are raw files from DIFFERENT CAMERAS of the same shot all the same?

No they do not. If your different cameras are 2 cameras of the same model then the data will be the same. If they are different models from the same manufacturer they will be similar. From different manufacturers then they won't even be the same format.

Here is a brief summary of my experience:

I own a Canon EOS 450D and a Canon EOS70D. I have also regularly used a 350D.

The amount of data held in the RAW file is far greater with the 70D (eg it holds the lens correction data). This can be applied to the 450D RAWs using Canon's DPP software but the 350D doesn't store the lens model used so lens correction data cannot be applied at all.

Canon have just released a new version of DPP. It will not even process RAW files from my 450D but will process RAW files from my 70D.

Raw formats differs between manufacturers.

Raw formats are similar between cameras from the same manufacturer.

Some cameras have different raw formats you can choose between like 12 or 14-bit and type of compression applied to the raw file.

Any modern DSLR shooting raw in 14-bit using lossless compression will be good quality.

Not really.

There are different types or versions of RAW files and even within the same brand, different models can have different RAW types. Just be rest assured that RAW is RAW and you get what the sensor has seen. If there are minor differences, it would be about the manner of saving the data rather. Picture quality still mostly depends on your skill.

No. RAW files are different for every camera. Even the same manufacturer has different RAW formats for each camera they make. RAW formats are proprietary formats created by the manufacturers. There is no standard RAW format, however you can convert them to Adobe DNG (Digital Negatives) which is fast becoming a stardard RAW fromat. You can use the free Adobe DNG converter to create them. http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp...

Lenss and cameras considered all go into play. Definitely they will look different. Even the raw formats. It's your decision to pick and choose.

**** off you ****