1 week Ago By Alex Cooke
Raw versus C-Raw file formats can significantly impact your photography workflow, especially if storage or buffer performance matter to you. Canon users, in particular, face choices between maximum image quality and practical file management. Coming to you from David Bergman with , this informative video explains exactly what differentiates Canon's raw and C-Raw formats, particularly if you're using cameras like the or .
Canon's C-Raw, or Compact Raw, offers nearly half the file size of regular raw files. This size reduction isn't just about squeezing more images onto your memory cards; it's also about significantly extending the continuous shooting capabilities of your camera by preventing buffer limitations. Bergman demonstrates this clearly by noting that on a , using C-Raw can triple your continuous shooting capability before hitting buffer limits compared to traditional Raw files.
Whether you're shooting concerts, wildlife, or sports, this matters if you need to capture long bursts without interruption. Bergman also evaluates potential compromises in image quality when choosing C-Raw. Canon achieves this smaller file size using lossy compression, meaning it removes subtle tonal data that your camera decides aren't critical.
However, the real-world impact of this compression seems minimal, especially at typical ISO ranges. Even under challenging conditions—like high ISO or significantly underexposed shots later recovered in editing—differences between raw and C-Raw appear minimal. Unless you're frequently performing detailed compositing, heavy retouching, or astrophotography, Bergman suggests you might not notice any meaningful loss.
Nonetheless, compatibility issues might arise with some third-party software, especially with specialty modes like Canon's Raw burst mode. An additional point Bergman raises is about legacy raw settings, like M-Raw and S-Raw in older Canon DSLRs. Unlike C-Raw, these older modes reduced the resolution of your images, not just their file sizes.
With C-Raw, you're maintaining full sensor resolution but benefiting from compressed storage. Storage considerations shouldn't be underestimated. Bergman acknowledges how significant space savings could be, mentioning his own extensive archives and hinting humorously at the value a raw-to-C-Raw conversion tool could offer.
Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bergman. Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.
S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.
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