Just the file extension, mine is Sony and they are .ARW files! Raw is a generic term literally meaning raw unprocessed data. WB, sharpening e.t.c are NOT applied in camera and have no effect on the image. The files are bigger because they retain all the detail discarded when processed to JPEG. The major advantage of raw is flexibility to process, the major disadvantage is you have to process to get an image you are hapy with. Nikon are .NEF files! Hope this helps

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