FujiFilm X-Pro2 - Manual (Page 20)

82 Using the Fujifilm X-Pro2 Exposing Right 83
using the camera’s built-in RAW converter to generate a
second JPEG with the PULL command, and a third one with
the PUSH command.
A better alternative to ISO bracketing is AE BKT. This op-
tion actually takes three different exposures and keeps the
corresponding RAW files.
Extending the dynamic range
If the dynamic range of a subject is larger than the dynamic
range of the camera’s sensor and image processing, one of
the following phenomena occurs:
■ The highlights of the image are blown out or appear too
bright (overexposed).
■ Midtones appear too dark (underexposed) and shadows
lose detail in the blackness.
In both cases, the shot’s exposure is imbalanced. Sadly, it’s
very difficult (if not impossible) to restore blown highlights.
It’s much easier to lift underexposed midtones and blocked
shadows. This procedure is called tone-mapping. Certain
tonal values of the original exposure are reassigned and
changed, either by employing a tone curve or by using a
more complex mathematical procedure known as adaptive
tone-mapping.
In order to record the full tonal range of a high-contrast
subject, it’s best to expose the image in a way that preserves
the color and texture of the bright parts of the photo. Of
course, doing so can lead to an image with underexposed
midtones and blocked shadows that need further process-
ing in order to look natural and realistic. You can correct
these issues with most external RAW converters.
While every RAW converter is different, most programs
offer functions to selectively change the exposure of a shot.
For example, you can change the overall exposure with the
TIP 56
exposure slider, and you can restore blown highlights with
a highlight recovery slider. Most converters also offer sliders
that only target shadow tones.
The DR function of the X-Pro2 can help you automate this
tone-mapping procedure. It works in two stages:
■ The RAW file is exposed one (DR200%) or two (DR400%)
stops darker in order to preserve bright highlights of a
scene.
■ During the following RAW conversion in the camera, the
underexposed shadows and midtones are digitally am-
plified by one (DR200%) or two (DR400%) stops to restore
their natural brightness, while the (already correctly
exposed) highlights are mostly left alone.
The resulting JPEG from the camera has undergone a selec-
tive exposure correction. The DR function restores the shad-
ows and midtones of a shot that was initially exposed one
or two stops darker to preserve the highlights of the scene.
Looking at the resulting JPEGs, this leads to an effective gain
in dynamic range (DR): one additional stop of highlight DR
at DR200%, and two stops of additional highlight DR at
DR400%.
In DR-Auto mode, the camera will automatically select a
suitable DR setting. Please note that in this mode, the X-Pro2
will choose either DR100% (no highlight DR expansion) or
DR200% (one stop highlight DR expansion). DR400% (two
stops highlight DR expansion) is only available when it is
manually selected.
You can change the DR settings of your camera in the
Quick menu or by selecting IMAGE QUALITY SETTING >
DYNAMIC RANGE and then either AUTO, DR100%, DR200%,
or DR400%.