HDR and bracketing

[qwertyjjj]

I was just looking at HDR on my camera and I turned on bracketing, which is supposed to take 3 different focal lengths.
However, on the SD card, I only see a RAW file and a JPG file. SHould there be 3 different images or is it all contained in the 1 RAW file?
This is for a Canon G12.

 

[Designer]

Bracketing doesn't change focal length, but rather exposure.

 

[qwertyjjj]

Bracketing doesn't change focal length, but rather exposure.

AM I looking at the wrong thing then?
The G12 screen says Focus-BKT Takes 3 shots at different focal distances.
The other option is BKT-Off Turns off bracketing.

 

[Solarflare]

Then the G12 screen is definitely incorrect. Different focal length doesnt make any sense.

Besides, if its like the G11, you have a nice wheel to correct exposure very easily on the camera. I think that wheel is the main feature of the G11 that I'm missing on my D5100, where you have to correct exposure with the menu.

 

[fjrabon]

yeah, the G12 does focus bracketing, but you should have 3 different images if it is on.

 

[fjrabon]

Then the G12 screen is definitely incorrect. Different focal length doesnt make any sense.

Besides, if its like the G11, you have a nice wheel to correct exposure very easily on the camera. I think that wheel is the main feature of the G11 that I'm missing on my D5100, where you have to correct exposure with the menu.

Nope, the G12 does have focus bracketing where you can tell it to take three pictures with slightly different focal points in succession. I have no idea what you'd use it for, but it does do it. It was a new feature for the G12, that the G11 didn't have.

I know because I demo'd one recently (ultimately I decided on the Lumix LX5 instead).

Bracketing doesn't change focal length, but rather exposure.

AM I looking at the wrong thing then?
The G12 screen says Focus-BKT Takes 3 shots at different focal distances.
The other option is BKT-Off Turns off bracketing.

The G12 will also do exposure bracketing as well (which is what you'd use for HDR), though I can't remember exactly what menu it's under. Check your manual.

 

[qwertyjjj]

Then the G12 screen is definitely incorrect. Different focal length doesnt make any sense.

Besides, if its like the G11, you have a nice wheel to correct exposure very easily on the camera. I think that wheel is the main feature of the G11 that I'm missing on my D5100, where you have to correct exposure with the menu.

Nope, the G12 does have focus bracketing where you can tell it to take three pictures with slightly different focal points in succession. I have no idea what you'd use it for, but it does do it. It was a new feature for the G12, that the G11 didn't have.

I know because I demo'd one recently (ultimately I decided on the Lumix LX5 instead).

Bracketing doesn't change focal length, but rather exposure.

AM I looking at the wrong thing then?
The G12 screen says Focus-BKT Takes 3 shots at different focal distances.
The other option is BKT-Off Turns off bracketing.

The G12 will also do exposure bracketing as well (which is what you'd use for HDR), though I can't remember exactly what menu it's under. Check your manual.

Yep, found it. It only works in Aperture priority or shutter priority mode and not full manual...strange.
So it has bracketing for exposure and also bracketing for focal length.

So, to do HDR, you always need 3 photos?

 

[fjrabon]

Then the G12 screen is definitely incorrect. Different focal length doesnt make any sense.

Besides, if its like the G11, you have a nice wheel to correct exposure very easily on the camera. I think that wheel is the main feature of the G11 that I'm missing on my D5100, where you have to correct exposure with the menu.

Nope, the G12 does have focus bracketing where you can tell it to take three pictures with slightly different focal points in succession. I have no idea what you'd use it for, but it does do it. It was a new feature for the G12, that the G11 didn't have.

I know because I demo'd one recently (ultimately I decided on the Lumix LX5 instead).

AM I looking at the wrong thing then?
The G12 screen says Focus-BKT Takes 3 shots at different focal distances.
The other option is BKT-Off Turns off bracketing.

The G12 will also do exposure bracketing as well (which is what you'd use for HDR), though I can't remember exactly what menu it's under. Check your manual.

Yep, found it. It only works in Aperture priority or shutter priority mode and not full manual...strange.
So it has bracketing for exposure and also bracketing for focal length.

So, to do HDR, you always need 3 photos?

