Canon® EOS 5D Digital Field Guide

Chapter 11. Canon Programs, Software, and Firmware

In This Chapter

• Characteristics of RAW images

• Choosing a RAW conversion program

• Sample RAW image conversion

• Creating an efficient workflow

• Updating the 5D firmware

By now, few digital photographers are new to RAW image capture, but for those who are, the advantages of RAW capture can't be overstated. Many digital photography professionals see RAW capture as the gold standard for creating images that not only provide all that the 5D image sensor offers, but also act as the gateway to greater creative expression and control over the final image.

If you're new to RAW capture, a brief overview is helpful. RAW capture allows you to save the data that comes off the image sensor with virtually no internal camera processing. Because the camera settings have been "noted" but not applied in the camera, you have the opportunity to make changes to key settings such as image brightness, white balance, contrast, and saturation after the capture is made. The only camera settings that the camera applies to a RAW image are ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. During RAW image conversion, you can make significant adjustments to exposure, color, and contrast. In addition to the RAW image data, the RAW file also includes information, called metadata, about how the image was shot, the camera and lens used, and other description fields.

RAW capture mode offers advantages that are akin to traditional film photography. For example, in some cases, you can push digital ...