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E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Started Jan 26, 2020 | Discussions
Boss of Sony Senior Member • Posts: 2,425
E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

 Boss of Sony's gear list:Boss of Sony's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens
Olympus PEN E-P5
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Danielvr Veteran Member • Posts: 6,863
Gradation

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?

Not really I think, but what probably comes closest is the 'GRADATION' function. Look for that in the menu or the manual. You could also try to reduce the contrast I guess.

 Danielvr's gear list:Danielvr's gear list
Olympus E-M1 Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 SWD Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm 1:2.8-3.5 SWD Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,4/50 Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II +2 more
Eric Nepean
Eric Nepean Veteran Member • Posts: 6,209
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs
1

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Problem is, conversion to JPEG reduces dynamic range. Your best option by far is to start with RAW image files.

But if you can't do that then these help:

  • Use the highest quality of JPEG the camera has
  • set your ISO as low as possible
  • reduce contrast
  • reduce saturation
  • enable the gradation function
  • use exposure bracketting in small steps

I will often shoot JPEG+RAW. If the JPEG is good enough, I use it. If its a great shot but the dynamic range is a problem, I use the RAW file. DXO Photolab is a good, relatively inexpensive, easy to learn RAW processing tool.

-- hide signature --

Cheers
Eric

 Eric Nepean's gear list:Eric Nepean's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Olympus E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 +73 more
OP Boss of Sony Senior Member • Posts: 2,425
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Eric Nepean wrote:

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Problem is, conversion to JPEG reduces dynamic range. Your best option by far is to start with RAW image files.

But if you can't do that then these help:

  • Use the highest quality of JPEG the camera has
  • set your ISO as low as possible
  • reduce contrast
  • reduce saturation
  • enable the gradation function
  • use exposure bracketting in small steps

I will often shoot JPEG+RAW. If the JPEG is good enough, I use it. If its a great shot but the dynamic range is a problem, I use the RAW file. DXO Photolab is a good, relatively inexpensive, easy to learn RAW processing tool.

Thanks. Yes I use dxo Photolab for critical shots. But I have an e-p5 to play around with and wanted to just use JPEGs for a while. My gx85 has an idynamic function that boosts dynamic range. Is the Gradation function similar to that? It’s only giving me these options: normal, auto, high key and low key. Should I choose high key?

 Boss of Sony's gear list:Boss of Sony's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens
Kszchopstix Contributing Member • Posts: 527
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Use gradation AUTO and it should automatically boost shadow detail in JPEG

Also post shooting you can go to the jpg file in camera upon review and you can manually boost shadows again.

 Kszchopstix's gear list:Kszchopstix's gear list
Panasonic LX100 II Olympus E-M1 II Pentax KP Pentax smc DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 II +12 more
Guy Parsons
Guy Parsons Forum Pro • Posts: 40,000
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Expose to the right, keeping an eye on any important highlights that may suffer then use Gradation accordingly https://www.olympusamerica.com/crm/oneoffpages/ask_oly/crm_e_ask_oly_02_11.asp

Naturally you can also manually fiddle the gradation curve to do the same by ...

Press the Up button, then Info to get the little curves graph appear, then use the front or rear dial to alter the shadows curve. Press Info again to get to change the high end curve.

Regards....... Guy

Eric Nepean
Eric Nepean Veteran Member • Posts: 6,209
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Boss of Sony wrote:

Eric Nepean wrote:

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Problem is, conversion to JPEG reduces dynamic range. Your best option by far is to start with RAW image files.

But if you can't do that then these help:

  • Use the highest quality of JPEG the camera has
  • set your ISO as low as possible
  • reduce contrast
  • reduce saturation
  • enable the gradation function
  • use exposure bracketting in small steps

I will often shoot JPEG+RAW. If the JPEG is good enough, I use it. If its a great shot but the dynamic range is a problem, I use the RAW file. DXO Photolab is a good, relatively inexpensive, easy to learn RAW processing tool.

Thanks. Yes I use dxo Photolab for critical shots. But I have an e-p5 to play around with and wanted to just use JPEGs for a while. My gx85 has an idynamic function that boosts dynamic range. Is the Gradation function similar to that? It’s only giving me these options: normal, auto, high key and low key. Should I choose high key?

Uh-oh, I've given you bad advice.  I thought that Panasonic's Intelligent dynamic range might be the same as gradation, but if those are the settings its quite different.

High Key will you an image where evrything is a s bright as possible and the highlights may be sightly over exposed. I use this only for a few images where I want the background to be very bright.

I would just leave Gradation set to normal unless you want to to experiment.

-- hide signature --

Cheers
Eric

 Eric Nepean's gear list:Eric Nepean's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Olympus E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 +73 more
Kszchopstix Contributing Member • Posts: 527
Re: E-p5 How do I boost shadows in jpegs

Eric Nepean wrote:

Boss of Sony wrote:

Eric Nepean wrote:

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Problem is, conversion to JPEG reduces dynamic range. Your best option by far is to start with RAW image files.

But if you can't do that then these help:

  • Use the highest quality of JPEG the camera has
  • set your ISO as low as possible
  • reduce contrast
  • reduce saturation
  • enable the gradation function
  • use exposure bracketting in small steps

I will often shoot JPEG+RAW. If the JPEG is good enough, I use it. If its a great shot but the dynamic range is a problem, I use the RAW file. DXO Photolab is a good, relatively inexpensive, easy to learn RAW processing tool.

Thanks. Yes I use dxo Photolab for critical shots. But I have an e-p5 to play around with and wanted to just use JPEGs for a while. My gx85 has an idynamic function that boosts dynamic range. Is the Gradation function similar to that? It’s only giving me these options: normal, auto, high key and low key. Should I choose high key?

Uh-oh, I've given you bad advice. I thought that Panasonic's Intelligent dynamic range might be the same as gradation, but if those are the settings its quite different.

High Key will you an image where evrything is a s bright as possible and the highlights may be sightly over exposed. I use this only for a few images where I want the background to be very bright.

I would just leave Gradation set to normal unless you want to to experiment.

Nope. Set gradation to AUTO and the shadows will be boosted.

 Kszchopstix's gear list:Kszchopstix's gear list
Panasonic LX100 II Olympus E-M1 II Pentax KP Pentax smc DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 II +12 more
Allan Brown
Allan Brown Veteran Member • Posts: 3,179
Tone Curve

Boss of Sony wrote:

Hi, just want to take higher dynamic range shots Without having to edit the raw files. Is there a setting to boost shadows?
Thanks

Yes, there is but it is not Graduation.

I don't like the Graduation control as it can produce a "graininess" to the image.

Use the Tone Curve. It has settings for both Highlights and Shadows. Newer cameras also have Mid-range.

As Guy alluded to, you get to this setting by pressing the +/- (UP) button on the 4 way pad. Then you press the INFO button.

See page 37 in the manual.

However, for this to work, you must Not change the function of the pad's buttons - it must be in the default setting before you press +/-. Example, once I had the Tone Curve set up, I changed the buttons' function to Focus Area.

Allan

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