04-10-2012, 10:52 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-10-2012, 11:04 AM by Brightcolours.)
[quote name='thw' timestamp='1334026278' post='17413']
Here is a comparison of dynamic range:
Positive slides (using E-6 chemicals) = 12 stops
Print film (using C-41 chemicals) = 8 stops
Developed photograph = 5 stops
Nikon D800 = 14 stops
LCD display = 9.5 stops
Human eye at a single pupil dilation = 17 stops (see [url="http://wiki.panotools.org/Dynamic_range"]http://wiki.panotool...g/Dynamic_range[/url])
So, digital photography has overtaken film and slides for dynamic range. We are merely limited by our LCD displays. Still not as good as the human eye, but we are making progress.
The dark shadows and blown highlights you often see in digital photos can be attributed to users who love to keep their in-camera contrast setting at default. Mine is always set to the LOWEST possible. I prefer to tweak contrast/micro-contrast in RAW development.
[/quote]
Colour positive slide film usually has a very low dynamic range, about 6EV (high estimate). Colour negative film about 10EV (depending on its formulation of course), and black and white negative film upto 14 EV.
The low DR for positive slide film is why it is so important to get the exposure precise with it. It is also the charm of slides, the contrasty and saturated nature of them.
Here is a comparison of dynamic range:
Positive slides (using E-6 chemicals) = 12 stops
Print film (using C-41 chemicals) = 8 stops
Developed photograph = 5 stops
Nikon D800 = 14 stops
LCD display = 9.5 stops
Human eye at a single pupil dilation = 17 stops (see [url="http://wiki.panotools.org/Dynamic_range"]http://wiki.panotool...g/Dynamic_range[/url])
So, digital photography has overtaken film and slides for dynamic range. We are merely limited by our LCD displays. Still not as good as the human eye, but we are making progress.
The dark shadows and blown highlights you often see in digital photos can be attributed to users who love to keep their in-camera contrast setting at default. Mine is always set to the LOWEST possible. I prefer to tweak contrast/micro-contrast in RAW development.
[/quote]
Colour positive slide film usually has a very low dynamic range, about 6EV (high estimate). Colour negative film about 10EV (depending on its formulation of course), and black and white negative film upto 14 EV.
The low DR for positive slide film is why it is so important to get the exposure precise with it. It is also the charm of slides, the contrasty and saturated nature of them.