2. D6 Online Manual
  3. Shooting Settings
  4. Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows (Active D-Lighting and HDR)

Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows (Active D-Lighting and HDR)

Active D-Lighting

Active D-Lighting, accessed via the [Active D-Lighting] item in the photo or movie shooting menu, is used to preserve details in highlights and shadows, creating pictures with natural contrast. Use for high-contrast scenes, for example when photographing brightly-lit outdoor scenery through a door or window or taking pictures of shaded subjects on a sunny day. Active D-Lighting is most effective when [Matrix metering] is selected for metering.

[Off]

[Auto]

Active D-Lighting Options

Option

Description

Y

[Auto]

The camera automatically adjusts Active D‑Lighting in response to shooting conditions.

3

[Extra high 2]

Choose the amount of Active D-Lighting performed from [Extra high 2], [Extra high 1], [High], [Normal], and [Low].

Z

[Extra high 1]

P

[High]

Q

[Normal]

R

[Low]

[Off]

Active D-Lighting off.
Active D-Lighting

  • “Noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines may appear in photos taken with Active D-Lighting.

  • In mode M, [Auto] is equivalent to [Normal].

  • Uneven shading may be visible with some subjects.

  • Active D-Lighting does not apply at high ISO sensitivities (Hi 0.3–Hi 5), including high sensitivities selected via auto ISO sensitivity control.

  • The [Active D-Lighting] option in the movie shooting menu offers a choice of [Extra high], [High], [Normal], [Low], and [Off].

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

The [HDR (high dynamic range)] item in the photo shooting menu can be used with high-contrast subjects to preserve details in highlights and shadows by combining two shots taken at different exposures. Use with high-contrast scenes and other subjects to preserve a wide range of details, from highlights to shadows.

HDR Options

Option

Description

[HDR mode]

  • [On (series)]: Take a series of HDR photographs. To end HDR photography, select [HDR mode] again and choose [Off].

  • [On (single photo)]: Take a single HDR photograph.

  • [Off]: End HDR photography.

[Exposure differential]

Choose the difference in exposure between the two shots. The higher the value, the greater the dynamic range. If [Auto] is selected, the camera will automatically adjust the exposure differential to suit the scene.

[Smoothing]

Choose how much the boundaries between the two images are smoothed.

[Save individual images (NEF)]

Choose [On] to save each of the individual shots used to create the HDR image; the shots are saved in NEF (RAW) format. The shots are saved at an image size of [Large], regardless of the option selected for [Image size] > [NEF (RAW)] in the photo shooting menu.

Taking HDR Photographs

We recommend that you use the [Matrix metering] metering option when shooting with HDR.

  1. Highlight [HDR (high dynamic range)] in the photo shooting menu and press 2.
  2. Select an [HDR mode].

    • Highlight [HDR mode] and press 2.

    • Highlight one of the following options using 1 or 3 and press J.

      Option

      Description

      [0 On (series)]

      Take a series of HDR photographs. HDR shooting will continue until you select [Off] for [HDR mode].

      [On (single photo)]

      Normal shooting will resume after you have taken a single HDR photograph.

      [Off]

      Proceed without taking additional HDR photographs.

    • If [On (series)] or [On (single photo)] is selected, an y icon will be displayed in the top control panel while HDR mode is in effect.

  3. Choose a value for [Exposure differential].

    • Highlight [Exposure differential] and press 2.

    • Highlight an option using 1 or 3 and press J.

    • Choose higher values for high-contrast subjects.

    • Note, however, that choosing a higher value than required may not produce the desired results. Match your choice to the level of contrast in the scene.

    • If [Auto] is selected, the camera will automatically adjust the exposure differential to suit the scene.

  4. Adjust [Smoothing].

    • Highlight [Smoothing] and press 2.

    • Highlight an option using 1 or 3 and press J; the selected option represents the amount the boundaries between the two images are smoothed.

    • Higher values produce a smoother composite image.

  5. Choose a setting for [Save individual images (NEF)].

    • Highlight [Save individual images (NEF)] and press 2.

    • Highlight an option using 1 or 3 and press J.

    • Choose [On] to save each of the individual shots used to create the HDR image; the shots are saved in NEF (RAW) format. The shots are saved at an image size of [Large], regardless of the option selected for [Image size] > [NEF (RAW)] in the photo shooting menu.

  6. Frame the photograph, focus, and shoot.

    • The camera takes two exposures when the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down.

    • Flashing “1” and “k” indicators appear respectively in the top control panel and viewfinder while the images are combined. No additional pictures can be taken until recording is complete.

    • If [On (series)] is selected for [HDR mode], you can continue to take HDR photographs until [Off] is selected.

    • If [On (single photo)] is selected, HDR will turn off automatically after a single shot.

NEF (RAW)

HDR photographs taken when an NEF (RAW) or NEF (RAW) + JPEG option is selected for image quality will be recorded in JPEG format.

HDR Photography

  • The edges of the image will be cropped out.

  • The desired results may not be achieved if the camera or subject moves during shooting. Use of a tripod is recommended.

  • Depending on the scene, you may notice shadows around bright objects or halos around dark objects. This can be mitigated using [Smoothing].

  • Uneven shading may be visible with some subjects.

  • With non-CPU lenses and when [Spot metering] or [Center-weighted metering] is selected, an [Exposure differential] of [Auto] is equivalent to [2 EV].

  • Optional flash units will not fire.

  • In

    Cl
    and
    Ch
     modes and during burst photography in mode Q, only one photograph will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down.

  • Shutter speeds of A (“Bulb”) and % (“Time”) are not available.

HDR Restrictions

HDR cannot be combined with some camera features, including:

  • Bracketing

  • Multiple exposure

  • Interval-timer photography

  • Time-lapse movies

  • Focus shift

Adjusting HDR Settings

When [HDR (high dynamic range)] is selected for Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls] > [BKT button], [HDR mode] (Step 2) and [Exposure differential] (Step 3) can be selected using the BKT button and command dials.

  • Hold the BKT button and rotate the main command dial to choose from the following HDR modes: a ([Off]), 1 ([On (single photo)]), and b ([On (series)]).

  • You can choose the exposure differential by holding the BKT button and rotating the sub-command dial.