This exercise looked at a dynamic range of digital cameras and of a variety of scenes, and how to deal with the associated challenges and limitations.
To calculate my camera’s dynamic range I followed the instructions in the exercise. I took a picture of a high range setting. I used a spot meter to read the values recorded in highlights and shadow areas.
Below is the image I used for this exercise.
The image was shot 1/125 at f/16, ISO 50, 24mm.
Histogram of the image
suggests that the dynamic range of the scene was wider that that of the camera. This is evident from the highlight and shadow areas ‘falling off the edges’ of the histogram.
suggests that the dynamic range of the scene was wider that that of the camera. This is evident from the highlight and shadow areas ‘falling off the edges’ of the histogram.
The brightness was measured from the white wall area in full sunlight situated near the window: 1/250 sec at f/16.
The shadow area measured for this exercise was the dark corner inside the gates: 1.5 sec at f/16.
Following the instructions in the exercise, I’ve calculated the dynamic range of the camera, as measured in this kind of conditions, being between 9 and 10 stops. This is one stop short of the dynamic range of my camera, as advertised by retailers (11 stops).
I found this exercise helpful and decided to experiment further. I calculated the dynamic ranges of two other camera bodies, including one older digital SLR and one digital compact camera. According to my calculations, each of these cameras has a much smaller range of values that it is able to record.
I’ve also experimented with different methods for calculating the camera’s dynamic range. For example, with a camera mounted on a tripod, I made a serious of exposures; each one was 1 f-stop apart from the next. I was then able to calculate the dynamic range recorded by the camera by counting the images recorded. Again, this method seems to confirm that my camera is capable of recording a dynamic range of around 10 f-stops.
For the second part of the exercise I experimented with recording the dynamic range of a variety of scenes, including:
· A low-light /‘flat’ light scene
· A bright-lit scene with a dynamic range higher than the camera’s
· A night scene
· An early morning scene
· A scene including some water reflections
· A scene that includes a variety of contrasting colours/ brightly coloured objects.
