Is digital camera dynamic range worse than slide ?

CasualSnaper · 4th August 2008

Which nikon camera has acceptable dynamic range? does low ISO have better dynamic range? how to shoot portrait partly(shoulder and hair) lit with strong sunlight, and partly unlit (face) with strong sunlight (only reflected light) without getting gobo to block the sunlight. OR we can only shoot in the shade with digital camera?

ortega · 4th August 2008

get a different reflector

just balance the lit and unlit areas untill you are happy

CasualSnaper · 4th August 2008

my question is more related to assessing the capability of my existing camera (D50). reflector and gobo are fine if i can shoot privately to narrow the range. at times, just want to work with a camera + a grey card. anyone compare the dynamic range of nikon camera to slides or film ?

Originally Posted by ortega

get a different reflector

just balance the lit and unlit areas untill you are happy

ortega · 4th August 2008

then it depends on the difference between the lit and unlit areas

but i think not. if you just want to use just the camera and gray card

Ansel · 4th August 2008

Originally Posted by CasualSnaper

. anyone compare the dynamic range of nikon camera to slides or film ?

I remember reading about such comparisons some years back. Can do a google search on it.

CasualSnaper · 4th August 2008

last sat sunlight was very strong. the shoulders and knees (model was sitting with knees up) were blown out. the transition of colour from blown part to non blown part is weird. the model was position with her back to the sun.

I just read about D300/D3 adaptive dynamic range. does it work ?

maybe the sunlight was too fierce (based on my pc). maybe slide or negative cannot save the photos too. Being in group shoot, I cant wait for the cloud to diffuse the sunlight. the sunlit floor was my reflector.

reflector makes model eye uncomfortable. maybe Gobo is the way to go.

I set the contrast to -2. it make the colour more sick with strong sunlight. is it possible that by setting low contrast, i would shoot at a brighter exposure leading to over blown? if i would set the contrast at normal level, i would shoot at lower exposure for the next shot after previewing a test shoot. my exposure was set using grey card near her face, not on the shoulders or knees.

i feel that setting low contrast show more detail on the face in the shade.

4th August 2008	#1
CasualSnaper Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 504	Is digital camera dynamic range worse than slide ? Which nikon camera has acceptable dynamic range? does low ISO have better dynamic range? how to shoot portrait partly(shoulder and hair) lit with strong sunlight, and partly unlit (face) with strong sunlight (only reflected light) without getting gobo to block the sunlight. OR we can only shoot in the shade with digital camera?

4th August 2008	#2
ortega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NorthEast Posts: 16,507	Re: Is digital camera dynamic range worse than slide ? get a different reflector just balance the lit and unlit areas untill you are happy __________________ The Law

4th August 2008	#4
ortega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NorthEast Posts: 16,507	Re: Is digital camera dynamic range worse than slide ? then it depends on the difference between the lit and unlit areas but i think not. if you just want to use just the camera and gray card __________________ The Law

4th August 2008	#6
CasualSnaper Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 504	Re: Is digital camera dynamic range worse than slide ? last sat sunlight was very strong. the shoulders and knees (model was sitting with knees up) were blown out. the transition of colour from blown part to non blown part is weird. the model was position with her back to the sun. I just read about D300/D3 adaptive dynamic range. does it work ? maybe the sunlight was too fierce (based on my pc). maybe slide or negative cannot save the photos too. Being in group shoot, I cant wait for the cloud to diffuse the sunlight. the sunlit floor was my reflector. reflector makes model eye uncomfortable. maybe Gobo is the way to go. I set the contrast to -2. it make the colour more sick with strong sunlight. is it possible that by setting low contrast, i would shoot at a brighter exposure leading to over blown? if i would set the contrast at normal level, i would shoot at lower exposure for the next shot after previewing a test shoot. my exposure was set using grey card near her face, not on the shoulders or knees. i feel that setting low contrast show more detail on the face in the shade. Last edited by CasualSnaper; 4th August 2008 at 01:18 PM.