Expert RAW vs Auto Mode - WHICH IS BETTER?

Summary

In this video, the user compares Samsung's Auto Mode and Expert RAW photography features, testing them across various scenarios to determine which offers the best results. The comparison highlights the differences in processing, color representation, and detail between the two modes. The user also experiments with editing RAW images in Lightroom, showcasing the flexibility and potential for improvement that RAW files offer over processed JPEGs. The conclusion? Auto Mode is efficient for quick shots, while Expert RAW provides more control and editing potential for those willing to spend extra time on post-processing.

Takeaways

• 📸 Samsung's Expert RAW mode offers more control over image processing, but may not always produce the best results out of the camera.
• 🌳 When comparing Expert RAW and Auto mode, the Auto mode often provides more balanced and aesthetically pleasing images for landscapes and scenery.
• 🖼️ Expert RAW's advantage lies in its ability to save both JPEG and RAW copies, allowing for more flexibility in post-processing.
• 🌸 In certain situations, such as close-ups of flowers, Expert RAW may produce a flat image, whereas Auto mode with Scene Optimizer can enhance the colors and details.
• 🌆 Nighttime photography with Expert RAW can be problematic, as it may misrepresent lights and shadows compared to Auto mode.
• 🤖 Auto mode is preferred for quick, point-and-shoot photography without the need for further editing.
• 🎨 The power of RAW lies in its malleability, allowing non-professionals to significantly improve images in editing software like Lightroom.
• 🌊 Beach scenes and other high-contrast environments can benefit from the additional editing capabilities of Expert RAW to balance shadows and highlights.
• 🔍 Detailed editing of RAW images can lead to better representation of colors and improved overall image quality.
• 👶 For challenging subjects like people with strong colors, Auto mode may better preserve skin tones and detail, while Expert RAW might require editing to achieve similar results.
• 📸 In conclusion, the choice between Auto and Expert RAW depends on the user's preference for immediate results versus the willingness to edit for optimal outcomes.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is a comparison between Samsung's Auto mode and Expert RAW mode in terms of photo processing and overall image quality.

What is the key difference between Auto mode and Expert RAW mode?

The key difference is that Expert RAW mode allows users to save both a JPEG and a RAW copy of the photo, providing more flexibility in post-processing.

How does the video presenter test the two modes?

The presenter tests the two modes by taking photos of the same scene at nearly the same time using both Auto mode and Expert RAW mode to compare the processing outcomes.

In which situations did the Expert RAW mode perform better?

Expert RAW mode performed better in landscape photography where post-processing could enhance the image, especially when there was time to tweak and adjust the RAW files afterward.

What was a notable issue with Expert RAW mode during the comparison?

A notable issue was that Expert RAW mode sometimes produced overblown highlights and misinterpreted colors, particularly in challenging lighting conditions or with certain subjects like flowers.

How did the Auto mode perform in the comparison?

Auto mode often provided more balanced and aesthetically pleasing images straight out of the camera, with better color representation and dynamic range in most situations tested.

What additional feature does Expert RAW mode offer that Auto mode doesn't?

Expert RAW mode offers the ability to save a RAW copy of the photo, giving users more control and flexibility in editing the image after it has been captured.

What was the presenter's final verdict on which mode to use?

The presenter concluded that for point-and-shoot situations, Auto mode is the winner due to its ease of use and often better initial processing. However, for landscape photography where post-processing is planned, Expert RAW can be a better choice due to the power of editing RAW files.

How did the presenter demonstrate the power of RAW files?

The presenter demonstrated the power of RAW files by editing a few selected photos in Lightroom, showing how significant improvements could be made to the Expert RAW images that initially seemed poorly processed.

What was a surprising result during the nighttime photography test?

A surprising result was that the ultra-wide camera produced purple tints in Expert RAW mode during nighttime photography, which the presenter had not experienced after returning from the location.

What suggestion does the presenter make for future content?

The presenter suggests that future content could include a test with Pro mode added in, as it offers a different level of processing compared to Expert RAW and could provide interesting insights.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Auto vs Expert RAW: Comparing Modes

The paragraph discusses a comparison between Samsung's Auto mode and Expert RAW mode in terms of image processing. The author uses a point-and-shoot approach to capture the same moment in both modes to evaluate the processing differences. The added benefits of Expert RAW, such as saving both JPEG and RAW copies, are highlighted. The author plans to tweak the RAW copies to demonstrate the potential improvements over the processed Auto and Expert RAW photos. The focus is on landscapes and scenery, using the main camera to showcase the strengths and weaknesses of each mode through a series of photos.