Well, I guess technically you could do HDR with 2. However, it usually works best with at least 3, as that allows you to have one at the correct exposure that will be used for most of the image, one above for the darkest areas and one below for the lightest areas.

2 is a nightmare unless you are only wanting to bring up a few shadows.

Many of the best HDR images use as many as 9 different exposures.

 

[JoshuaSimPhotography]

HDR is easier with RAW but can still be used in JPEG, some cameras even have their own HDR mode!

 

[EDL]

If shooting from a tripod, manually drop to -2 EV, take a shot, bump up to -1 EV, take a shot, etc through +2 EV. You could also just do a manual three-shot set -2 EV, 0, +2 EV.

Having the camera do auto bracketing just makes it more convenient and if it is fast enough will allow you to do handheld HDR shots.

The idea behind HDR is to capture the details in areas that are outside the dynamic range of a single-shot. Depending on the scene there might be enough dynamic range to require more shots than just 3 and cover a wider EV range. Generally 3 shots are effective, but don't always provide the best results.

Play with it, shoot a scene with just three shots and again with 5 or 7 or 9. Try different EV ranges too, then process and compare the results.

You'll find that HDR processing also favors certain textures too. Wood grain seems to be especially enhanced, also too pavement.

You shouldn't be changing aperture for the shots as that will alter DOF and when the shots are processed together can have bad results. Use shutter priority mode to get the EV's.

 

[qwertyjjj]

If shooting from a tripod, manually drop to -2 EV, take a shot, bump up to -1 EV, take a shot, etc through +2 EV. You could also just do a manual three-shot set -2 EV, 0, +2 EV.

Having the camera do auto bracketing just makes it more convenient and if it is fast enough will allow you to do handheld HDR shots.

The idea behind HDR is to capture the details in areas that are outside the dynamic range of a single-shot. Depending on the scene there might be enough dynamic range to require more shots than just 3 and cover a wider EV range. Generally 3 shots are effective, but don't always provide the best results.

Play with it, shoot a scene with just three shots and again with 5 or 7 or 9. Try different EV ranges too, then process and compare the results.

You'll find that HDR processing also favors certain textures too. Wood grain seems to be especially enhanced, also too pavement.

You shouldn't be changing aperture for the shots as that will alter DOF and when the shots are processed together can have bad results. Use shutter priority mode to get the EV's.

But in shutter priority mode, the camera will shoose the aperture and will change it for each of the 3 exposures won't it?

 

[fjrabon]

If shooting from a tripod, manually drop to -2 EV, take a shot, bump up to -1 EV, take a shot, etc through +2 EV. You could also just do a manual three-shot set -2 EV, 0, +2 EV.

Having the camera do auto bracketing just makes it more convenient and if it is fast enough will allow you to do handheld HDR shots.

The idea behind HDR is to capture the details in areas that are outside the dynamic range of a single-shot. Depending on the scene there might be enough dynamic range to require more shots than just 3 and cover a wider EV range. Generally 3 shots are effective, but don't always provide the best results.

Play with it, shoot a scene with just three shots and again with 5 or 7 or 9. Try different EV ranges too, then process and compare the results.

You'll find that HDR processing also favors certain textures too. Wood grain seems to be especially enhanced, also too pavement.

You shouldn't be changing aperture for the shots as that will alter DOF and when the shots are processed together can have bad results. Use shutter priority mode to get the EV's.

But in shutter priority mode, the camera will shoose the aperture and will change it for each of the 3 exposures won't it?

Yes, I think he meant that backwards. If you're using exposure compensation to do manual bracketing, you want to use aperture priority mode (or full manual), so you guarantee you're at the same aperture. The one thing you DONT want is shutter priority mode.

 

[480sparky44 43]

Silly question, but are you pushing the shutter button once, or three times?

 

[Solarflare]

If you have braketing, you press it once and the camera does 3 pictures at 3 different exposures (or 3 different foci, though I dont know whats that good for).

 

[480sparky44 43]

If you have braketing, you press it once and the camera does 3 pictures at 3 different exposures

Nikon is different, then. You need to press the shutter once for every bracket.

(or 3 different foci, though I dont know whats that good for).

I agree.... changing the focal length would have zero benefit.