I downloaded and updated the firmware in my A7R2 to version 2.0.
Sony, based on reading I've done on various fora apparently sacrifices some highlight granularity when doing raw file compression while protecting shadow granularity.
I want to have details in highlights, clouds for example, while also maintaining detail in shadows.
There have been observations by others that for "normal" shooting they don't see a difference. I decided to check for myself.
I selected a test scene that included clouds and foliage in deep shade. The scene was backlight by a mid-morning sun through thin scattered clouds.
Here's what I found:
The uncompressed detail is on the left, and compressed is on the right in all the comparisons
This first image was selected as proper exposure for the scene even though its -2EV from the 0 point on the meter. Its the best exposure for details in the clouds with highlight slider at -75, exposure 0, shadows +100 and no noise reduction.
This comparison is the shadow area of the same images
This comparison is the highlight area of an exposure that is pushed 3 EV with the exposure slider. Other settings are the same. Noise reduction is set to 50 for both luminance and color.
This is the shadow area of the pushed image.
To my eye looking at the 100% detail, the uncompressed file has more detail at both ends of the tonal curve. That's good news.
Its subtle, but there. And, less noise in the shadows in the pushed image.
Sony, based on reading I've done on various fora apparently sacrifices some highlight granularity when doing raw file compression while protecting shadow granularity.
I want to have details in highlights, clouds for example, while also maintaining detail in shadows.
There have been observations by others that for "normal" shooting they don't see a difference. I decided to check for myself.
I selected a test scene that included clouds and foliage in deep shade. The scene was backlight by a mid-morning sun through thin scattered clouds.
Here's what I found:
The uncompressed detail is on the left, and compressed is on the right in all the comparisons
This first image was selected as proper exposure for the scene even though its -2EV from the 0 point on the meter. Its the best exposure for details in the clouds with highlight slider at -75, exposure 0, shadows +100 and no noise reduction.
This comparison is the shadow area of the same images
This comparison is the highlight area of an exposure that is pushed 3 EV with the exposure slider. Other settings are the same. Noise reduction is set to 50 for both luminance and color.
This is the shadow area of the pushed image.
To my eye looking at the 100% detail, the uncompressed file has more detail at both ends of the tonal curve. That's good news.
Its subtle, but there. And, less noise in the shadows in the pushed image.