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Active D lighting - on or off.
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Sep 23, 2022 11:38:13   #
selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
 
SuperflyTNT wrote:
I don’t use it and I don’t use Nikon’s software but I’m betting that if you process your raw files with their software you’ll be able to apply it.

If all you have is the raw file on your camera you can recover a little of the shadows in the Retouch menu and save the result to a JPEG. But you don't get the full range of options so it's really not ADL.

But once the raw file is copied to your computer, any software can do a better job.

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Sep 23, 2022 11:49:03   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
User ID wrote:
That violates UHH Sacred Tradition .... but Im with you 100% on that. Do it !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FWIW I leave it on all the time. And I like to leave some space on the highlite side of the histogram. No ETTR cult for me. Im very protective of my highlights. I usually do raw+jpeg, so I have some "insurance". The ETTR cult may point out that Im not *maximizing* my raw files. Thaz true but not a real-world problem.


Completely agree.

Lately we been agreeing with each other much more often than we have in the past. That frightens me. Armageddon, the end of all things, must be nigh.

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Sep 23, 2022 11:54:12   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
selmslie wrote:
That's correct.

I just happened to have the metering mode set to highlight weighted when I tested it and it did not alter the exposure. But with it set to matrix metering it did.

I can see the shadow recovery effect of ADL in the embedded JPEG but since I am starting from raw I have to do that myself.

Yep, it's just not worth the effort to try and map it all out unless you're really intent on using it -- metering mode is a settings change that affects it, it only alters exposure for the highest ADL setting, or maybe only for the two highest settings, I'm not sure, etc.. And then let's say you actually do map all that out -- do it for the Z7 -- will the Z7 mapping apply to other models? Not worth finding out. I'm just going to keep saying ADL may or may not (settings dependent) affect exposure.

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Sep 23, 2022 12:11:17   #
SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA
 
selmslie wrote:
If all you have is the raw file on your camera you can recover a little of the shadows in the Retouch menu and save the result to a JPEG. But you don't get the full range of options so it's really not ADL.

But once the raw file is copied to your computer, any software can do a better job.


I understand that and like I said I don’t use it. Just suggesting that like other JPEG settings on the camera the Nikon software can apply them in processing. But really it’s just moving sliders I can move directly and get the results I want.

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Sep 23, 2022 12:14:37   #
selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
 
mwsilvers wrote:
Completely agree.

Lately we been agreeing with each other much more often than we have in the past. That frightens me. Armageddon, the end of all things, must be nigh.

So do I.

There has been too much hot air about ETTR and how to apply it. Most of the recommended approaches lose track of the only important consideration - to not blow the highlights accidentally. An ETTR image should not always look blown out before processing. Sometimes it looks fine and sometimes it looks dark.

I just keep the Highlight Weighted Metering on for the Z7 and watch the zebra warnings on the A7 II. The Df works fine on matrix metering.

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Sep 23, 2022 12:19:14   #
selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
 
Ysarex wrote:
Yep, it's just not worth the effort to try and map it all out unless you're really intent on using it ...

I played with it a few years ago and found it to be a sub-optimal way to emulate in the camera what can be done better starting from raw on the computer. So I abandoned it.

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Sep 23, 2022 12:47:24   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
TonyP wrote:
Good on you for looking at the camera manual. I don't really care. Never used Active D Lighting and probably never will. But I do know my camera from years of use and the function is greyed out when the camera is set to capture only RAW files.
I prefer RAW so that as much detail as possible is captured and leave any further adjustments to post processing rather than to a technician at Nikon who doesn't know what I really want. As clever as the technology may be.
I don't want my camera to reduce an exposure that I have just set when I shoot RAW? I have blinkies that tell me if I'm overexposing the highlights and a histogram as well if its a really important thoughtful pic I'm trying to achieve,
My original post was just to offer a bit of help about how it works, not start a debate.
Good on you for looking at the camera manual. I do... (show quote)


I have the D810 & works with shooting raw which I only do. My manual says it works best with Matrix Metering. For the Nikon shooters who have NX Studio installed on their cameras you can make an D-Lighting adjustment in post. At least I can but I have it on in camera. NX Studio does a nice job of it in post.

