Tone Mode
G button U C photo shooting menu
The camera offers a choice of two tone modes: [SDR] and [HLG].
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| [ |
This mode supports a normal range of brightnesses (dynamic range). Pictures taken while this option is selected are stored in JPEG format (extension “*.JPG”). |
| [ |
This mode supports HDR (high dynamic range). Pictures taken while this option is selected are stored in HEIF format (extension “*.HIF”). It has a wider dynamic range than SDR.
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- Pictures taken with [HLG] selected for tone mode exhibit more “noise“ (in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, and lines) than do pictures taken using [SDR].
- The lowest value available for the [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Maximum sensitivity] item in the photo shooting menu is ISO 800.
- ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 through Hi 1.7 are not available.
- The video file type for time-lapse videos is fixed at [H.265 10-bit (MOV)].
- [Color space] in the photo shooting menu is fixed at "BT.2100".
- [Active D-Lighting], [Multiple exposure], and [HDR overlay] are not available in the photo shooting menu.
- [C30], [C60], and [C120] cannot be selected for release mode and Custom Setting d3 [Pre-Release Capture options] is not available.
Pictures shot with [HLG] selected for tone mode are subject to the following restrictions:
- Image overlay is not available with HLG photos. HLG photos will not be displayed in the picture selection dialogs for the various image overlay options available via [Retouch] in the playback i menu.
- You can download HLG photos using the SnapBridge app but may not be able to view them in some versions of the app or operating system.
Camera Shooting and Playback Displays
When [HLG] is selected for tone mode, the shooting and playback displays in the camera monitor and viewfinder may include “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines or may fail to accurately reproduce highlights and highly-saturated colors. In addition, abrupt tone discontinuities may be visible in the camera monitor or viewfinder when photos are displayed full-frame, although the photos themselves are unaffected. For accurate tone reproduction, use monitors, computers, operating systems, applications, and other equipment compatible with HLG.
Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) technology was developed for television broadcasting and other high-definition applications.
- Compared with Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), it increases the amount of detail that can be expressed in the upper half of the tone range for greater rendering potential.
- It matches SDR in the level of detail that can be expressed in the lower portion of the tone range to ensure compatibility with non-HDR displays.
- Photos shot with [SDR] selected for tone mode can be processed using the [Set Picture Control] and [Manage Picture Control] items in the photo shooting menu.
- Photos shot with [HLG] selected for tone mode can be processed using the [Set Picture Control (HLG)] item in the photo shooting menu.
Viewing and Editing HLG Photos
HLG (HEIF) photos can be viewed and edited using Nikon’s NX Studio software.
- NX Studio can be downloaded free of charge from the Nikon Download Center.
- Some of the options available for editing HLG photos are more limited than is the case with photos shot with [SDR] selected for tone mode.