Will dynamic range on cameras improve soon?

Raider · 18 Jun 2006 at 13:39

I was just wondering, in the near future will be see DSLR sensors that have a much higher dynamic range?

Will the days of worrying about a blown-out sky ever be in the past? No more triple exposures for HDR use?

I'm not sure what the current CCD specs are, are they 16-bit? :confused:

SCM · 18 Jun 2006 at 13:43

There is talk from a few manufacturers about improvements to the dynamic ranges on ccd sensors for the future. Just can't remember which manufacturers of cameras it is again off hand.

SCM

SDK^ · 18 Jun 2006 at 14:03

Dynamic range will improve but don't expect it to cover shadows and bright sky in the next few years. Currently it's about 5 stops and it isn't going to double which is what is required for a shot 'HDR' image. That will take much, much longer.

Joe T · 18 Jun 2006 at 20:31

I think SDK is correct pretty much.

mrgubby · 18 Jun 2006 at 21:10

They could do it now if they wanted to . I think the fastest shutter speed on my 300D is 1/4000 , that means the sensor responds in 1/4000 of a second , worst case "All" the camera needs to do is take 3 shots at 1/1000 (ish) at 3 ISO settings (100/400/1600) then combine the results.

Been using the technique for years in designing front ends for electronic instruments

SDK^ · 18 Jun 2006 at 22:09

^^ If only it was that simple

mrgubby · 18 Jun 2006 at 22:49

SDK^ said:
^^ If only it was that simple

Been there, done it . Ok not used a CCD as the input sensor but have pre-scaled / over-sampled / interleaved / pipe-lined & under-sampled using noise jitter re-constitution on ****-hot ADC's for years.

You would lose max shutter speed but you could get enhanced dynamic range for minimal cost .