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Sep 23, 2022 12:51:54   #
photoman43
 
Active D Lighting does work on NEF (Raw) files in my D500 and D850. I rarely set it as I can make adjustments needed in post processing. That being said, if you want to get the exposure and shadows and highlights as correct as possible in camera, you can set it and use it.

Before you set it, you need to read the camera manual very carefully as it work best (in my cameras) when matrix metering is set and when the lighting present may max out the dynamic range of the camera. When set, it may alter exposure, and how much exposure is impacted depends on what level of ADL you select.

A huge issue for NEF shooters is that is you set it, your raw processor may not read its settings. Nikon raw processors will read the ADL settings but not third party software. If you shoot JPEG, third party software should read the ADL settings made in camera and applied in camera to the JPEG. .

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Sep 23, 2022 12:54:35   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
selmslie wrote:
So do I.

There has been too much hot air about ETTR and how to apply it. Most of the recommended approaches lose track of the only important consideration - to not blow the highlights accidentally. An ETTR image should not always look blown out before processing. Sometimes it looks fine and sometimes it looks dark.

I just keep the Highlight Weighted Metering on for the Z7 and watch the zebra warnings on the A7 II. The Df works fine on matrix metering.



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Sep 23, 2022 13:02:45   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
selmslie wrote:
I played with it a few years ago and found it to be a sub-optimal way to emulate in the camera what can be done better starting from raw on the computer. So I abandoned it.


I can only tell you my experience using it on my Nikon Z fc, which is my first Nikon camera. Although I primarily shoot raw, I have found that my jpegs coming from this camera are often better than I would have expected. The active D Lighting makes those jpegs much more usable in those
occasional circumstances where I choose to use them rather than processing the raw versions.

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Sep 23, 2022 13:04:49   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
photoman43 wrote:
Active D Lighting does work on NEF (Raw) files in my D500 and D850.

The only effect ADL has on a raw (NEF) file is if the ADL setting alters exposure. If it doesn't alter exposure, which is possible, then it has no effect on a raw file and if it does alter exposure it will reduce exposure -- and you get a less exposed raw file.
photoman43 wrote:
I rarely set it as I can make adjustments needed in post processing. That being said, if you want to get the exposure and shadows and highlights as correct as possible in camera, you can set it and use it.

Before you set it, you need to read the camera manual very carefully as it work best (in my cameras) when matrix metering is set and when the lighting present may max out the dynamic range of the camera. When set, it may alter exposure, and how much exposure is impacted depends on what level of ADL you select.

A huge issue for NEF shooters is that is you set it, your raw processor may not read its settings. Nikon raw processors will read the ADL settings but not third party software. If you shoot JPEG, third party software should read the ADL settings made in camera and applied in camera to the JPEG. .
I rarely set it as I can make adjustments needed i... (show quote)

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Sep 23, 2022 13:55:47   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Scotty,
The only issue I have with your statement is that it's apparent that you do not understand the intricacies of ETTR/EBTR. That is, even though you claim to know all there is to know about this technique.
--Bob
selmslie wrote:
So do I.

There has been too much hot air about ETTR and how to apply it. Most of the recommended approaches lose track of the only important consideration - to not blow the highlights accidentally. An ETTR image should not always look blown out before processing. Sometimes it looks fine and sometimes it looks dark.

I just keep the Highlight Weighted Metering on for the Z7 and watch the zebra warnings on the A7 II. The Df works fine on matrix metering.

Reply
Sep 23, 2022 15:00:24   #
d3200prime
 

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Sep 23, 2022 15:03:14   #
prcb1949 Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
 
As usual the response from all leaves me feeling a little overwhelmed - but in a good way. I will wait a few days and then spend a few days going over all the replies in response to my original query as well as your responses to one another. Much more than I bargained for. Thanks!

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Sep 23, 2022 15:22:04   #
User ID
 
mwsilvers wrote:
Completely agree.

Lately we been agreeing with each other much more often than we have in the past. That frightens me. Armageddon, the end of all things, must be nigh.


De Debble made me do it ....

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