Below is a footnote to an an article, Understanding RAW File Format, on Photoexcels site.
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_raw.htmlFeedback From Readers:
The statement:
"RAW file format is the uncompressed, unprocessed data file captured by the camera's image sensor, before any in-camera processing has been applied. In this sense, it is the digital equivalent to the film negative."
might be a bit misleading as it is not really true and continues the propagation of this RAW myth.
There is processing done, in most cases, to RAW data. This includes various NR (DFS and dark current), lossy compression (in the case of the compressed NEF format), loss-less compression (Canon TIF/CRW/CR2 formats), WB adjustments (in the original D1
and early D1x models) and (in the case of the 10D/300D) even sharpening applied in the RAW format.
And these are just the adjustments to the RAW file that are known about. The truth is, few people outside the camera companies know the full extend of data tweaking that goes into the RAW files.
A better wording might be:
"RAW file format is the data file captured by the camera's image sensor, with minimal in-camera processing applied. In this sense, it is the digital equivalent to the film negative."
--Steven Noyes
Leigh