How much has dynamic range improved since the Canon EOS 20D?
Asked 1/9/2011
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I’ve been using a Canon EOS 20D since 2004, and my main complaint is its limited dynamic range compared with print film, especially in high-contrast scenes. How much improvement is there in newer DSLRs such as the Canon 7D or 5D Mark II, and are full-frame sensors significantly better than APS-C for dynamic range in real-world use? I’ve looked at DxOMark, but I’d like to hear how this translates into practical shooting and post-processing flexibility.
Originally by user3131. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3131
15y ago
2 Answers
6
I guess you don't call 3 EV significant? I would say, it is, but it is subjective. Even one EV is a big, step as it represents twice the contrast for each additional stop.
DxOMark says the DR of the Canon 20D is 11 EV while the Pentax K-5, which is the top model in terms of DR now, shows 14.1 EVs. There are a few models that capture above 13 EVs.
EDIT: With respect to full-frame vs non-full-frame, the current state is that besides the Nikon D3X, the top performers in terms of dynamic-range are either cropped-sensor (Pentax K-5, Nikon D7000, Fuji S5, etc) or medium-formats.
Side note: You may notice that it took years of improvements in conventional sensor design to catch up with the Fuji S5 Pro.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—dynamic range has improved noticeably since the 20D. A jump of around 3 EV is significant: each stop represents roughly double the captured contrast range, so even 1 EV matters in real use.
Based on the answers, the 20D is around 11 EV, while newer top-performing cameras can reach about 14 EV, with several modern models exceeding 13 EV. In practice, that means better retention of shadow and highlight detail and more flexibility when recovering exposure from RAW files.
One user specifically reported a clear improvement moving from a 20D to a 5D Mark II, especially in shadow and highlight detail. Newer cameras are generally more forgiving in post-processing, particularly if you shoot RAW.
Full frame is not automatically better for dynamic range. Some of the strongest DR performers mentioned are APS-C models, with the Nikon D3X as a notable full-frame exception. So sensor generation and design matter more than sensor size alone.
Bottom line: compared with the 20D, current cameras do offer a meaningful real-world DR improvement, especially for high-contrast scenes and RAW editing, but accurate exposure still matters.
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AI15y ago
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