Originally posted by jjeling Ok, Ive already been corrected. Way to go Pentax. I love Pentax but usually do not keep up on the information as Im usually out in the field with the camera. Maybe someone out there wants to trade their K20 for my K10? hahaha
By this posting, it almost seems as though someone told you that the K20D can do true HDR inside the camera. If so, that is almost entirely false.
I say 'almost' because it really depends on how someone defines true HDR. After all HDR means High Dynamic Range, and by that, if your expectations are low, the K20D does offer Expanded Dynamic Range BUT it is by no means nearly as good as what most people consider HDR. It is simply impossible for any CCD or CMOS image (AFAIK) to capture HDR with one single exposure.
It is important to remember that what the K20D is doing is nothing more 'magical' than what you can do with a RAW image in post processing. The K20D is simply changing the brightness of pixels that are either too dark or too bright. Please don't misunderstand, the Expanded Dynamic Range feature on the K20 is super-fantastic when you are in a difficult lighting situation and you require ready-to-go photos.
On the other hand, 'true' HDR is represented by shooting several individual photos, that are exposed for different subjects in the same scene. Or, in other words, several different exposures, both -EV and +EV. The K20D's Expanded Dynamic Range is a poor substitute for that.
BTW, HDR isn't a new idea. It actually goes back to the beginning of photography. The idea is simply to make the camera see what the human eye sees. I was doing (or attempting) HDR 20 years ago with an enlarger and dodging or stacked negs/pos with cut out sections and balsum. Digital photography and good software (e.g. Photomatix Pro) just makes HDR a million times easier.
For really nice examples of earlier HDR, have a look at Ansel Adams' B+W photography. Whether it is color or B+W, HDR is stunning!
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