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slackercruster · 04-15-2012, 02:19 PM

I saw my Penatx has a setting for HDR. How does this compare to HDR where 5 or 6 exposures are made and combined PP?

Thanks

Stone G. · 04-15-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by slackercruster

I saw my Penatx has a setting for HDR. How does this compare to HDR where 5 or 6 exposures are made and combined PP?

Thanks

No doubt, it depends very much upon the range. Sometimes 3 exposures suffice to get usable results, sometimes you need more to get a decent representation of all levels.

I guess most "real" HDR photographers wouldn't rely on an entirely automated process, and they would most likely also do some additional post-processing. I should say that in-camera HDR is a "nice to have" (at least to play with) but certainly not a "must have" feature. Nonetheless I have been pleasantly surprised to discover how well it has worked in certain situations with my K-5.

**Kerrowdown** · 04-15-2012, 03:06 PM

It seems to work well enough for a "quick and dirty" (when pushed for time) approach for balancing interior shots with the scenes outside the windows.

hcarvalhoalves · 04-15-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by slackercruster

What does 'in camera' HDR do?

Ruin your photo

No, seriously. It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures.

For real HDR (not Photoshop filters) please check the seminal work that was released on SIGGRAPH about this technique:

http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~danix/hdr/pages/memorial.html

**jatrax** · 04-15-2012, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by hcarvalhoalves

It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures.

I think the OP was talking about the HDR capture mode, not the filter. This mode takes three images bracketed at -3ev, ev, +3ev and combines them into a single jpeg.

Admittedly not the same as taking 5 or more images and combining them in proper HDR software, but not a filter. As noted above the images are acceptable for some definition of acceptable. And in some situations allow you to get a shot that would be impossible otherwise. The mode includes an auto-align switch which allows you to use it off tripod and still get results.

ofer4 · 04-15-2012, 04:12 PM

@hcarvalhoalves... On the K-r, at least, it does combine multiple images. It doesn't always do it well

, but it's at least "true" HDR.

hcarvalhoalves · 04-15-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

I think the OP was talking about the HDR capture mode, not the filter. This mode takes three images bracketed at -3ev, ev, +3ev and combines them into a single jpeg.

You're correct. In addition to the HDR "filter" the K-r introduces a HDR "mode". In that case it's actual HDR, but there are different possible HDR algorithms (tonal mapping, contrast reduction, etc.) that optimize to reduce visual artifacts (like halos). Given each one yields different results, it's always better to use a dedicated software. The in-camera HDR will be limited to the fastest algorithm, which is not necessarly the best one.

alohadave · 04-15-2012, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by hcarvalhoalves

Ruin your photo

No, seriously. It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures.

For real HDR (not Photoshop filters) please check the seminal work that was released on SIGGRAPH about this technique:

Stanford Memorial Church

It's not just a gimmick filter. It takes three separate exposures and combines them and tonemaps them.

**Rondec** · 04-15-2012, 06:38 PM

It's OK. I find that the in camera HDR does a pretty good job with high contrast scenes. If you use it on the wrong scene though, it can end up with odd, too flat results. I prefer to take five exposures and do the adjustment myself in photomatix, but certainly for, say, someone doing real estate photography, who wants pretty quick, half way decent HDR, it would certainly work.

04-15-2012, 02:19 PM	#1
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	What does 'in camera' HDR do? I saw my Penatx has a setting for HDR. How does this compare to HDR where 5 or 6 exposures are made and combined PP? Thanks

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04-15-2012, 02:53 PM	#2
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by slackercruster I saw my Penatx has a setting for HDR. How does this compare to HDR where 5 or 6 exposures are made and combined PP? Thanks No doubt, it depends very much upon the range. Sometimes 3 exposures suffice to get usable results, sometimes you need more to get a decent representation of all levels. I guess most "real" HDR photographers wouldn't rely on an entirely automated process, and they would most likely also do some additional post-processing. I should say that in-camera HDR is a "nice to have" (at least to play with) but certainly not a "must have" feature. Nonetheless I have been pleasantly surprised to discover how well it has worked in certain situations with my K-5.

04-15-2012, 03:06 PM	#3
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	It seems to work well enough for a "quick and dirty" (when pushed for time) approach for balancing interior shots with the scenes outside the windows.

04-15-2012, 03:30 PM	#4
hcarvalhoalves Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,019	Originally posted by slackercruster What does 'in camera' HDR do? Ruin your photo No, seriously. It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures. For real HDR (not Photoshop filters) please check the seminal work that was released on SIGGRAPH about this technique: http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~danix/hdr/pages/memorial.html

04-15-2012, 04:12 PM	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	Originally posted by hcarvalhoalves It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures. I think the OP was talking about the HDR capture mode, not the filter. This mode takes three images bracketed at -3ev, ev, +3ev and combines them into a single jpeg. Admittedly not the same as taking 5 or more images and combining them in proper HDR software, but not a filter. As noted above the images are acceptable for some definition of acceptable. And in some situations allow you to get a shot that would be impossible otherwise. The mode includes an auto-align switch which allows you to use it off tripod and still get results.

04-15-2012, 04:12 PM	#6
ofer4 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 428	@hcarvalhoalves... On the K-r, at least, it does combine multiple images. It doesn't always do it well , but it's at least "true" HDR.

04-15-2012, 04:30 PM	#7
hcarvalhoalves Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,019	Originally posted by jatrax I think the OP was talking about the HDR capture mode, not the filter. This mode takes three images bracketed at -3ev, ev, +3ev and combines them into a single jpeg. You're correct. In addition to the HDR "filter" the K-r introduces a HDR "mode". In that case it's actual HDR, but there are different possible HDR algorithms (tonal mapping, contrast reduction, etc.) that optimize to reduce visual artifacts (like halos). Given each one yields different results, it's always better to use a dedicated software. The in-camera HDR will be limited to the fastest algorithm, which is not necessarly the best one.

04-15-2012, 05:13 PM	#8
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by hcarvalhoalves Ruin your photo No, seriously. It's just a gimmick filter that flattens the contrast and applies some sharpening. Actual HDR is only achieved with multiple exposures. For real HDR (not Photoshop filters) please check the seminal work that was released on SIGGRAPH about this technique: Stanford Memorial Church It's not just a gimmick filter. It takes three separate exposures and combines them and tonemaps them.

04-15-2012, 06:38 PM	#9
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,666	It's OK. I find that the in camera HDR does a pretty good job with high contrast scenes. If you use it on the wrong scene though, it can end up with odd, too flat results. I prefer to take five exposures and do the adjustment myself in photomatix, but certainly for, say, someone doing real estate photography, who wants pretty quick, half way decent HDR, it would certainly work.