DRS : Dynamic Range Stretch : Useful ?
- Thread starter TheDingo
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
The pro is that it stretches the dynamic range. It's really quite cool and can save a shot you wouldn't otherwise be able to get.
The cons are that it only works in 60p/60i, it can add noise (and, at level 3, a *lot* of noise) to the shadows, and on high contrast transitions you can get a weird shadowing effect.
I say use it when you need it, but if you don't need it, don't use it.
The cons are that it only works in 60p/60i, it can add noise (and, at level 3, a *lot* of noise) to the shadows, and on high contrast transitions you can get a weird shadowing effect.
I say use it when you need it, but if you don't need it, don't use it.
When I shot in 60i I thought it was a nice feature and it can really pull out shadow detail while supressing blown highlights. I liked the way that reduced the overall contrast of the image without adjusting MP.
Since I no longer shoot in 60i, it is never used at all anymore. I shot in 60i to match my other 60i camera at the time.
When shooting in 24P or 30P, the Knee setting becomes available, this cuts highlight clipping, but does not touch shadows like DRS does.
Since I no longer shoot in 60i, it is never used at all anymore. I shot in 60i to match my other 60i camera at the time.
When shooting in 24P or 30P, the Knee setting becomes available, this cuts highlight clipping, but does not touch shadows like DRS does.
Barry_Green
Moderator
A million things. Gain is a simple brightness boost that affects the entire picture (including the highlights). DRS actively lowers the highlights that need lowering, and boosts the darks that need raising, but it does it based on tiny little blocks of the image. It does it selectively, where it thinks the corrections are needed.
Put another way: it's like having an individual iris for every pixel. Well, okay, technically not every pixel, but I don't know how many pixels are in each block, so let's just go with the notion of "every pixel" for the sake of illustration... Every pixel gets boosted or brought down into acceptable dynamic range, dynamically.
So if you had a dark window, and white flowers in the sun, the flowers would be brought down and the window would be gained up, simultaneously. If you had two dark windows, one with a light on and the other with no light, then both windows would be gained up, the one with no light would be gained up more than the one with a light on.
Plus, it's "dynamic" -- it adjusts to changing conditions in the frame automatically.
It's really quite powerful, but it's also an "auto" function that you pretty much don't have any control over. Again, only use it when you need it, and when you don't need it, don't use it (just like gain).
Put another way: it's like having an individual iris for every pixel. Well, okay, technically not every pixel, but I don't know how many pixels are in each block, so let's just go with the notion of "every pixel" for the sake of illustration... Every pixel gets boosted or brought down into acceptable dynamic range, dynamically.
So if you had a dark window, and white flowers in the sun, the flowers would be brought down and the window would be gained up, simultaneously. If you had two dark windows, one with a light on and the other with no light, then both windows would be gained up, the one with no light would be gained up more than the one with a light on.
Plus, it's "dynamic" -- it adjusts to changing conditions in the frame automatically.
It's really quite powerful, but it's also an "auto" function that you pretty much don't have any control over. Again, only use it when you need it, and when you don't need it, don't use it (just like gain).
ullanta
Veteran
It's very useful for theatrical events, concerts, and other situations with dramatic lighting you don't have control over. I WISH it were available in 30p modes, I'd use if frequently... but it's not quite compelling enough for me to give up my preferred shooting modes... except in occasional situations where the lighting situation is really drastic...
I posted some comparisons a while a go - see http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=153818
I posted some comparisons a while a go - see http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=153818
Last edited:
Mark Von Lanken
Well-known member
I did a series of videos on the HMC150 for Event DV-TV. For some reason, the interface is not allowing me to give you the direct link, but if you click on the link below and go to "Von Real", you will see a clip by the name of "Panasonic AG-HMC150, Part 4. Click on that and you will see varios aspects of DRS.
HMC150 on EventDV-TV
HMC150 on EventDV-TV
Allen Ellis
Well-known member
Yeah, Mark's demonstration is really very good. I was watching those when I was deciding whether to buy the HMC150. All of his videos and reviews are fantastic (thanks Mark! 
).
).Mark Von Lanken
Well-known member
Hi Allen,
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad the reviews were helpful to you.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad the reviews were helpful to you.