Does the Nikon D5100 support real auto exposure bracketing, and how is it different from HDR?
Asked 11/30/2011
2 views
2 answers
0
I'm confused by the bracketing options on the Nikon D5100. On some Nikon models, auto bracketing captures multiple frames at different exposures so you can keep the separate images. The D5100 also has an HDR setting, which seems different. Does the D5100 have true auto exposure bracketing that saves separate shots, and how does that differ from its HDR mode and the white balance / Active D-Lighting bracketing options?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
8
The D5100 can bracket for exposure, which is what I suppose you call true bracketing. Technically this is AEB which stands for Auto-Exposure Bracketing.
It can also bracket for WB or Adaptive D-Lighting which is what people refer to as a virtual bracket because the camera takes ONE shot and saves it 3 times, with different WB or Adaptive D-Lighting setting.
There is ALSO a separate HDR feature which takes 3 shots of bracketed for exposure (AEB) but blends them together into one tone-mapped shot right in the camera. In this case only one image is saved onto the memory card. Technically this is closer to Exposure-Fusion but HDR is a better known acronym so most products say HDR instead.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The Nikon D5100 does support real auto exposure bracketing (AEB). In AEB, the camera captures multiple frames at different exposure levels and saves them as separate images, so you can review or merge them later.
That is different from the D5100’s other “bracketing” options:
- White balance bracketing and Active D-Lighting bracketing are more like virtual brackets: the camera uses one captured image and creates multiple versions with different processing.
- HDR mode is separate from normal bracketing. It uses bracketed exposures internally, then combines them in-camera into a single final image. In that mode, you typically get one blended result rather than separate bracketed files.
So if your goal is to keep multiple differently exposed shots, use auto exposure bracketing, not HDR mode. If your goal is a single in-camera high dynamic range style result, use HDR.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
What’s the difference between HDR, Active D-Lighting, multiple exposure, and bracketing?
Recommended Nikon D5100 settings for photographing moving cars
How can I make a Nikon D7000 shoot all bracketed exposures with one press?
How can I recreate Nikon Active D-Lighting in post when shooting RAW?
How does Auto ISO work on the Nikon D5100 in P, S, A, and M modes?