05:01

🌳 Landscape and Scenery Analysis

This paragraph delves into the analysis of landscape and scenery photos taken with both modes. The author examines the processing of details such as bark, grass, and clouds, noting differences in shadow areas and color representation. The comparison extends to other cameras and their interpretations. A significant focus is on how Expert RAW and Auto mode handle flowers and close-up subjects, with the author finding the Auto mode's scene optimizer to be more effective in bringing out the subject's details and colors. The paragraph also discusses the editing process of selected photos in Lightroom to further compare the potential of RAW files against the processed JPEGs.

10:02

🌅 Nighttime and Dynamic Range Testing

The author explores the performance of both modes in nighttime photography and in situations with challenging dynamic ranges. The comparison reveals that Auto mode often provides more balanced and pleasing representations of scenes, especially in low light conditions. The Expert RAW mode, while offering more control and editing flexibility, sometimes falls short in certain scenarios, such as overblowing highlights or misrepresenting colors. The paragraph also mentions an unusual issue with the ultra-wide lens processing purple tones in nighttime shots, which the author could not replicate after leaving the testing location.

15:02

🖼️ Editing RAW Photos and Final Thoughts

In this paragraph, the author demonstrates the power of editing RAW photos using Lightroom. By handpicking a few images that show the potential of RAW, the author edits them to highlight the flexibility and formability of RAW files. The author emphasizes that even someone without professional photography or editing skills can significantly improve photos through RAW editing. The edited photos showcase the improvements made, particularly in balancing exposure, contrast, and color representation. The author concludes by weighing the pros and cons of Auto mode for point-and-shoot convenience and Expert RAW for its editing potential, suggesting that the choice depends on the user's preferences and needs.

Keywords

💡Samsung

Samsung is a multinational conglomerate known for its electronics division, which includes the production of smartphones. In the context of the video, Samsung is the manufacturer of the phone being discussed, which has a camera feature called 'Expert RAW'.

💡Auto Mode

Auto Mode, in the context of digital photography, refers to a setting on a camera that automatically adjusts various parameters such as focus, exposure, and white balance to capture an image without manual intervention from the user. The video compares Auto Mode with Expert RAW to determine which is the better solution for different photography scenarios.

💡Expert RAW

Expert RAW is a camera mode that allows for more control over the image capture process and provides the user with a RAW image file, which contains more data and flexibility for post-processing. It is designed for enthusiasts who want to tweak their photos for optimal results.

💡Point and Shoot

Point and Shoot refers to a type of photography where the photographer quickly aims the camera at a subject and takes a picture without making manual adjustments to settings. This term is often associated with simplicity and ease of use.

💡JPEG

JPEG, short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is a common format for digital images that uses lossy compression to reduce file size. It is widely used for sharing photos due to its balance between quality and file size.

💡Post-Processing

Post-processing in photography refers to the editing and adjustment of images after they have been captured. This can include changes to exposure, contrast, color balance, and other aspects to enhance or alter the appearance of the photo.

💡Scene Optimizer

Scene Optimizer is a feature in some smartphone cameras that automatically recognizes the subject and scene being photographed and adjusts the camera settings accordingly to produce the best possible image.

💡Dynamic Range

Dynamic range in photography refers to the ratio between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. A higher dynamic range allows for more detail in both shadows and highlights, resulting in a more balanced and realistic image.

💡Lightroom

Lightroom is a software application developed by Adobe for photo editing and organization. It is popular among photographers for its powerful tools and features that allow for non-destructive editing of RAW images.

💡50 Megapixels

50 Megapixels refers to the resolution of an image sensor, specifically the number of pixels that make up the image. A 50-megapixel camera is capable of capturing high-resolution images with greater detail.

💡Night Mode

Night Mode is a camera setting designed to enhance low-light photography by using longer exposures and advanced processing techniques to capture more detail and better color in dark conditions.

Highlights

Samsung quietly launched Expert RAW a few years ago, which has since gained a dedicated following among enthusiasts.

