This article will be of great interest to those who iPhone users, especially for those who give more importance to the photographic section: HEIF vs ProRAW, which is the best photo format?
What we are going to do in the following paragraphs is analyze its characteristics, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the most appropriate uses for each format.
It is true that currently these two options are the most prominent within the iPhone. But There are notable differences between them, as they are designed to meet different needs and with different user profiles in mind in terms of photography experience.
What is HEIF?
This format came to the cameras of the Apple universe with iOS 11, in 2017. HEIF It stands for the English acronym of High Efficiency Image Format (High Efficiency Image Format), a solution designed to store high-quality images in a relatively small size. To achieve this, take advantage of the HEVC codec (High Efficiency Video Coding) which is used to compress images very efficiently.
Among the main characteristics of the HEIF format, the following should be highlighted: On the one hand, quality at a level equal to or higher than that of the JPG format, but consuming half the space; on the other hand, compatibility with Apple's Live Photos system and depth data storage.
These are the main advantages that HEIF offers us:
- Image quality despite its high compression.
- Storage optimization, to avoid worrying about the available space on our iPhone.
- Versatility and compatibility with advanced editions.
There are also some limitations, for example, incompatibilities with certain operating systems and older smartphones.
What is ProRAW?
A year after the launch of HEIC, Apple introduced the format ProRAW for iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The goal was to combine the intelligent processing of Apple's software with thethe advantages of a classic RAW file.
You could say that this format is a hybrid RAW which preserves all the data of the image captured by the camera sensor, incorporating basic additional adjustments.
This makes him a very flexible format which allows the user adjust various parameters with a high degree of precision. In return, ProRAW files are much larger than HEIF files.
These are the main advantages that ProRAW offers us:
- Good performance in difficult conditions, such as low-light environments.
- Top quality, reaching a level of detail impossible for compressed formats.
- Complete control over every aspect of each image, ideal for advanced photo editing.
But despite these huge advantages, there are other not-so-positive aspects of ProRAW that need to be taken into account. One of the most notable drawbacks is the image size, which take up a lot of space on our device.
On the other hand, it should be noted that to obtain the maximum performance from this format some experience in the world of photography is required.
HEIF vs ProRAW: Comparison
Assessing the weak points and strengths of both formats, we find the differences that separate them and in this way we can establish which is better, depending on the tastes and preferences of each user:
Image quality
HEIF: High quality with efficient compression / ProRAW: Superior quality without compression.
File size
HEIF: Small size (about 1-2 MB per photo) / ProRAW: Large size (about 25 MB per photo).
Ease of use
HEIF: For all types of users / ProRAW: More appropriate for amateur or professional photographers.
Storage
HEIF: Allows for great space savings / ProRAW: Consumes a lot of space on the device
Later edition
HEIF: Basic adjustments only / ProRAW: Perfect for advanced editing using specialized software.
Compatibility
HEIF: Highly compatible with most modern devices / ProRAW: Specialized software required.
This HEIF vs ProRaw comparison allows us to draw some valuable conclusions. To start with, we can say that HEIF is the right format for users with little or no experience in the field of photography. and for those who handle devices with limited storage
Besides, ProRAw might be the best choice for professional users, those who aspire to achieve the highest quality in their captures. For them, this is the format capable of offering all the creative potential that is needed.
Enable HEIF and ProRAW on iPhone
Whatever decision you've made after going through the HEIF vs ProRAW comparison in detail, you'll need to know how to activate each of these formats on your iPhone. We'll explain it below:
Enable HEIF
- First, let's go to the menu Settings.
- There we selected "Camera".
- Then we'll "Formats".
- Finally, we selected the option «High efficiency», which allows us to capture photos in HEIF format.
Activate ProRAW
- First let's go to the menu Settings.
- Then we select "Camera".
- From there we go to "Formats".
- Next, we activate "Apple ProRAW", which will be displayed as an option through an icon every time we use the camera.
Important: To activate this option you must have a compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 Pro, Pro Max or later models).
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