In my last two posts I looked at reasons to consider using the RAW mode of your camera. Today I'm concluding by considering the pros and cons of both the RAW and JPEG formats and the situations where one might be more appropriate than the other.
The following table show the pros and cons of the two formats (in my opinion):

JPEG	Pros:	Smaller files.
		Quicker to save on camera.
		No post processing required.
	Cons:	Fixed white balance.
		Lossy format can limit post processing options.
RAW	Pros:	Higher dynamic range.
		More options in post processing.
		Raw data from the camera sensor.
	Cons:	Big files mean shorter bursts and less photos per memory card.
		Time required to post-process each photo.

Here's a quick run down of file format considerations for some different shooting situations:

JPG more suitable for:

• Sports - you'll often be shooting in burst mode and JPEG will allow you to take more images before your camera's memory buffer gets full.
• Holidays - when you may not have access to a computer to offload your photos but are likely to be taking lots, JPEG will certainly allow you to take many more photos per memory card and you can always switch to RAW for the odd photo where you might need it.
• Weddings - You'll probably be best using a combination of RAW and JPEG at weddings depending on what part of the day it is. Those bright white wedding dresses can confuse cameras so having the ability to easily adjust the white balance with RAW files can be very useful.

RAW particularly suitable for:

• Creative shooting where exposure and white balance might need tweaking later.
• Colourful shots where you are capturing a mix of many colours or tones and need the best performance over the whole range.
• Portrait sessions, day trips or any time you know you will be able to get back to your computer fairly soon to upload the photos and free up your memory card ready for more.

In the end, it's your decision what format to use when and there are no hard rules but hopefully I've encouraged you to at least try out the RAW mode and given you some ideas as to when and why it's a feature of your camera that shouldn't be ignored.