and cannot be printed very big at all.  You may get tons of images on a single card when you set it at "S" (or its Nikon counterpart) but they are not quality files so what are you going to do with them?

My homework for you:  go look at your cameras menu and see what you have the quality set at.  That's all you have to do!  Sorry, no there's more, you also have to find the section in your manual (say it isn't so) that talks about quality and read it thoroughly.  This will give you very specific guidelines about what your camera does at each quality setting.  It will also tell you how big the files will likely be and what size they will print.  Then, finally, go buy more cards!