The video compares Auto mode with Expert RAW to determine the best solution for photography.

Expert RAW allows saving both JPEG and RAW copies of a photo, offering more flexibility in post-processing.

The comparison focuses on the processing differences between Auto mode and Expert RAW across various scenarios.

Landscapes and scenery photos from the main camera benefit the most from both processing modes.

Expert RAW and Auto mode show different processing in terms of color shades, details, and contrast.

The video encourages viewers to compare photos and decide which processing mode they prefer.

Expert RAW can result in a flat and overblown JPEG compared to the vibrant processing of Auto mode.

The video includes an editing segment to demonstrate the potential of tweaking RAW copies in Lightroom.

In certain situations, such as close-ups and people photography, Auto mode may outperform Expert RAW.

The video also explores the performance of Expert RAW and Auto mode in low light and nighttime conditions.

Expert RAW's processing can sometimes miss the mark, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

The power of RAW lies in its malleability, allowing for extensive editing and adjustments in post-production.

For point-and-shoot photography, Auto mode is preferred for its speed and efficiency.

Expert RAW is recommended for landscape photography and when time is available for photo editing.

The video concludes that the choice between Auto mode and Expert RAW depends on the user's preference and the specific situation.

Transcripts

expert raw Samsung launched it quietly a

few years ago but Samsung fans and

enthusiasts like myself have been raving

about it ever since but should you be

using it in this video I compare auto

mode to expert raw and let you know

which one is the best solution let's

go so to test this out I just decided to

use point and shoot in both modes auto

mode pick up the camera point it at

something and capture it and then switch

to expert raw and capture the exact same

moment at the exact same time nearly the

exact same time the comparison that I

want is the processing from both modes

to actually see which processing comes

out better across a multitude of

different scenarios but of course expert

raw comes with some added perks mainly

the fact that you can save a JPEG and a

raw copy of the photo that you're taking

so at the end of this video I'm going to

tweak a couple of them to see if

tweaking the raw copy makes it better

than the processed auto mode and the

processed expert rooll photo for this

comparison I've hand selected a few of

the photos that really highlight the

strengths and weaknesses of both modes

so you can interchange between the two

for the right type of photo that you

want to take first of all I want to

explore Landscapes and scenery from the

main camera because that is the one that

benefits the most from both sets of

processing it's the strongest sensor on

the back of the s24 ultra and any of the

phones that you're using expert raw with

first photo that we're going to look at

what you can see when you bring up the

expert raw and the jpeg copy right next

to each other for reference the jpeg

copy will always be on this side of the

screen and the expert raw copy will

always be on this side of the screen if

we have a look at this one here you'll

see that there is some different

processing in the bark on the ground

there's different shades and different

colors and different details across both

what's also evident is the grass has

different shades too between the expert

raw and the jpeg copy it's a little bit

more Punchy on the auto mode and you can

see that when you sort of crop into that

area if you look at the corner where the

clouds and the sky is the clouds are a

little bit darker in the shadow areas in

this particular expert raw photo so it's

giving it a different interpretation of

the photo what I also would like you to

do is after each photo pause it and

build a list in the comments of which

photo you think won and then leave it as

a comment at the end of the video second

photo we're going to look at here is

this tree and you can see in the sky

there's some different processing of how

the blue is sort of represented what you

can also tell too is the tree area so

the stump of the tree or the the trunk

whatever you you call it is lighter on

the expert raw version of this photo

versus the auto mode Auto Mode's a

little bit darker in the shadow areas

whereas the expert raw one could have

lightens up a little bit more that kind

of gets reversed in this next photo

where the auto mode is lighter processed

on the leaves and the tree branches

whereas expert raw is kind of darkened

things up a little bit but autom mode

also has some less processing in the

clouds too so there again there's the

trading off here between the two

different interpretations of this photo

this next photo I found incredibly

interesting I wanted to see how it

handled flowers and sort of close-up

subjects and it there's a very big

difference in these two photos the auto

mode I guess with scene Optimizer has

created much more of a life going on in

this photo it's processed the colors

it's brought out more detail has a bit

of contrast and a bit of saturation to

it sort of bring out the tones that this

flower clearly has expert raw copy and

this is the jpeg copy is very flat and

very overblown with its high lights it's

