In camera HDR vs RAW

[OKW Lover]

Just wondering what people's thoughts are about utilizing the camera's (Nikon D5100 in my case) HDR features or just taking a RAW file and manipulating it on your computer (Aperture or Photoshop Elements in my case).

What are the pluses and minuses of each method?

 

[havoc315]

I've done both. In-camera -- Advantage -- ease and speed.
RAW - advantage -- more manipulation options.

 

[Pixel Dust]

The Nikon D5100 can do HDR but it only does so with 2 exposures. Most people that do HDR properly use at least 3 exposures and often more. Because of the multiple exposures, you will need a tripod. Also the D5100 in HDR mode only records it as a JPG file. There is no RAW capture during HDR mode. Basically the camera processes the HDR image how it wants to with no input from you.

You could take 2 exposures in RAW, combine it yourself to make an HDR, and you would be miles ahead of what the camera would have produced in HDR mode. Of course this takes a lot more time and not as 'instant' as the built-in HDR mode.

 

[photo_chick]

I think part of it depends on how you're creating your HDR images.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I've never actually shot HDR (other than on my iPhone) nor have I created one from separate shots with my 5100. My recent habit has been to shoot RAW and then to fix the exposures on the computer. This got me to wondering if trying the camera's HDR mode would be a better method of getting difficult shots.

 

[havoc315]

I use the in-camera HDR on Sony.... It uses 3 exposures. It doesn't do an extreme HDR image, more like just really good dynamic range. So it's a nice way to quickly boost the dynamic range.
But if I really want to *play* with the image, I bracket in RAW and then use photomatix.
I also will use PSP5.. which allows HDR manipulation of a single RAW file -- it splits and re-combines a single RAW image.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

HDR is pretty broad in scope. If you don't believe it, look at some of the pics in the HDR thread right here in this forum. You'll never get radical results in-camera, of course. That's not what in-camera HDR is designed to do. In camera HDR accentuates light and colors as best it can according to a pre-defined curve. Therein lies the catch. That pre-defined curve.

With the tools available today specializing in doing just HDR like Photomatix, or even with something like Lightroom, you are going to have much better results with REAL HDR with 3-5 bracketed exposures in RAW and then processing them in an external tool.

It all depends on what you're expectations are and what you're trying to accomplish, really. You'll never go wrong with RAW originals to work with. In-camera, when it's done, it's basically done.

 

[wbeem]

It's a creative choice. Do you want to make that choice, or let the camera make it for you?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

It's a creative choice. Do you want to make that choice, or let the camera make it for you?

{Like}

 

[OKW Lover]

Wow - really good points here.

I'm not looking to create dramatic HDR pictures. Some just look over-processed to me, others are certainly artistic. But I just want to get the best "natural" picture I can get.

I'm now leaning towards sticking with RAW and bracketing. Off to re-read the manual.

 

[havoc315]

In most situations, easy enough to do both. Take an in-camera, AND bracket. As long as its a stationary scene, which it generally should be for HDR anyway. Have fun comparing your results with the camera results.

 

[boBQuincy]

Wow - really good points here.

I'm not looking to create dramatic HDR pictures. Some just look over-processed to me, others are certainly artistic. But I just want to get the best "natural" picture I can get.

I'm now leaning towards sticking with RAW and bracketing. Off to re-read the manual.

Photomatix (and other HDR programs ?) has two main modes, Detail Enhancer and Fusion. Fusion pretty much works to extend the range of the image without making it look unnatural.

Agree with wbeem, I prefer to make my own decisions about the image and also to keep all options open.