Active D lighting

[Neverlost99]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

 

[Ooobo]

The second one. It's just boosting shadows and cutting highlights.

 

[spec68]

I think most people will tell you to keep it off. It's better to have an unfiltered RAW which you can later tweak to your taste than to let the camera to it in-body and assume it knows what you want the pic to look like. I know that's my feeling.

 

[Mako2011]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

You can't turn ADL on in post. It relies on Matrix metering and being able to adjust the actual exposure prior to the shot. You can change how it's processed in post (normal, vs high, etc.) but it won't be optimal if exposure was not set by ADL prior to the shot. Using ADL in post only (ADL "off" when you took the shot) is more like using the old D-Lighting HS setting in ViewNX2 and you may lose some details that you normally wouldn't had you shot with ADL on.

I will often use it with RAW as I use Nikon software for conversion (only works optimally with Nikon conversion software) and it can aid me in setting optimal exposure for protecting highlight detail. Pros and Cons

 

[Mako2011]

The second one. It's just boosting shadows and cutting highlights.

Actually does quite a bit more. It can also change the tone curves for different levels of the image. Changes in the tone curves are not global. It will also change brightness/exposure settings differently in different areas of the image. When ADL processing is applied to RAW data...low, mid, and high tone areas of the image are processed differently. You can do something similar in post with Adobe...but it can take a lot more time and tweaking.... and the results will be close but not exactly the same.

 

[Ooobo]

The second one. It's just boosting shadows and cutting highlights.

Actually does quite a bit more. It can also change the tone curves for different levels of the image. Changes in the tone curves are not global. It will also change brightness/exposure settings differently in different areas of the image. When ADL processing is applied to RAW data...low, mid, and high tone areas of the image are processed differently. You can do something similar in post with Adobe...but it can take a lot more time and tweaking.... and the results will be close but not exactly the same.

Sounds a bit like processing a raw file.

 

[mrbr]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

Hi ,

You can do ADL BRACKETING if you want ( see Auto Bracketing (nikonimglib.com) ).

 

[michaeladawson]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

 

[Monkey007]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

 

[Mako2011]

The second one. It's just boosting shadows and cutting highlights.

Actually does quite a bit more. It can also change the tone curves for different levels of the image. Changes in the tone curves are not global. It will also change brightness/exposure settings differently in different areas of the image. When ADL processing is applied to RAW data...low, mid, and high tone areas of the image are processed differently. You can do something similar in post with Adobe...but it can take a lot more time and tweaking.... and the results will be close but not exactly the same.

Sounds a bit like processing a raw file.

Yes...it is but a bit more optimal for bringing out certain details vs just processing a RAW file for simple JPEG

 

[Mako2011]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

Does this also apply when one shoots in full manual?

When shooting RAW yes, as even in manual a different ISO can get applied

Wouldn't the exposure be locked to any changes?

Though technically ISO doesn't affect exposure...it can have visual consequences when moving away from what might normally be a native ISO setting being used in the non-ADL shot

 

[j_photo]

Though technically ISO doesn't affect exposure...it can have visual consequences when moving away from what might normally be a native ISO setting being used in the non-ADL shot

Changing iso doesn't change exposure, but it can make a difference in whether highlights are blown and unrecoverable, true?

 

[Sagittarius]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

You can't turn ADL on in post.

Yes you can turn it on in Studio NX.

 

[Monkey007]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

Does this also apply when one shoots in full manual?

When shooting RAW yes, as even in manual a different ISO can get applied

Wouldn't the exposure be locked to any changes?

Though technically ISO doesn't affect exposure...it can have visual consequences when moving away from what might normally be a native ISO setting being used in the non-ADL shot

 

[LuxLuthor]

It can alter exposure, depending on contrast etc.

 

[Tango 55]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

Exactly, the exposure is affected, so you can’t get identical results by post-processing pictures shot without ADL. I still have to play some more with it, but so far I can report very positive results.

 

[NCB]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

You can't turn ADL on in post.

Yes you can turn it on in Studio NX.

But it doesn't have the same effect as turning it on prior to taking the snap.

 

[NCB]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

Exactly, the exposure is affected, so you can’t get identical results by post-processing pictures shot without ADL. I still have to play some more with it, but so far I can report very positive results.

I've been using it for the last 10 years; always have it on in camera. I've found it very effective at retaining shadow detail and avoiding blown highlights. It's one big plus Nikon has over other manufacturers.

 

[mrbr]

And I'm not sure if it was made clear... but setting Active D-Lighting in-camera actually changes the in-camera metering (exposure) of the scene to allow for the post-processing changes to be applied more effectively.

Does this also apply when one shoots in full manual?

When shooting RAW yes, as even in manual a different ISO can get applied

Wouldn't the exposure be locked to any changes?

Though technically ISO doesn't affect exposure...it can have visual consequences when moving away from what might normally be a native ISO setting being used in the non-ADL shot

That is interesting. I just tried a shot in full manual with ADL off and one with on and the exposures/histograms were different even though the settings values including ISO show the same.

So what exactly changed the exposures when shutter, f stop and ISO stayed the same?

See Mako's earlier entry :

quote

Actually does quite a bit more. It can also change the tone curves for different levels of the image. Changes in the tone curves are not global. It will also change brightness/exposure settings differently in different areas of the image. When ADL processing is applied to RAW data...low, mid, and high tone areas of the image are processed differently. You can do something similar in post with Adobe...but it can take a lot more time and tweaking.... and the results will be close but not exactly the same.

unquote

I suggest that you and OP shoot raw + jpg and do ADL bracketing ( see Auto Bracketing (nikonimglib.com) ) and experiment to find your workflow that is best for you.

 

[Sagittarius]

Better in camera when “ needed” or in post with Studio NX?

You can't turn ADL on in post.

Yes you can turn it on in Studio NX.

But it doesn't have the same effect as turning it on prior to taking the snap.

Have you tried? I never use ADL because I shoot in RAW and use LR. I have not used it even when I used Capture NX2 which BTW did not allow to turn it ON in post unless you had it ON in camera.