RAW
An unprocessed image file format that preserves the sensor's full data. Compared to JPEG, RAW gives far greater flexibility in post-processing — exposure, white balance, and shadows can be recovered without quality loss.
A RAW file is the sensor's actual reading, not a processed image. Different manufacturers use different RAW formats (.CR3 Canon, .NEF Nikon, .ARW Sony, .DNG Adobe/Apple/Pixel).
Tradeoffs
- Size. A RAW file is 20–80 MB; a JPEG is 4–8 MB.
- Post-processing. RAW requires editing software (Lightroom, Capture One, darktable). Most don't open without conversion.
- Recovery. Pull 3–4 stops out of shadows; recover blown highlights up to 1–2 stops. Impossible with JPEG.
RAW on phones
Apple's ProRAW and Google's Pixel RAW capture full sensor data while still applying some computational pipeline (HDR, noise reduction). They give RAW flexibility with smartphone-aware processing.
How to use RAW in a real comparison
An unprocessed image file format that preserves the sensor's full data. Compared to JPEG, RAW gives far greater flexibility in post-processing — exposure, white balance, and shadows can be recovered without quality loss. In practice, this is most useful as one part of a decision rather than a standalone quality badge. Compare it alongside the workload, room, ecosystem, budget, and ownership constraints that apply to you; the strongest published figure is not automatically the best outcome for every buyer.
What to check next
Open a product page and check the stated value, configuration, price, and related trade-offs before treating this term as decisive. It is especially relevant in .
Avoid the one-number trap
Manufacturers can describe the same capability under different conditions. Compare like-for-like variants, check the unit and test condition where available, and use a head-to-head page to see whether a measurable difference is material for your own use.
vsMars presents structured catalog values to make trade-offs legible. The linked product and spec pages are the right place to inspect the underlying values before buying.