HDR Number of Brackets How many to do ? (Page 2): :thumbup: :thumbup:...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Searcher wrote:

Why not do 5 at 1 EV, then process all 5, then process #1,3 & 5 to see the difference.

It will be an interesting exercise, and if possible could be posted on the Hog for meaningful discussion.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Ugly Jake wrote:

None ! Take a good picture & leave it alone !!!

* Luddite Society *

Tell that to the pro's my man. They PP everything they do.

* Burn Luddites Cameras Society *

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fjrwillie wrote:

Does it make a difference to do a 5 bracket sequence with +/-1 EV adjustments or 3 bracket with +/-2 EV.

I have done as many as 11 bracket at +/- .7 EV.

Wondering at what point are you simply spinning the wheels to see them turn.

Willie

If you're that particular, I would suggest spending some time doing a series of tests on the same scene. Then let us know.

I've never taken more than five shot, with 1 EV difference. Well, I might take more, but I don't think I've ever used more than five. You want light and dark and some in between. I think a gradual change in exposure is more important than a large number of shots.

EDIT: Here you go, the definitive answer.

http://thehdrimage.com/how-many-images-should-i-shoot-for-my-hdr/

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Ugly Jake wrote:

None ! Take a good picture & leave it alone !!!

* Luddite Society *

How is that pin hole camera working out? Surely you are not using any modern tech given your society!! Ned (all praise his name) would not want you using anything created after 1811! :wink:

accuseal Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Searcher wrote:

Why not do 5 at 1 EV, then process all 5, then process #1,3 & 5 to see the difference.

It will be an interesting exercise, and if possible could be posted on the Hog for meaningful discussion.

No fair. This answer is based on data and scientific methodology.

Good response as always. :thumbup:

jgitomer Loc: Skippack Pennsylvania

fjrwillie wrote:

Does it make a difference to do a 5 bracket sequence with +/-1 EV adjustments or 3 bracket with +/-2 EV.

I have done as many as 11 bracket at +/- .7 EV.

Wondering at what point are you simply spinning the wheels to see them turn.

Willie

For what it's worth my Nikon D600 has an HDR option and it only takes two shots which it combines into a single jpeg.

I (perhaps foolishly) assume that Nikon knows what it is doing.

Jerry

fjrwillie Loc: MA

jerryc41 wrote:

If you're that particular, I would suggest spendin... (show quote)

Most Excellent ...thank you... still will do the experiment thou.

Willie

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

For what it's worth here's my approach: Meter the darkest area of the scene, then meter the brightest area of the scene and remember the setting for the brightest. Set the 1st shot for the darkest setting and take the shot. Increase exposure by one stop and take the 2nd shot. Continue that sequence until reaching the meter reading remembered for the brightest area. The foregoing is for static scenes (nothing moving). With moving water, etc. I use the same procedure, but increase each subsequent shot by 2 stops. Most of my HDRs using this method yield 5 to 7 shots.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

fjrwillie wrote:

Does it make a difference to do a 5 bracket sequence with +/-1 EV adjustments or 3 bracket with +/-2 EV.

I have done as many as 11 bracket at +/- .7 EV.

Wondering at what point are you simply spinning the wheels to see them turn.

Willie

Willie,

I depends on two elements in the scene, the overall range of bright to dark, and the ability of the camera sensor to handle over-exposures. Some digital sensors will clip whites to the point of becoming large blobs of over-exposed areas. Those exposures need to be discarded, so if you took 5 bracketed exposures at +/- 2Ev you might end up with three usable exposures.

The one advantage of using bracketed exposures with the intent of processing with HDR is when the +Ev becomes unusable you cam always select one of the under exposed captures for normal PP.

Michael G

Rosanna Loc: Montana

Once the bracketed images are captured, which method would be used to combine them? I've read and read but have yet to try combining. At this point in time, I have Lightroom 5.6, which I understand doesn't have the capabilities to combine and Photoship Elements 9. Thank you

fjrwillie Loc: MA

Northfork Walkabout wrote:

Once the bracketed images are captured, which method would be used to combine them? I've read and read but have yet to try combining. At this point in time, I have Lightroom 5.6, which I understand doesn't have the capabilities to combine and Photoship Elements 9. Thank you

I personally use Photomatix Pro to perform the merge and process a pretty vanilla tone mapping (either Jpg or Tiff). I further process in PaintShop Pro to make the shot snap a bit.

The following leads you to a discount on Photomatic Pro I you decide to buy. Good site for learning as well.

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/photomatix-review/

Willie

Willie

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=fjrwillie]I do 3 + - 2 EV

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Northfork Walkabout wrote:

Once the bracketed images are captured, which method would be used to combine them? I've read and read but have yet to try combining. At this point in time, I have Lightroom 5.6, which I understand doesn't have the capabilities to combine and Photoship Elements 9. Thank you

Northfork,

Paint Shop Pro current and last versions have HDR processing tools included. They work well and provide a means to merge the bracketed exposures. The tool also allows you to mask out subject movements between the exposures.

Michael G

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

fjrwillie wrote:

Does it make a difference to do a 5 bracket sequence with +/-1 EV adjustments or 3 bracket with +/-2 EV.

I have done as many as 11 bracket at +/- .7 EV.

Wondering at what point are you simply spinning the wheels to see them turn.

Willie

This according to the instruction manual with Photomatix, the industry standard software for HDR/Fusion processing:
==============================================
The number of exposures needed depends on the dynamic range of the scene, in addition to the exposure increment. For most outdoor scenes, three exposures taken at +/- 2 exposure increments is sufficient, provided the scene does not include the sun. However, for the interior of a room with a bright view out the window, you will need at least five images taken with an exposure increment of +/- 2, or nine images taken
with an exposure increment of +/- 1.
==============================================

Personally, my camera does 7 +/-2 exposures in HDR mode and that's working out great for me both indoors and outdoors. I just leave it in that mode all the time.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Ugly Jake wrote:

None ! Take a good picture & leave it alone !!!

* Luddite Society *

:lol:

GT