Sharpness of preview image

[AntonyHands]

I shoot all of my work in RAW, and so have never set up my jpeg settings to any sharpness level at all. However, I have been disappointed by the lack of sharpness of the preview images.

Is it true that if you do set up sharpness to 5 the embedded jpeg will actually be sharpened but not the RAW file? If so I may change my parameters just to facilitate easier focus checking on the rear monitor.

Also, just in case I ever do have to shoot jpeg (due to lack of space etc) what settings would you recommend?

Cheers,

Antony

[Joe_Tree]

Antony

The image you see on the LCD screen is a very low-res preview of the RAW file that is embedded within the RAW file regardless of accompanying JPEGs. It will be affected by the colour / contrast / sharpness settings but you will still only be sharpening a low res file.

If you want to be able to check sharpness on-camera, you will have to shoot everything in RAW + L.

[AntonyHands]

So does that mean that if I shoot raw + L that the preview is actually drawn from the L file as opposed to the embedded shot in the Raw file?

[BobDunsire]

I don't think that is the case ?? - from what I recall, if you're shooting RAW the preview image is the low res (embedded) image .. period. And I too was shocked when I first tried to use that preview image to determine focus accuracy - much relieved when I discovered it was basically useless for that..

[Joe_Tree]

Actually, I think Bob is Right... although the embedded preview is affected by camera settings (colour / sharpness / etc.)

I guess the camera just isn't capable of reading RAW files, just writing them.