What Is RAW vs JPEG?

Is RAW always sharper?

Not automatically. RAW gives you control; a good JPEG can look sharper out of camera until you process the RAW.

Does RAW fix missed focus?

No. Focus, framing, and fully clipped channels stay broken.

Should phones always shoot ProRAW?

Only if you edit. Computational JPEGs/HEIF are excellent for everyday sharing and use less storage.

How does this tie to dynamic range?

Dynamic range headroom is mostly usable in RAW/Log; finished JPEGs have already spent much of it.

Related terms

• Dynamic range
• White balance
• Megapixels
• Log gamma
• ISO
• Cameras Knowledge Base

Editorial note: RAW bit depth, compression, and HEIF support change by model and OS. Confirm your editing app before you commit a whole trip to RAW-only. Part of the Gadget Clash Knowledge Base (Cameras).