Dynamic range
Category: Lighting and optics
Dynamic range is the span between the darkest and brightest tones a sensor can record while still keeping detail, usually expressed in stops. Scenes that exceed it lose detail in the shadows, the highlights or both.
How PhotoRobot uses it
PhotoRobot notes that full-frame sensors often offer greater dynamic range than APS-C, and its CASE 850 user guide recommends low ISO for the highest dynamic range, with RAW as an option for the heavy backlight of a pure white background.
Related terms
- ISO sensitivity: The camera's sensitivity setting; low ISO gives the cleanest images and widest dynamic range.
- Highlight clipping: Overexposed areas that are recorded as pure white and have lost all detail.
- RAW file: The unprocessed sensor data saved by a camera, with maximum editing latitude.
- Full-frame sensor: A camera sensor the size of 35 mm film (36 x 24 mm), preferred for product photography.
Where this term appears on photorobot.com
Mentioned on 3 pages of photorobot.com:
- PhotoRobot CASE 850 Portable Studio User Guide (Manual)
…results; RAW remains an option for enthusiasts who want to fine-tune maximum dynamic range, e.g. - Understanding Camera Resolution for PhotoRobot Customers (Manual)
Camera sensor size affects mostly the angle of view, the “crop factor”, performance in different lighting conditions, dynamic range, and depth of field. - Jewelry Photography - Behind the Scenes Production (Blog)
This makes background removal easier to automate, and provides advantages in speed, quality, sharpness and dynamic range.