Dynamic range of sensors varies from camera to camera. You might be surprised by the (updated) chart below because the dynamic range of sensors is not as directly related to camera costs as you might think. You’ll notice that some mid level DSLRs are way ahead of the curve over other camera’s pro level cameras when it comes to dynamic range of the sensor. This test was conducted by DXOmark.com and you can go there to read about how the tests were conducted.
|||—— UPDATED FOR NEW CAMERAS TESTED BY DXOmark.com —–|||
What is important and relevant to HDRI is the dynamic range of your sensor. It really matters. Unless you taking large and tight brackets of each scene then it really, really, REALLY matters even moreso than you think. If you are following a technique taught by someone using say a D3x and they tell you all you need is X shots, but you are using a camera at the bottom of the chart below and taking the same number… there is no way you can match that person’s results. Its mathematically impossible.
I get asked all the time how many shots do I take when I shoot, but nobody asks me with what camera. Everyone assumes they are all about the same for HDR. They aren’t.
Gear used for capturing brackets for HDR is even more critical if you are only taking 3 shots. It will directly impact the quality of your HDR file. IF YOU ARE SHOOTING FOR VFX WORK THIS IS SLIGHTLY LESS CRITICAL THAN IF YOU WILL BE TONEMAPPING FOR REALISM (only slightly less though).
I’ve captured and tonemapped over 13,000 images for architecture, real estate and commercial shoots. I’ve forfeited all my vacation time the last 4 years just to do intensive testing about what works better. Gear, post production, you name it.
I’m pretty obsessive compulsive about trying to get a realistic looking image for real estate interiors and I’ve bought and/or rented about 40% of the cameras on this list below. DXOmark.com seems on the mark as far as my personal results are concerned.
Dynamic Range of Camera Sensors (I chose to focus on modern day digital models only)
No test is perfect. DXOmark has attempted to do this objectively, but because ISO/Noise and how cameras can handle scenes, colors and other differing factors, this should not be the only way to base your purchasing decision. For example…
Someone could use the Canon 1000D (also known as the Canon XS) plus a piece of gear to get pro HDR captures.
If you bought that entry level Canon 1000D/XS for $400+ and a PROMOTE CONTROL for $299, (which will soon be adding HDR Timelapse to its functions in addition to HDR capture and standard Timelapse), then you could take very large and tight brackets with the Promote Control attached to your 1000D/XS that will capture well beyond what the in camera AEB capabilities of every single camera on that chart above. Yes, including a D3x or 1Ds Mark III. Sometimes the piece of “kit” you add to the mix can make a lower end device perform very well (dynamic range speaking here). Of course the pixel quality of a D3x/1DsMarkIII is easily better than a Canon XS, but at the cost of $8000 it should be.
Posted by Michael James on Mar 31 2010 in Camera Companies, DSLR Gear, HDR, training Tags: Canon, D3, D3s, D700, D700s, dynamic range, HDR, HDR Capture, HDR Timelapse, Nikon, Pentax, Promote Control, tonemapping
