Extend dynamic range - quick & easy

[HarryP]

With the capabilities with RAW such as EV adjustment, WB, contrast etc., would you not say bracketing is almost un-neccesary? Could you not just create two picture files with different dynamic ranges and combine them as described by Gordon?

HarryP.

Man, I just can't keep up anymore. I thought you HAD a camera with
RAW for some reason. I thought you had the F828.

No, sadly. I WISH I had a camera with RAW, but I was holding off to
see what showed up at PMA. Now that we know that, I'm waiting for
the reviews and user comments before making a decision.

I was lusting after the 828 from the day it was announced last
summer, but in its current form (no RAW buffer and PF) it's lost a
bit of its...uh...luster. If Sony can get those two issues
rectified before I'm ready to buy, then I'll give the 828 some
strong consideration. However, I almost never shoot TIFF now with
my 707 because of the write delay and that's unacceptable for my
next camera(s) as I plan to use RAW extensively.

I like this one as opposed to others I've used because this one is
extremely fast. Bing, bang, click, boom, bam, and there it is.

I am ALL for the "Bing, bang, boom" method! Hahahah... I'd never
heard of this one. Reading it was like reading about magic or
something!

Ha! Maybe you just named this technique! I've always thought of it
as the 'Cmd-Click RGB' technique, but the 'Bing, bang, boom' method
has much more punch to it. ;-)

--



http://www.pbase.com/merriwolf/

 

[Ulysses]

I don't know that I'd say that RAW renders bracketing as unnecessary. Here's why: RAW at least as implemented in digicams like the F828, the Pro1, A2, etc. is going to give you roughly a leeway of ±1 stop of adjustment in the conversion software before you start to get ugly problems showing up in the picture.

If you take some bracketed shots that are 1 stop or more different in exposure, then that gives you that much more opportunity to 'open up' the final composition for an even wider dynamic range possible. So bracketing will always be a good thing where necessary, because you can preserve the integrity of the highlights or shadowed areas whereas with one shot alone --- even in RAW --- you may need to compromise somewhere.

With the capabilities with RAW such as EV adjustment, WB, contrast
etc., would you not say bracketing is almost un-neccesary? Could
you not just create two picture files with different dynamic ranges
and combine them as described by Gordon?

--

Ulysses

 

[David_S85]

Ulysses wrote:
I don't know that I'd say that RAW renders bracketing as
unnecessary. Here's why: RAW at least as implemented in digicams
like the F828, the Pro1, A2, etc. is going to give you roughly a
leeway of ±1 stop of adjustment in the conversion software before
you start to get ugly problems showing up in the picture.

If you take some bracketed shots that are 1 stop or more different
in exposure, then that gives you that much more opportunity to
'open up' the final composition for an even wider dynamic range
possible. So bracketing will always be a good thing where
necessary, because you can preserve the integrity of the highlights
or shadowed areas whereas with one shot alone --- even in RAW ---
you may need to compromise somewhere.

Exactly. If you've got RAW, use it. If you can bracket in RAW, then do that too. Even in cams that allow ±1.2 - 1.75 stops, I'd still bracket. You're only going to get a better blend later in post.

[I don't have RAW either right now, but wish I did]

For one-shot requirements (lots of motion), well, yes, RAW is about the only way to go. You can always contrast mask with one JPEG, but with RAW, it just makes creating a couple TIF's on either side that can respond better to layer masking.

• David

 

[Arn]

--



http://arn.reverbe.com/

 

[HarryP]

Ulysses wrote:
I don't know that I'd say that RAW renders bracketing as
unnecessary. Here's why: RAW at least as implemented in digicams
like the F828, the Pro1, A2, etc. is going to give you roughly a
leeway of ±1 stop of adjustment in the conversion software before
you start to get ugly problems showing up in the picture.

If you take some bracketed shots that are 1 stop or more different
in exposure, then that gives you that much more opportunity to
'open up' the final composition for an even wider dynamic range
possible. So bracketing will always be a good thing where
necessary, because you can preserve the integrity of the highlights
or shadowed areas whereas with one shot alone --- even in RAW ---
you may need to compromise somewhere.

Exactly. If you've got RAW, use it. If you can bracket in RAW,
then do that too. Even in cams that allow ±1.2 - 1.75 stops, I'd
still bracket. You're only going to get a better blend later in
post.

[I don't have RAW either right now, but wish I did]

For one-shot requirements (lots of motion), well, yes, RAW is about
the only way to go. You can always contrast mask with one JPEG, but
with RAW, it just makes creating a couple TIF's on either side that
can respond better to layer masking.

• David

 

[Yellow River]

thanks Gordon!