D5100 built in HDR mode?

[KansanShooter]

Been doing some research on HDR photography as I am really interested in it after seeing some amazing images done in this form. Come to find out from Nikons website that my D5100 has a built in HDR mode. Has anyone here used this mode? If so can you get some really good HDR pictures using it without post editing? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[STM]

Just how much adjustment does the in camera HDR provide? There are lots of things you can adjust with the exposures which can have a significant impact on the final image.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Been doing some research on HDR photography as I am really interested in it after seeing some amazing images done in this form. Come to find out from Nikons website that my D5100 has a built in HDR mode. Has anyone here used this mode? If so can you get some really good HDR pictures using it without post editing? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

You can set the camera to up to +2 for in camera HDR I believe. The only drawback I see in it is that it only gives you 2 shots.
Try it, you might like it.

 

[RockyNH_RIP]

Been doing some research on HDR photography as I am really interested in it after seeing some amazing images done in this form. Come to find out from Nikons website that my D5100 has a built in HDR mode. Has anyone here used this mode? If so can you get some really good HDR pictures using it without post editing? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

I have the same camera ... In camera HDR is gimmicky at best.. While it works, it does not give you all the flexibility of "software HDR".

Its most limiting factor is it is only 2 exposure.. most people do 3 - 5 (some more) exposures
In camera, you select HDR, select the exposure differential and smoothing.. thats it!

Try it, see what you think, there may be an occasion where it may be useful but in most situations, you would be further ahead to use Bracketing (3 shots in the 5100) and then post process them through an HDR package..

Hope this helps some..

Pat in NH

 

[STM]

Are you sure about the two shots? You should have a minimum of THREE to do HDR. Base exposure, Base +2 (or whatever) EV and Base -2 (or whatever) EV. You can do more if you want, narrowing the difference between exposures, but you need one on either side of the base exposure. Does the camera merge the images or do you have to do it in post processing (which I am assuming is what you have to do)

 

[RockyNH_RIP]

Are you sure about the two shots? You need a minimum of THREE to do HDR. Base exposure, Base +2 EV and Base -2 EV. You can do more if you want, narrowing the difference between exposures, but you need one on either side of the base exposure. Does the camera merge the images or do you have to do it in post processing (which I am assuming is what you have to do)

STM, thats why I referred to it as gimmicky at best. I have the 5100 and it is only 2 exposures... The camera automatically takes the 2 pics (with your range of EV up to +/- 2) and combines them in Camera... Not really much I am afraid..

Pat in NH

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Are you sure about the two shots? You should have a minimum of THREE to do HDR. Base exposure, Base +2 (or whatever) EV and Base -2 (or whatever) EV. You can do more if you want, narrowing the difference between exposures, but you need one on either side of the base exposure. Does the camera merge the images or do you have to do it in post processing (which I am assuming is what you have to do)

yes to 2 shots. that is the limitation of the camera. But the camera does it all. Shoots and then merges. If you don't have the software or time to do it then this might give you a decent shot. 3 to 5 shots and Photoshop will do better of course. But for a scene that only needs a little help with shadow/highlight differences then this might be worth it.

I just got my D5100 this week and have tried it but have not really looked at the feature hard yet. I may do that tomorrow afternoon. I think it is going to stop raining my then.

 

[STM]

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I just got my D5100 this week and have tried it but have not really looked at the feature hard yet. I may do that tomorrow afternoon. I think it is going to stop raining my then.

I feel your pain. It rained most of last week here and today but at least it is warm and not cold on top of it.

 

[Rick M]

If I remember correctly, it only works as a Jpeg.

 

[KansanShooter]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. After some more research and viewing your comments. It seems bracketing and post editing will give me the results I am looking for. And yeah...the hdr mode only works as jpeg. Kinda weird. Anyway..thanks everybody.

 

[Marilynne]

This is a sample of the in camera HDR for the D5100. I do not have any PP HDR programs. I only use ViewNX2.

 

[RockyNH_RIP]

This is a sample of the in camera HDR for the D5100. I do not have any PP HDR programs. I only use ViewNX2.

Marilynne, thanks for showing the example!! I may do the same when the sun comes up... I will do an in-camera and a Photomatix

Pat in NH

 

[Rexer John]

It's a shame the camera only does HDR with 2 pictures and only saves the joint image.
Maybe it should be called SHDR, (slightly higher dynamic range).

It is worth having and it works very well handheld, but it wont replace bracketed exposures blended off camera.

 

[BackdoorArts]

In camera HDR is gimmicky, but it does give you some ability to tame a poorly lit scene if you're shooting jpg's and have no time, ability and/or software to correct it after the fact. For example, someone in the kitchen on a bright day. Without flash you're going to get either a dark room or a washed out window, both yielding a result far from the most desirable. Use it and you can at least get a little something from the window besides whitewash.

Technically HDR, but only scratching the surface. There's so much more to it - some of it too much more. But you can say that about almost any type of photography. It's like the corkscrew on your swiss army knife when you don't drink. Chances are you never need it, but one of these days you could be really happy that it's there.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

There are several "gimmicky" features in the D5100 BUT I can see when all of them might be used for one reason or the other. Would I use them on a paying job? No. Would I used them while I am out shooting just for fun? Yes.

 

[ABN Panzer]

Did a few quick shots to hopefully show some difference.
Used the 'abandoned swing set' in my back yard.

Here is the Base Pic:


Here is the In-Camera HDR with a 3 EV difference:


Here's a 1 shot that was tone/mapped - batched in Photomatix:


Here is a 3 shot bracket (Set at 3EV in camera) and merged with Photomatix:


And then I simply did a manually adjusted 8 shot blend:

 

[Philnz]

If I remember correctly, it only works as a Jpeg.

Yes you are right only Jpeg.

 

[Rick M]

Looks like the in camera HDR doesn't do much!

 

[Rexer John]

The slide and grass have a lot more detail than the single picture.
It's not intended to look unnatural, it's just supposed to get a bit more detail in shadows and/or highlights, it does what it's supposed to do.
Handy if you don't want to merge bracketed exposures but need that bit extra range compression.

 

[Michael J.]

It was my first shot after one day trying my D5100 in HDR mode. Since that I never use it. I don't know why but I thing shooting HDR in the old-fashioned way is better.



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