I would like to add my thoughts here about "Raw Files".
If one is not up with all the "technical talk" on this subject, I would like to keep it really simple.

A "Raw file" will have much more information in your pic for you to work with, than other formats. Most people who have the capability with their camera to shoot "Raw Files" don`t because they can`t work with them on the computer unless you have newish software or plug-ins for your existing one.

If you have some of the older image software and you can`t get the "Raw File" plug-ins for it, then follow the the following:

-If your camera does shoot Raw Files it will most probably also have a smaller file tagged with it which is a JPEG.

Now, if you copy or download these to your computer you can open the smaller JPEG and the information tagged to the Raw File will come with it and open up as a JPEG. Which will give you a much superior image - much more, than shooting in JPEG.

People do like to work with "Raw Files" however when finished the will usually save it as a "Tiff" or "JPEG anyway.

To sum up, yes it is great if you can work with a "Raw File", the best, if you have the software. However, it is also very good to shoot in Raw (than JPEG)and open the pic as I have outlined above, and work with that. Just make sure you download both files so they can react with each other. Once you have worked with the pic and saved it, you can delete both of the originals if you want.

One small note though, Shooting in "Raw" format the image can take twice as long to write to your card. Although with the very latest cameras and very fast cards, this really does`nt matter much.

Give it a go and tell me what you think.

Another way to look at a RAW photo [to as of why it is much better than JPEG] is this:

RAW format is just that... RAW. it is all the raw image data from the sensor. Nothing has been applied to the picture at all. At least not permanently.

You can alter EVERYTHING, or just about, in a RAW photo. And lose nothing in the process.

But you have to remember, since RAW has no compression at all, the files will be bigger, like Bruce mentioned.

So, if you plan on shooting in RAW format, you might want to invest in a higher capacity card. Say ATLEAST 4gigs, so you have plenty of room, for plenty of photos.