quite crazy the difference in processing

between the two stick around for later

on because this is one of the photos I'm

going to edit and compare the raw copy

edited versus the auto mode JPEG and

we'll see if I can match it or even make

it better but it's just a little bit

crazy that the jpeg expert raw photo

processed in this way very strange this

next photo is very similar it's

overblown the expert raw jpeg whereas

the auto mode looks very well balanced

has a lot of life and color to it and

there's a lot of difference in how it's

been sort of interpreted don't know why

expert raw hasn't processed it it's

basically just taken it and left it as

is and again this is one of the ones

that I will edit in Lightroom so you can

kind of see what raw can sort of do to

bring it back but just based off these

two very very different interpretations

and obviously the auto mode does a much

better job the one complaint you can

have about the auto mode is it's maybe a

little dark in the shadow areas but out

of the two it's much better and then the

next photo kind of flips on its head a

little bit expert raar has processed too

heavily and created two darker Shadow

areas and this the blue of the the water

isn't representing what it was actually

like in real life standing there looking

at it the tree is very dark and almost

out of focus when you kind of zoom into

the photo a little bit The Rocks down by

the water look a bit lifeless which they

are I me you don't want it to look like

that auto mode again much more pleasing

balances everything quite nicely and

gives you a better representation of the

scene expert RO with this next one kind

of comes back a little bit still doesn't

quite have the punch and the color and

the saturation of the auto mode but

compared to the last couple it

definitely has a bit more life about it

and can probably with the raw copy be

brought up to a level that brings all

that out the auto mode doesn't need any

of that it's got the bright blue sign

sort of hitting you in the background

there the grass and the sky and the the

water everything kind of looks

aesthetically pleasing a lot more than

what the expert raw copy does but some

people might prefer the paired back

Aesthetics of expert raw and of course

with that flexibility of raw which we'll

get to later quite interestingly to me

where I thought exper would crush it

with this main camera at the beach I

much preferred the interpretation of

auto mode very very interesting I also

took photos while I was there with the

other cameras just to see what the other

cameras interpretations and how it would

process starting with the ultra wide

with this one here I prefer the expert

raw Shot Hands Down it's processed more

in the shadow areas and brought to life

more detail in those Shadow areas so I

automatically already prefer that

because you actually can see more of the

image auto mode does a good job with the

rocks it kind of balances the light and

sort of restricts them shining too much

but in the shadow areas it's completely

too dark doesn't really work in that

sort of environment because it's a

bright day yes there's Shadows but you

can still see what's in those Shadows so

the phone didn't quite process that in

auto mode this is another one where I'll

edit the raw copy of the expert raw file

to see again what can be tweaked to me

if I can tone down the Rocks a little

bit to try and balance it a bit better

but overall just from the jpeg autopress

shot I like the expert R better I then

went in and tried the new 5x zoom on the

s24 ultra just to see how expert raw

handles it I do know how autom mode

handles it quite well already I've

tested it extensively but what does

expert raw Do Well turns out does

something very very interesting one

strength I found with the 5x in auto

mode is it has quite a consistent

approach to processing to the other

cameras on the phone it keeps the colors

there it keeps the same sort of tones

and processing expert raw though that

doesn't happen what you can see in this

shot here is that the 5x almost has this

filter Darkly applied over the top of it

and you compare it to the auto mode

where it's balanced it properly and

represented the scene appropriately the

expert raw processing in this jpeg

hasn't done that it's really made it

dark and put this dark overtone on it

don't like it I returned turned back to

the flower from before and by returned I

mean I took it at the same time as I

took the 1X and the same thing happened

though with the 1X where it's not really

processed it at all it's kept it light

complete opposite of what that previous

photo did so it's like for different

things expert raw is doing different

things whereas the scene Optimizer on

auto mode is actually balancing

everything and sort of just tweaking not

hugely overhauling but the 5x Auto

really like this shot the tacro sort of

capabilities of it means that it gets in

close from when you're standing far away

and represents the detail quite nicely

before I get into the highres portion of

this I wanted to test it on people in a

couple of different ways just to see

what expert raw does with people

photography some very interesting

results with this first photo here you

can see my daughter's climbing up a

slide and it's quite a challenging

complex situation for a camera because

you've got the red of my daughter's

Jersey you've got the red of the slide

