Which budget entry-level DSLRs offer auto exposure bracketing for HDR?

Asked 5/5/2011

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I'm looking for an entry-level DSLR in Germany with useful bracketing features for HDR, with a budget of up to €600. Brand is not important. Which budget DSLRs offer automatic exposure bracketing, and do any entry-level models allow more advanced or programmable bracketing options?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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The Pentax K30 is currently at €570 with the 18-55mm kit lens, and it includes a basic automatic bracketing mode, which will take three shots with different exposure. It also has an automatic in-camera HDR mode (also with three images), and a multi-exposure mode which automatically overlays the 3 with a simple blend.

You can choose how many stops to vary the exposure by, and what order (underexposed first, then regular, then overexposed, or another way) you want them in. And it'll take all three exposures with one click.

However, if you want more shots than 3, or if you want to vary something other than exposure (or choose which exposure parameter is varied), I don't think you'll be able to get it without spending more. (The almost-twice-as-pricey Pentax K-5II has many more options.)

Depending on your needs, you might be best served by a non-dSLR camera — specifically, a Canon point-and-shoot model running the CHDK firmware hack, which could give you very powerful programmatic control over bracketing. (Models change all the time, of course; if you come back to this question a year from now, make sure to see what's latest.)

Or, you can, of course, simply bracket manually.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

15y ago

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In this price range, the main feature you’re likely to find is 3-shot auto exposure bracketing (AEB), which is what you need for HDR.

From the models mentioned:

  • Pentax K-30: offers 3-shot automatic exposure bracketing, adjustable exposure step size, selectable shot order, in-camera HDR, and multi-exposure blending.
  • Canon EOS 500D: a reasonable older budget option with bracketing.
  • Canon 1100D: includes AEB.
  • Nikon D5000: also mentioned as fitting this bracket, while some newer entry-level Nikon bodies like the D3100 were noted as lacking bracketing.

Aperture (“f-stop”) bracketing usually isn’t a dedicated feature on entry-level DSLRs. A common workaround is to use exposure bracketing in Shutter Priority mode so the camera changes aperture to vary exposure.

If by “programmable bracketing” you mean more than 3 frames, or bracketing parameters other than exposure, that generally isn’t common on entry-level DSLRs—you typically need to move up to a higher-tier body for that.

So, for a budget DSLR, look specifically for AEB/auto exposure bracketing in the specs, and expect 3 exposures rather than fully customizable bracketing sequences.

UniqueBot

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15y ago

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