HDR Pictures?

RKRAMOS · Sep 10, 2011

I feel as if I'm asking a question that is already answered but how do I take HDR pictures with a D5100? I've done some research and tried to mess around with the bracketing but I'm not getting the results I want

Help is appreciated!!!!

Thanks
- Rick

480sparky · Sep 10, 2011

You don't.

You take a series of bracketed exposures with a D5100, then use software to create the HDR on your computer.

Perhaps you could post some of your results, along with the process you're using.

RKRAMOS · Sep 10, 2011

480sparky said:
You don't.

You take a series of bracketed exposures with a D5100, then use software to create the HDR on your computer.

Perhaps you could post some of your results, along with the process you're using.

Oh, lol I've always thought there was a way to actually produce HDR pictures through a camera. Also I don't own and editing software, I use picnik LOL

Bynx · Sep 10, 2011

In spite of what some people tell you, 3 shots arent usually enough to give you a decent HDR image. Even if your 5100 had AEB for 3 shots, its not enough. So you have to do it manually. Select the best settings for the camera depending on the lighting of the scene. Use the lowest ISO you can, pick an aperture around f11 if possible then pick a shutter speed which will give you the best overall shot. Use that as 0. Then click backwards your shutter speed so you can get 2 shutter speeds underexposed. Take your shot then click forward 1 fstop take your shot. Click forward another fstop bringing you to 0 which is your middle shot. Repeat until you have 2 more shots which will be 2 fstops over the 0. Now you should have 5 shots, 2 under exposed, your middle shot and 2 over exposed (-2EV, -1EV, 0EV, +1EV, +2EV). The aperture has not been moved and remained on f11. The only changes has been the shutter speed. Combine the 5 shots in a program like Photomatix, or HDR Effex Pro and you should get what you want.

480sparky · Sep 10, 2011

Without the software, you're pretty much out of luck. Creating HDRs is a post process.

If you're low on funds, you can always try out some of the freeware out there, like FDRTools, Luminance and Picturnaut.

Bynx · Sep 10, 2011

Photomatix is available as trial software. Its fully functional except it displays the PHOTOMATIX name across your final image until you pay for it and get the code to stop the watermark.

RKRAMOS · Sep 10, 2011

Bynx said:
In spite of what some people tell you, 3 shots arent usually enough to give you a decent HDR image. Even if your 5100 had AEB for 3 shots, its not enough. So you have to do it manually. Select the best settings for the camera depending on the lighting of the scene. Use the lowest ISO you can, pick an aperture around f11 if possible then pick a shutter speed which will give you the best overall shot. Use that as 0. Then click backwards your shutter speed so you can get 2 shutter speeds underexposed. Take your shot then click forward 1 fstop take your shot. Click forward another fstop bringing you to 0 which is your middle shot. Repeat until you have 2 more shots which will be 2 fstops over the 0. Now you should have 5 shots, 2 under exposed, your middle shot and 2 over exposed (-2EV, -1EV, 0EV, +1EV, +2EV). The aperture has not been moved and remained on f11. The only changes has been the shutter speed. Combine the 5 shots in a program like Photomatix, or HDR Effex Pro and you should get what you want.

Definitely going to try this tomorrow morning so I can have a little more lighting. It's starting to get dark here.

480sparky said:
Without the software, you're pretty much out of luck. Creating HDRs is a post process.

If you're low on funds, you can always try out some of the freeware out there, like FDRTools, Luminance and Picturnaut.

If I understand Bynx post correctly it's like combining picture with picture, right? If so I can do that on Picnik. I will definitely try out the other software if I don't get the effect I'm after. Thanks!