Many are aware of DxO’s sensor rankings and tests, particularly their dynamic range comparisons, but perhaps not everyone understands what exactly dynamic range is, how it affects your photographs, and what exposure techniques and post-processing steps are necessary to take full advantage of it. I address all of this and more in my new three-part video, which also includes an extensive comparison of the dynamic range between the Nikon and Canon crop bodies, using real photographs to demonstrate the differences in practice. For this comparison I used a Nikon D5100 and Canon T2i (550D), but the results are also applicable for a Nikon D7000 vs Canon 7D (or 60D, T3i), since each family of these bodies share identical or near-identical sensors. The Canon results can also be applied for the 5D Mark II, as it has similar dynamic range and cross-hatch banding characteristics as Canon’s 18MP crop sensor.
Part 1, Explanation of Dynamic Range and how to utilize it
Part 2, Dynamic Range comparison between the Nikon D5100 and Canon T2i
Part 3, Dynamic Range comparison between the Nikon D5100 and Canon T2i (continued)
Sample Photos
Here are links to the full-sized 100% JPEG quality photos that were used in the videos. All photos were shot RAW and processed in LR 3.4, using neutral/faithful camera profiles and default settings unless otherwise noted.
Photo #1
Canon T2i Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values) (Blacks Subtracted)
Canon T2i Original
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, +70 Luminance Noise Reduction
D5100 Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values)
Nikon D5100 Original
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, +20 Luminance Noise Reduction
Photo #2
Canon T2i Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values) (Blacks Subtracted)
Canon T2i Original
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, +70 Luminance Noise Reduction
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, +70 Luminance Noise Reduction, Black & White
D5100 Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values)
Nikon D5100 Original
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, +30 Luminance Noise Reduction
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, +30 Luminance Noise Reduction, Black & White
Photo #3
Canon T2i Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values) (Blacks Subtracted)
Canon T2i Original
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Canon T2i After Shadow Push, +70 Luminance Noise Reduction
D5100 Raw (Rawshack report) (Raw Values)
Nikon D5100 Original
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, no Luminance Noise Reduction
Nikon D5100 After Shadow Push, +30 Luminance Noise Reduction
Something I didn’t have time to cover in the videos is whether a third-party noise reduction tool like DeNoise or Dfine can do a better job with cross-hatch banding than Lightroom. Here is Photo #2 for the Canon processed with both DeNoise and Dfine on a B+W TIFF exported from Lightroom with no luminance noise reduction and then processed using the Photoshop CS5 plug-ins offered by Topaz (DeNoise) and Nik Software (Dfine 2.0).
Canon T2i Original
Canon T2i with Dfine debanding noise reduction
Canon T2i with DeNoise noise reduction