and lots of red and red and cameras

apparently have a problem and you can

see with auto mode the phone has done a

really good job of separating the tones

of the Jersey the red on the Milan

Jersey is different to the red on the

slide just like it is in real life but

in the expert raw copy it's basically

Blended them together there's another

difference too in that the detail on

Expert Raw on the Jersey is better but

the color is wrong bit of trade-off

there as to which one you might prefer

what you've also got too is the tunnel

in the background are completely

different shades of red so they

completely had different interpretations

of that whereas I think it was more like

the one in the auto mode photo also too

the auto mode with the actual slide

itself has got more detail it's got more

scratches that you can see and actually

process that detail versus just crushing

it where it did on Expert or I think I

would have to go for the auto mode photo

here because it actually is more

representative of the colors that are

accurately seen in real life this next

one was crazy exper ra did not like this

one whatsoever as you can see first up

with auto mode the photo's done a really

great job of balancing out the detail

and getting the skin tones right and

balancing the dynamic range expert raw

has done none of that it's completely

overblown everything it's like what's

this person doing in the way of my

scenery and just G nope we give up

that's what it's done when I took the

same photo without my daughter in the

way from the exact same spot expert raw

knew what it was doing then it actually

properly exposed everything and even

though it's still processed it

differently it still did a better job

than when she was sitting there cuz when

she's sitting there it's just I don't

know what happened but it has saved a

raw copy so this will be one of the ones

I edit later on as well so make sure you

stick around for that for the daytime

shots I took expert raw was less

processed and tried to pair things back

a little bit for contrast and color in

most of the situations autom mode on the

contrary just ramped everything up just

really wanted to to punch things to a

certain degree not as much as Samsung

have done in the past like the s22 ultra

for example but to a degree where it's

sort of giving you an aesthetically

pleasing shot that's ready to fire onto

social media the expert raw one will

need a bit of work but I think that's

the point of course both Auto and expert

raw can do 50 megapix with the s24 ultra

and there is some Carnage to be had here

this first one here are two very

different photo even though they're the

same auto mode is very very contrasty

and Punchy in the shadows and expert R

was very light in the shadows but

overblown everywhere else again I'll

clean this one up in Lightroom so you

can see the difference later on I then

went into the 50 megapixel f

and that same processing that darker

overtones from before makes a return so

it seems like in this beach type

scenario the 5x no matter what

resolution has decided to have this dark

tint applied to the photo very strange

but then this next 15 megapixel shot

with the 1X flips it back the other way

where the auto mode becomes overblown

and the expert raw handles are better

and then going to the 5x it's flipped

around again but only in certain areas

the 5x 50 megapix on order exposes the

foreground correctly but overblows the

background the sky whereas the 50

megapixel and expert raw in the 5x

foreground is light and has nothing

whereas the background has processed the

sky properly very interesting very very

interesting to see the how it does those

things differently getting into

nighttime things get weird like super

weird what I've done here is I've done

auto mode with nighttime photos where it

automatically switches on night mode and

takes a couple of seconds to take the

picture and expert R is just standard

processing where you point it and shoot

with this 1X photo here expert raw has

more brightness in the foreground but

has completely Mis represented the

lights in the background it hasn't

controlled them properly of the

buildings whereas auto mode whilst it's

slightly darker in that foreground of

the photo background looks a lot more

balanced and a lot more pleasing this

was a this was a common thing across

most of the Onex nighttime photos that I

took of this type of environment when I

Steed away from the buildings off in the

distance and focused on something else

something weird or different sort of

happen happened what I noticed is both

modes tried to lift the scene

considerably I and it was very dark

there was next to no light around and

both modes expert raw and auto lifted

everything quite a bit in this first

shot of the ocean the auto mode handles

it much better I think in my opinion

brings back the color of the grass and

the and the sky and also the the water

whereas the expert Ro copy kind is a bit

flat and a bit of a grayer tone over the

top to it the photo of the tree is the

same the expert raw photo is definitely

lighter in the shadow area but it loses

a bit of Life whereas the autom mode

version of this photo it whilst it's a

bit darker with that shadow cast halfway

up the tree still actually looks a lot

better I prefer that versus just no

shadows and like no life life is

preferred I then tried the ultra white

and something extremely strange happened

