MiroFoto

Can somebody to explain what is the HDR & ADL difference and when to use it>
I have NikonD7100 and I understand the best quality is to take 3 or 5 bracketed shots (tripod and mirror up + timer or wireless release) and post processed them.
However the camera has the options :
1. HDR ..taking 2 pictures and merge them - it will provide a dull result (more you shake, less sharp it is
2. ADL ..taking one picture and manipulate the extreme exposure areas - seems to me it should be better (theoretically no and off set is involved) ...but it is not better.
So why the camera has these options

B4 I goto lightroom I would like to understand the camera

Thank you

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You mean Active-D Lighting, right? That's a Menu setting that I never turn on. I've tried it both ways, and I prefer to leave it off. If an image needs adjusting, I prefer to do it myself.

Obviously, it must serve a purpose, or Nikon wouldn't have gone to the trouble of developing and including it.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I always leave ADL on Auto. I found it better than the two-shot HDR for images with wide dynamic range and it only requires one image so you don't have to put the camera on a tripod to use it.

One of these days I'll get around to trying it at the higher settings.

I see no downside to using it all the time.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Since I shoot RAW, ADL doesn't work for me, and HDR is rarely needed.
--Bob

MtnMan Loc: ID

Oh, good point. Since I have gone to shooting mostly RAW it isn't doing anything for me either.

I agree you can do as much or more in Lightroom by adjusting shadows and highlights with a RAW image than the camera is able to do with ADL. After all, the RAW data is all the camera has to work with. I have my import preset to start my RAW images at 100% minus on highlights and positive on shadows, and often leave them there.

I think it does affect the LCD jpeg image even when you shoot RAW.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

A number of new cameras have the "HDR" option - even my IPhone has an HDR option (which I think it does by manipulating a single image - and it is very poor). The in-camera option (3 shots in my Canon 70D) can actually seem to work pretty well for me, but since it does merge three images it requires a steady hand, and so an HDR using a tripod and three or more bracketed shots is going to be better when you have that opportunity.

These photos were taken with the in-camera HDR. I had taken the day to shoot a lighthouse which is normally not open to the public, and when I arrived I found that it was open. I had not brought my tripod or flash, but took a chance on a few hand-held HDR shots of the interior of the keeper's house and the base of the tower. Not as sharp as I would have had if I had used a tripod and did exposure bracketing, but pretty acceptable. Without HDR the contrast in light coming in through the windows would have been pretty hard to compensate for in PP.

FYI: Some outside photos are at: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-221396-1.html ( not meaning to hijack your thread, but my posts don't stay listed for more than a few minutes. )

Keeper's cottage


Bottom of tower.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

You get better results taking 3 bracketed images and processing them with software like Photomatix than you would in camera.
I've had excellent results in setting the camera to high speed and taking 3 bracketed shots in succession. I use a tripod if lighting in extreme or I am using my Promote for more than 3 images.

I am not a fan of incamera HDR.

dnathan

what is a Promote????????

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

ADL improves the dynamic range between highlight and blacks giving the midtones a greater value.

MiroFoto

Gentlemen,
I appreciate your input. You did not answer my numbered questions individually, but you have answered more that I have asked= in camera HDR is OK if you have a steady hand (SB) , but a direction from Mtnman -. I need to find the "intake" <- still a greek word for newbe.

Thank you all

Miro

gessman Loc: Colorado

Watching this video might aid in understanding what's going on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S3T-qQFZsA

MtnMan Loc: ID

Great link. Thanks.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

ADL is not recognized by LR or Photoshop only by Nikon post processing.. It is an in camera adjustment that you should avoid - leave off.

HDR is not a 2 shot but up to 9 and higher. It is very effective for images with High Dynamic Range. However, newer cameras capture more detail in highlight and shadow areas that can be solved with LR and Photoshop (no need to shoot HDR/bracketing). If you find yourself in a difficult light, always expose to the light. Get as much detail as you can from the blown out/highlight areas. Getting detail out of shadows is much better than blownout areas. This ability is best if not impossible if not shot in RAW.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Not familiar with Nikon; canon 5D mk iii has three shot in camera HDR and I use it all the time.
go to www.stuckincustoms.com for more info on HDR

MiroFoto

Thank you again,
getting smarter...slowly.

Mark 7829, my Nikon 7100 does in camera HDR as 2 shots (what I hear), bracketing as 3or 5 shots only.

I guess, I have a strategy = shoot RAW & also PEGs in bracketing 0.7 . And if I have set up sharp, contrast and saturation ...it will not affect RAW anyway . So any problems with JPEGS can be solved later if needed with PP, including HDR, CORRECT??