For all you iPhone-toting photography enthusiasts out there, we’ve got some exciting news: RAW photo shooting support is finally coming to iOS 10. But what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down for those who might be new to the world of photography.
What is a RAW Photo?
So, you may have heard of RAW files before, but perhaps you’re not entirely sure what they are or why photographers love them so much. Simply put, a RAW file is an image file that stores all the raw data captured by your camera’s sensor without any compression or processing. This allows for a massive amount of flexibility when editing photos in post-processing.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Shooting in RAW
Shooting in RAW offers many benefits, including:
- Greater editing flexibility: With more data to work with, you can make non-destructive edits to your photos without affecting their quality.
- Better image quality: RAW files contain more detail and less noise than JPEGs, making them ideal for high-end photography.
- Easier color correction: Since RAW files store the raw color data, it’s much simpler to correct for white balance and other color-related issues.
However, there are also some downsides to consider:
- File size: RAW files tend to be massive, which can take up a lot of storage space on your device.
- Processing power: Editing RAW files requires more processing power than JPEGs, which can slow down your computer or device.
What We Know About iOS 10’s RAW Photo Support
During the WWDC keynote yesterday, there was a brief mention of RAW photo editing, but it wasn’t discussed in detail. However, we got some more information during a workshop session this afternoon:
- Third-party apps will support RAW shooting: Apple has confirmed that third-party developers will be able to add RAW shooting capabilities to their apps.
- It won’t just work across all apps: Unfortunately, you’ll need to update your favorite photography app separately to take advantage of RAW shooting. It’s not something that will magically appear in all your apps with the iOS 10 update.
- Rear camera only for now: For this initial release, RAW photo support will be limited to the rear camera only. We’re not sure if or when it will become available for the front camera as well.
Other Details and Features
Here are a few more tidbits that we learned during the workshop:
- Simultaneous JPEG and RAW shooting: Just like many DSLRs, iOS 10 will allow you to shoot both JPEG and RAW files simultaneously. This can be super handy for those who want to have both formats available.
- Support for iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, SE, and iPad: As expected, the initial release of RAW photo support will only work on these devices.
- RAW photos stored in DNG format: Your RAW files will be saved in Adobe’s Digital Negative (DNG) file format. This is a great choice, as it allows for easy editing and compatibility with various apps.
Will Apple Support RAW Photos within the Camera App?
Unfortunately, we don’t have any information on whether or when Apple plans to integrate RAW photo support directly into their Camera app. If you’re eager to try out RAW shooting, you’ll need to rely on third-party apps for now.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what’s in store for iOS 10’s RAW photo support. Do you have any questions or concerns about this new feature? Let us know in the comments below!
