Are there HDR cameras?

[Doug Nelson]

It seems to me it would be a relatively simple setup to bolt 3 or 5 cameras together and sync them up to fire simultaneously to capture HDR with zero ghosting. All my single-camera attempts have been frustrating due to wind, subject movement, etc.

Has any company ever addressed this directly with a 3-lens camera, or perhaps a slightly less elegant solution like a big bracket or something?

Lacking that, do any modern cameras have HDR modes with burst firing? My bracket mode on my Nikon D7000 doesn't hack it.

[andrewrodney]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

Read this:

http://www.lumita.com/site_media/work/whitepapers/files/pscs3_rendering_image.pdf

Specifically page 4-7.

[Doug Nelson]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

An interesting read, thanks. But it doesn't really address my question.

[andrewrodney]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

You need one of those devices that capture a spectral pixmap.

We need companies to extend the dynamic range of the sensor. They've been doing that to some degree. Otherwise photography has always had limitations in capturing the full dynamic range of some scenes. Others are easy to fully capture.

[Doug Nelson]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

True and true. But what about the bolting or burst scenarios?

[andrewrodney]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

My 5DMII has a burst mode that can bracket to build HDR. Now is the burst mode fast enough? For stuff not moving, sure. I wouldn't shoot the Olympics that way.

[klev]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

What are you really asking here? Cameras have varying dynamic ranges. If you had a wide enough dynamic range and a viable workflow from camera-->raw processor-->linear (or logarithmic) scene referred color space, you could do this with a single camera. You could probably set something like what you're suggesting up with a rig like the ones they use for stereoscopic work. It would be tedious though, and you would have to deal with parallax correction. You mentioned wind. Do you have a sturdy tripod?

[Doug Nelson]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

Something liked the attached.

[klev]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

That's similar to what they do with stereoscopic rigs. You may have more problems with parallax, synchronization, and dampening than you do now with wind. Some of the medium format digital cameras claim a very high dynamic range. They might be a more practical option. With a rig like that you would still have to purchase 3 cameras, 3 lenses, and additional supporting equipment, then deal with the post processing aspects of alignment. This would also presumably involve an initial step of distortion removal. Otherwise the frames would be more difficult to align. You can also count on losing the outer border, even if all 3 are aimed perfectly. Does that really sound any easier?

[Doug Nelson]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

After spending some time googling this afternoon, I have learned that my D7000 has a pretty poor reputation as an HDR tool. This might explain my disappointment in my HDR experiments, and therefore my pursuit of some more ideal solution.

I discovered this chart, which I wish I'd known about earlier.

Plus now there are iPhone apps that can handle HDR bracketing on new cameras. At the time my only option would have been toting a laptop or buying a special device.

[lkroll]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

The folks at MIT are working on it Doug.

http://petapixel.com/2015/08/18/mit-created-a-camera-that-will-never-overexpose-a-photograph/

[Tulack]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

Apple was making something like that last year. http://web.media.mit.edu/~hangzhao/modulo.html

[lkroll]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

Looks like one and the same Tulack. It is called the modulo camera.

[Tulack]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

Looks like one and the same Tulack. It is called the modulo camera.

I was referring to one Apple making. Couldn't find the article. Read it last year.

[Wizofoz]

Re: Are there HDR cameras?

do any modern cameras have HDR modes with burst firing?

Hi Doug. The flagship Pentax bodies have had in camera HDR jpegs since the K-7 (2009 I think) and the current K-3/K-3II can combine 3 rapid fire shots into a single HDR raw file. There are 4 settings auto, 1, 2,and 3. Each offers a differing level of tone mapping. I'm not saying it is a really attractive output, and I would rather take three separate images and blend them, but it is there in camera.

Is this what you are asking about? Hope it helps