80Commonly Used Shooting Functions

Changing the Image Type

See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 270).

Shooting Mode

This camera records images as either JPEG images or RAW images.

JPEG image ( / / / / / )

When pictures are taken as JPEG images, the images are processed inside the camera for optimum image quality, and also compressed to allow a larger number of images to be stored on the memory card.

However, the compression process is irreversible, meaning that the original image data cannot be recovered once it has been compressed. See Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images) (p. 78).

RAW image ()

RAW data is the data output by the imaging element and converted to digital data which is recorded as is.

This results in images with almost no deterioration in image quality and a higher quality than JPEG images. To view RAW images on a computer, you need to use the supplied software (ZoomBrowser EX/ ImageBrowser), which also lets you broadly adjust images without deterioration in image quality. Using the software’s image processing functions, you can take the adjusted image data and convert it a JPEG, TIFF or other type of image in line with your intended use.

You cannot use direct print or make print (DPOF) settings with images taken with , however.

When downloading RAW images and simultaneously recorded JPEG images on Windows XP, be sure to use the supplied software.