Does lens choice affect dynamic range for HDR, and what settings matter most?
Asked 2/8/2012
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2 answers
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I'm new to HDR and am trying to process bracketed shots in Photomatix with a Canon 550D. My current setup is the 18-55mm kit lens, three exposures at -2/0/+2, JPEG, evaluative metering, and continuous shooting.
I want to know:
- Would changing to a different lens, such as a 50mm, improve dynamic range or make HDR processing easier?
- If lens choice doesn't matter much, is the typical "HDR look" mostly determined by tone mapping in post-processing?
- Since I often shoot in cloudy/overcast conditions, are there camera settings I should change to get better HDR results?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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1) No, the lens has very little influence on the dynamic range captured, except in exceptional circumstances, for academic interest only, see this question:
2) Yes, the look people attribute to HDR is the result of converting a high dynamic range image to a low dynamic range image suitable for viewing. This step is usually achieved by tonemapping. Merging images to HDR is straightforward, there is usually one possible result. Tonemappig is difficult and requires aesthetic decisions to be made. See:
3) It depends on what your goals are. Often in overcast situations the dynamic range of the scene is not so high that you need HDR in order to capture a detailed image, if your intention is to produce an ultra detailed high contrast unreal image then you can simply apply tonemapping to a single good exposure.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
14y ago
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Lens choice has very little effect on dynamic range. Dynamic range is mainly limited by the camera sensor, not whether you use the 18-55mm or a 50mm lens. In edge cases, a sharper lens may preserve fine shadow detail a bit better, but it won’t meaningfully change HDR capability.
Yes: the stylized “HDR look” people often mean is mostly created during tone mapping. Merging bracketed exposures into an HDR image is relatively straightforward; the final look depends heavily on how you tone-map it.
For capture, the biggest improvement is to shoot RAW instead of JPEG, because RAW retains more dynamic range and gives you more flexibility in processing. Use a tripod and keep ISO low (typically ISO 100 on the 550D) for best quality.
Also, in cloudy or overcast light, the scene may not have enough dynamic range to require HDR at all. Overcast scenes are often naturally lower contrast, so you may not get the dramatic HDR effect you see in high-contrast scenes with bright highlights and deep shadows.
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