LX7 - Range of Exposure in HDR

[PhilSouth]

Cyril - Thanks so much for all the time and efforts - so very helpful to anyone who reads your comments.

It looks like I have it all down pretty well on both the SCN Mode HDR and the Creative Mode HDR (haven't a clue about iHDR, but that does not matter as I will not be using that).

The only remaining items I guess are...

1. How wide, numerically, can exposure be spread?
2. Why is the autobracket feature (DOWN button) available in Creative HDR (simply makes no sense to me for a single-shot in-camera feature)?

NOTE: On #2 above, if autobracketing is chosen while in Creative HDR mode, you will NOT create a single HDR image; you WILL get 3 different non-HDR exposures, just as you would in P Mode. I'm sorry, that's just weird.)

Phil

 

[PhilSouth]

My Goodness, Trevmar! I cannot believe how well the new "one image" HDR in Silkypix Pro 5 performs! Side-by-side with my personal best photos processed via Photomatix, this does as well or better with one RAW image. And it does it in 10 seconds vs. at least one minute.

I will definitely use this software for many things "casual" to "serious" in the future. On first blush, for interiors, it seems that a slight underexposure will yield the best results. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Cyril Catt]

PhilSouth wrote: Cyril - Thanks so much for all the time and efforts - so very helpful to anyone who reads your comments.

It looks like I have it all down pretty well on both the SCN Mode HDR and the Creative Mode HDR (haven't a clue about iHDR, but that does not matter as I will not be using that).

The only remaining items I guess are...

1. How wide, numerically, can exposure be spread?

I do not think that the LX7’s Creative Mode HD setting invokes a true High Dynamic Range (HDR) function with an actual spread of exposures. I believe it simply sets ISO400 (to provide more shadow detail) and alters the response curve applied to the raw sensor data, to avoid burn out in lighter areas. The result is useful for backlit situations, but is not as large a change as the HDR setting in the Scene Mode would give - and which, by depending on the limited capabilities of the in-camera processor, may not be as good a result as one produced from the same data by a more powerful computer with more sophisticated software - as already pointed out by trevmar.

2. Why is the autobracket feature (DOWN button) available in Creative HDR (simply makes no sense to me for a single-shot in-camera feature)?

That seems to be one of the several confusing aspects of the logic trees buried within the LX7’s firmware. I can only assume that in the various settings of the Creative mode, if any of the Up, Down, Left and Right buttons is not assigned to an action of the chosen setting, they default to their actions when in the P, A, S, or M modes.

(Please note, however, there is NO HDR setting in the Creative mode: it is only an HD setting.)

NOTE: On #2 above, if autobracketing is chosen while in Creative HDR mode, you will NOT create a single HDR image; you WILL get 3 different non-HDR exposures, just as you would in P Mode. I'm sorry, that's just weird.) Phil

Also weird, when I checked this, with the settings at the maximum spread of +/-3, the Creative mode gave me three pictures at +3, -3, and 0. However, the P mode gave me three pictures at +3, -3, and 0, IF the EV setting below the screen was set to zero before I pressed the shutter button. But if I had left it at -3, from a previous shot, I got three pictures with a somewhat lopsided spread at 0, -6 and -3 EV!. Clearly, this is something to beware to check - or another undocumented “Feature”?

One of the problems for the manufacturer is to decide whether a setting should be maintained from one shot to the next (or whenever the camera is turned off and then back on), or whether it should have to be reset for each shot, and/or whether the user should be given the option of choosing between resetting or not.

 

[trevmar]

PhilSouth wrote:

My Goodness, Trevmar! I cannot believe how well the new "one image" HDR in Silkypix Pro 5 performs! Side-by-side with my personal best photos processed via Photomatix, this does as well or better with one RAW image. And it does it in 10 seconds vs. at least one minute.

Indeed, to be able to HDR every RAW print has been an absolutely amazing boon to me since this new version of SilkyPix was released. There are no problems with moving subjects (you only need one RAW LX7 / FZ200 shot). Applying a small amount of HDR to all my shots is bringing up detail in shadow which I didn't really notice during the shoot.

For example - when taking this shot of the Kazan Kremlin at nightfall, I really didn't notice the young couple in the foreground. Adding some HDR in SilkyPix (62%) gave the second shot, much more interesting in its composition, yet actually exactly the same photo...










Adding a little HDR changes the composition...

 

[Cyril Catt]

trevmar wrote: [...]

For example - when taking this shot of the Kazan Kremlin at nightfall, I really didn't notice the young couple in the foreground. Adding some HDR in SilkyPix (62%) gave the second shot, much more interesting in its composition, yet actually exactly the same photo...

trevmar, you say that you did not notice the couple in the foreground when you took this shot. Does that mean that the scene appeared even darker to you than it appears in your first photo? That is what I have been experiencing with dusk time shots: the LX7 appears to 'see' much more than my naked eye does. That is similar to using my 7 x 50 binoculars at dusk. They capture and feed into my dark-adapted dilated pupils more light than my pupils can capture unaided. Presumably the LX7's fast lens is doing the same, and SilkyPix's HDR can reveal even more

--
Cyril

 

[trevmar]

Cyril Catt wrote:

trevmar, you say that you did not notice the couple in the foreground when you took this shot. Does that mean that the scene appeared even darker to you than it appears in your first photo?

Cyril,

Well, i recall having to get exactly the right perspective so that all the floodlights on the minarets were hidden from the camera, and also watching the histogram display for overload. Plus I needed even more wide angle to frame the walls properly. So I had a lot on my mind. But I still think I would have noticed the young couple had they been more visible. For example, on one of my frames they were embracing. Which I certainly should have noticed...

I do leave the Panasonics in their iExposure mode to try and lighten the shadows a bit. So maybe you are correct, and the camera did a better job of catching the scene than my eyes did. I was certainly surprised when I developed the print... the thumbnails had not done it justice...

 

[Cyril Catt]

trevmar wrote:

Cyril Catt wrote:

trevmar, you say that you did not notice the couple in the foreground when you took this shot. Does that mean that the scene appeared even darker to you than it appears in your first photo?

Cyril,

Well, i recall having to get exactly the right perspective so that all the floodlights on the minarets were hidden from the camera, and also watching the histogram display for overload. Plus I needed even more wide angle to frame the walls properly. So I had a lot on my mind. But I still think I would have noticed the young couple had they been more visible. For example, on one of my frames they were embracing. Which I certainly should have noticed...

I do leave the Panasonics in their iExposure mode to try and lighten the shadows a bit. So maybe you are correct, and the camera did a better job of catching the scene than my eyes did. I was certainly surprised when I developed the print... the thumbnails had not done it justice...

Thanks trevmar. Actually, looking closely at your excellent shot of that lit Kremlin, I see there are three other couples close to the walls, and one couple IS embracing! Seems it's the local Lovers' Lane.