at night whilst I was there auto mode

did okay but every time I tried to take

an expert raw shot the ultra wide just

processed purple and I I don't know why

and and it happened four or five times

I've since tried it since coming home

and the ultra wide doesn't process

purple but whilst I was there it did it

just refused to not do that very odd I

don't know why I did it okay time to

look at the edits I haven't edited all

of the photos I've just handpicked a few

that I think can show the power of

having a raw copy of a photo and that's

what I reminded myself when I used

Lightroom on my phone it reminded me of

how powerful having raw is because it so

malleable and formable that you can sort

of control it in any way you like that's

what I love about having raw options

both in prom mode and in expert raw

screen recorded the process of a couple

of them and you can just see when you

sort of move the exposure slider down a

little bit how much it affects and

impacts the picture makes it a whole

different photo and what I love about

Lightroom is being able to hold down on

the screen and see what it was like

before and that what it became

afterwards now let me preface this by

saying I am by no means a photographer I

don't class myself as a photographer in

any way shape or form and neither do I

class myself as a photo editor any way

shape form what I think this does is

shows the fact that someone who's not

either of those things can still have a

fun time with expert raw and raw copies

let's jump in first up I wanted to try

the flower because I think that was the

most biggest example of where expert Ro

just missed the mark my first thoughts

were to kind of lower the exposure and

whilst the end result here you can see

I've maybe lowered it a little bit too

much it's far better than what it was

before the color of the yellow I really

like like it's not too Punchy but it's

definitely better represented than what

it was before and it's attractive enough

to sort of draw your eyes to it you can

see the edited raw you can see the

processed expert raw JPEG and you can

see the auto photo you can see the

Improvement that was made from the

expert raw processing to how the editing

came out I'm really glad with that next

up was the overblown 1X photo that I

took I'm not bragging about being an ed

edor but I think what I've been able to

do here is considerably save this photo

maybe I punched it up too much in terms

of the contrast and saturation but I

much prefer it over what it was before

and I think you probably would agree

with that with the ultrawide photo my

main goal was to try and fix the

overblown highlights with the rocks and

I was able to do that again power of raw

the sky might be a bit too much but the

water looks far better and the rocks and

the contrast the overall aesthetic of

the picture is much better than what it

was before when I fixed this photo of

Rina I ably gasped gasp not captured it

saved it so easily moving that exposure

slider down literally saved the photo on

its own I barely had to do much more

other than that even though that final

expert raw jpeg looked awful and just

had nothing about it the raw copy once

edited in Lightroom was now an actual

really good photo and probably preferred

over the auto modes processing because

it actually has a nice balanced skin

tone there's more more detail in it and

everything just looks in proportion and

aesthetically much more pleasing power

raw I had a crack at fixing the 50

megapixel copy because that one was

again not great and I probably pushed it

a little bit too far with exposure being

a little bit too down and contrast and

you you know what I probably I probably

can fix it okay okay fixed now you see

it and that's the power of raw because

you don't have to finish with what you

finished with you can go back and change

it if it's not to your liking so which

one should you be using on one hand you

of course have the speed and the

efficiency of auto mode where you just

pick up the phone launch the camera take

the photo and on the other hand you have

the more precise control both during

taking the photo because you obviously

have the expert Ru controls down the

bottom and afterwards in editing where

you can tune the photo to your liking in

Lightroom or other editing apps but in

terms of point in shoot I probably

prefer Auto because you don't have to

think about it pick up the phone you

take the photo the phone does the rest

expert raw and what you've seen in

expert raw's processing it's not going

to get it every time sometimes it's just

going to miss the mark and it doesn't

suit every situation so for that any

normal pointed shoot autom mode is the

winner but if you are taking landscape

scenery and you have time afterwards to

tweak and Tinker with the photo expert

raw will be a solution because of the

power of editing you let me know which

one you liked better and what solution

works better for you cuz ultimately

you're the user who decides which one

you like let me know if you would like

me to repeat this test with prom mode

added in because prom mode obviously is

another thing Al together where it

doesn't have the same level of

processing as what expert raw does so

that could be very interesting to take a

look at let me know in the comments but

if you've liked this video make sure you

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