X-T5 - Dynamic Range Setting and Live Preview

[obagley]

Hello all. A new X-T5 owner here, and I am seeing some weird behaviour of the live preview for various Dynamic Range settings (100%, 200% and 400%), and would like to check if anyone else has seen the same.

Basically, the live view (LCD and EVF) does not show the effects of DR setting consistently. I can see ISO and the exposure (Shutter Speed in A mode) correctly changing with DR setting, I can see the effect of DR in the JPG (comparing same shots at DR=100 with DR=200 and 400). But on the live view nothing changes. I understand from reading various forums that this behaviour is expected for DR = Auto setting, but I am using manual 100%, 200% and 400% options. Sometimes a restart of the camera helps and I start seeing effects of DR in live view. It's quite subtle, you have to look at the highlights and note how they become less blown out. I assign DR mode to one of the FN buttons, so that I can change it quickly and see the results on the screen straight away. Also the blinkies clearly get affected - the flashing area gets smaller as you go from 100 to 200, smaller still at 400. But then I restart the camera and it's all gone, nothing changes in in the Live View when I go between 100-200-400 on the same scene and the same settings of the camera. To be clear - the DR function itself works as designed, I can see it in paired shots with different DR values.

What I can confirm:

- Performance is in "Boost", tried all 4 EVF/LCD modes. Also tried "Normal" and "Economy".

- Natural Live View = OFF. Preview exp./WB in manual mode = EXP/WB

- D Range Priority = OFF. Tried to turn it on (Auto/Weak/Strong), it obviously disables the DR setting, but interestingly - the effects of D Range Priority are consistently seen in Live View, no issues. Shadows get grey-ish, highlights less bright.

- Live View definitely shows the exposure correctly. If I switch to M mode and fixed ISO, I can see the view getting darker or brighter according to the exposure parameters.

Any ideas what I may be doing wrong? Can someone confirm that they are able to see the effects of DR setting in live view consistently? I did search the internet extensively, as well as read the manual - it's not clear to me whether the Live View is supposed to reflect DR modes.

 

[Erik Baumgartner]

You really shouldn't see much of a difference in the EVF with the DR modes unless your highlights are well above where they'd be clipping at DR100. With the correct exposure at DR100 and switching to DR200 or 400 you will end up with about the same results, but with progressively flatter highlights (and increased noise relative to DR100 at base ISO).

These are SOOC jpegs at DR100 and DR400 with an X-T20 (the process is the same as the X-T5). Other than somewhat flatter highlights at DR400 (which could be hard to differentiate in the EVF), these image look much the same here. You do want keep NATURAL LIVE VIEW off for this as it does not show an accurate exposure preview.


DR100 SOOC


DR400 SOOC

This was a bright midday scene in direct sun exposed correctly for the highlights at base ISO and DR100 with both DR100 and 400 SOOC jpegs suffering from somewhat darker than optimal mid tones. What the jpeg shooter can do in this situation is to dial up the exposure compensation in DR200 or 400 modes with the aim of bringing up the midtone/shadow lightness to where they ought to be, and the jpeg processing will position the highlights where they need to go - if you don't clip them (the blinkies should still be usable in most outdoor situations). With DR200 you will have +1 stop of extra highlight headroom to play with (+1 stop of EC leeway relative to where clipping would be at DR100), and +2 stops at DR400. Unless you are in a especially extreme situation, DR200 and +1/3 to +2/3 stops of EC (relative to what you'd use at DR100) is usually sufficient and produces a punchier result (DR 400 can be quite flat looking).


DR200 w/+1 stop of EC SOOC. A bit washed out (+ 2/3 stop of EC would have been better), but the overall brightness is much closer to the original scene here, and still no highlight clipping

Personally, as a RAW shooter I always use DR100, but the DR modes can be helpful for getting a better SOOC jpeg result in very high DR situations - though I would still stick primarily stick with DR100 for jpegs most of the time too (for punchier highlights and less noise).