Several of my colleagues and I shoot Nikon D200's and we have them set to simultaneously record the image in both RAW and a reasonably high quality JPEG. The images are downloaded onto a computer as soon as possible, the JPEGS are uploaded to the company server and both the JPEGS and RAW are burned to DVD's. In that way, the JPEG versions are backed up off site in just a day or two when the server is backed up and the highest quality RAW versions are available forever on the DVD (when we want to make a nice 24"X36" as a demonstrative exhibit for trial). The 4 GIG Compact Flash cards available at B&H Photo for about $133 will hold about 220 pairs of 10.2 megapixel Raw and JPEG images.

I get in and use the RAW images fairly frequently, for instance in creating a 360 degree panorama of a fire scene. That type of visual presentation really allows the audience to picture the fire scene.

To work with the RAW images I usually use one or more of the following (in order of decreasing frequency): Nikon Capture NX, Photoshop CS2, Panorama Factory, Qimage, DxO Optics Pro, Helicon Focus and Focus Magic.

Michael A. Learmonth, B.A.Sc., M.B.A., M.Eng., J.., LL.B., C.F.E.I., P.Eng.
Senior Associate, Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering and Science
Toronto, Ontario, Canada