09-15-2011, 08:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-15-2011, 08:40 AM by Brightcolours.)
[quote name='Brisco' timestamp='1316073339' post='11611']
High DR means low contrast pics?
[/quote]
If you want to use that higher dynamic range, the only way possible way to show it is to compress it. Dark parts are then less dark, light parts are less light. So yes, a high dynamic range photo has low contrast.
This of course does not mean that a higher dynamic range of the capturing device means low contrast images.... The tonal curves of all cameras are very similar. It only means that when you want to show a high dynamic range, you end up with low contrast.
Example to illustrate:
![[Image: gallery_10230_63_88449.jpg]](http://forum.photozone.de/uploads/gallery/album_63/gallery_10230_63_88449.jpg)
A "scene" with a very high dynamic range... the sun (can't get much brighter than that) and a stem in the shadow.
The top image has the highest dynamic range. You can see that the sun overwhelmed the sensor, pure white without detail, called "blown out". You see that in the histogram too on the right. Low contrast image.
The middle image has a standard tonal curve. Most people will find that image more attractive to see. It has a lower dynamic range.
The bottom image, it has had its contrast increased a bit. The shadowy parts are darker. This image has the lowest dynamic range, but looks the most "dynamic".
Most cameras have a default tonal curve in their settings similar to the middle image. Cameras which produce standards images with more "punch" have a tonal curve which gives less dynamic range.
More "punch" to an image means less dynamic range, both in tonal curve and in saturation terms.
High DR means low contrast pics?
[/quote]
If you want to use that higher dynamic range, the only way possible way to show it is to compress it. Dark parts are then less dark, light parts are less light. So yes, a high dynamic range photo has low contrast.
This of course does not mean that a higher dynamic range of the capturing device means low contrast images.... The tonal curves of all cameras are very similar. It only means that when you want to show a high dynamic range, you end up with low contrast.
Example to illustrate:
A "scene" with a very high dynamic range... the sun (can't get much brighter than that) and a stem in the shadow.
The top image has the highest dynamic range. You can see that the sun overwhelmed the sensor, pure white without detail, called "blown out". You see that in the histogram too on the right. Low contrast image.
The middle image has a standard tonal curve. Most people will find that image more attractive to see. It has a lower dynamic range.
The bottom image, it has had its contrast increased a bit. The shadowy parts are darker. This image has the lowest dynamic range, but looks the most "dynamic".
Most cameras have a default tonal curve in their settings similar to the middle image. Cameras which produce standards images with more "punch" have a tonal curve which gives less dynamic range.
More "punch" to an image means less dynamic range, both in tonal curve and in saturation terms.