It is true that JPEG is a compressed fomrat and thus original "raw" data is lost. But a high-resolution JPEG saves you valuable fliespace and the images, if initially captured at >5 megapix, are suitable for considerable enlargement. I print 11x14 and 13x19 shots strictly from JPEGS. Even looked at closely no-one can believe they are digital images I printed myself. I also publish scientific photography and JPEGs are often the standard.
So, if you invest in a high-resolution camera and keep it on the best quality image setting all the time you'll have pixels to spare-- as long as you are not making prints the size of a billboard.
Well simply put RAW is the file right off the camera chip. No real file formatting has gone on. Unlike a JPEG that can dither colors and items. Yes it is a large file but if you were wanting to print ot render it that would be the place to start. Also I recall that the JPEG wasn't a life long file format. It is prefereed as it is small and thus a great web item. So yes you will need to save as a jpeg to email. But if it's something to be proud of and a 8*10 then a RAW or TIFF is what you want. Photoshop (even LE) will do a web save and you can adjust that to a size or quality.

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