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Active D-Lighting  Rate Topic 
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Posted by Squarerigger: Wed Oct 17th, 2012 08:38 1st Post
Having the D7000 myself, I was following Blackfox's post on color saturation. Peter Lo brought up the active d-lighting feature. I think I understand what Nikon is trying to accomplish with this setting but would like to hear what you folks think of this setting.

Do you use this setting, which level do you use, do you set it and forget it? I currently have mine set to off.



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Posted by jk: Wed Oct 17th, 2012 09:35 2nd Post
I dont use it as I shoot RAW and anyway I would prefer to not half-cripple the camera by using this feature.

Apparently using D-Lighting also slows down the camera as it needs to preprocess before saving so the buffer clears more slowly.



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Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Wed Oct 17th, 2012 10:11 3rd Post
Gary,
I have tried cameras with this feature.
My advice would be: if you encounter high-contrast subjects switch it ON.
Be aware that the active variant of d-lighting
-takes time (so is not good for sports)
-can be switched OFF afterwards in Capture NX.
-is different from the (after the picture is taken) D-lighting.
Regards, Gilbert



Posted by Peter_LO: Wed Oct 17th, 2012 21:14 4th Post
I always turned Active D-lighting on when I first bought the D3, but I soon discovered that it made skin tone lifeless so now I enable it only when necessary.



Posted by richw: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 02:06 5th Post
I shoot raw and leave it off.



Posted by Squarerigger: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 06:44 6th Post
Thanks to all for the comments. As stated earlier, I have it off presently. I guess it is just another item to try to remember to turn on if needed. Add that to the list of other features I have on my list to remember but forget in the heat of the moment. :doh:

My old Nikon FM was so much easier to handle. I sometimes get overwhelmed with the hundreds of possible settings presented with the digital system.

Thank God for software which can sometimes correct my mistakes.



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Gary


Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 07:55 7th Post
re: easier to handle Gary, Count youself lucky not having a D4, I investigated that one recently and counted no less than 64 buttons etc (in the manual), not counting menu-choices...

Remember this active-d feature as
-maybe a time and sace penalty while taking the picture
-one can turn it off in CNX2 software if not needed.
 Regards, Glbert



Posted by Squarerigger: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 09:02 8th Post
Gilbert Sandberg wrote:
re: easier to handle Gary, Count youself lucky not having a D4, I investigated that one recently and counted no less than 64 buttons etc (in the manual), not counting menu-choices...

Remember this active-d feature as
-maybe a time and sace penalty while taking the picture
-one can turn it off in CNX2 software if not needed.
 Regards, Glbert

Good points Gilbert.

I wonder as we advance (?) technologically if we will get to the point where we just get overcome with choices?



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Gary


Posted by jk: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 09:32 9th Post
Squarerigger wrote: Gilbert Sandberg wrote:
re: easier to handle Gary, Count youself lucky not having a D4, I investigated that one recently and counted no less than 64 buttons etc (in the manual), not counting menu-choices...

Remember this active-d feature as
-maybe a time and sace penalty while taking the picture
-one can turn it off in CNX2 software if not needed.
 Regards, Glbert

Good points Gilbert.

I wonder as we advance (?) technologically if we will get to the point where we just get overcome with choices?
I think I am there now so I just keep the settings on Defaults except to shoot in RAW and then I process later.

Moving the AF point and changing from AFS-AFC, and Aperture/Shutter Priority and Manual is as much as I do except a bit of Manual Focussing.

I wish my Nikon D3 was really a Nikon F3 with digital capture!!!



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Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 09:37 10th Post
re: if we will get to the point where
Gary, from what I read on the net, many people are way beyond that stage... ;-)

re: wish my Nikon D3 was really

JK, I agree wholehartedly, if only for the possibility to have interchangeable Finders and Focusing Screens ! (not ot mention manual operation, i.e. while batteries are exhausted...)

 Regards, Gilbert (drifting off topic, sorry)



Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 09:44 11th Post
Back on topic:

As far as I have understood the feature:
The point I tried to make, if switched ON, Active D-lighting collects data that is not recorded in a normal picture, RAW or otherwise.
Contrary to normal D-lighting the active feature cannot be simulated in software later.

One aspect that i have not tested (but is quite intriguing): the Active D-lighting may work when using flashes, it may be very userful, but I have not had the opportunity to test its merits.
Regards, Gilbert



Posted by Peter_LO: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 13:17 12th Post
>I wish my Nikon D3 was really a Nikon F3 with digital
>capture!!!

I can't agree more, JK.
What I don't like too is the size of new lenses. For instance the new 35/1.4G weighs 600g whereas the ai-s version I have is less than 400g. The 200g difference can be very noticeable after a whole day's shooting :-(



Posted by Peter_LO: Thu Oct 18th, 2012 13:32 13th Post
Back on topic...my understanding about the feature is a bit different. Contrary to normal d-lighting, the "active" part underexposes the picture a bit to preserve highlights.

I wonder if anyone who knows how to meter highlights correctly needs this feature?



Posted by blackfox: Fri Oct 19th, 2012 03:12 14th Post
hmmmm a whole jug full of ideas ,never really thought about this before ,but i will check both cameras and see whats set .i thought the best thing was to set it to auto .i usually try to control high contrast i.e pure white birds by underexposing a few notches .it seems to work but thats where this forum comes into its own by finding out what other users do :seesaw:



Posted by jk: Fri Oct 19th, 2012 05:53 15th Post
blackfox wrote: hmmmm a whole jug full of ideas ,never really thought about this before ,but i will check both cameras and see whats set .i thought the best thing was to set it to auto .i usually try to control high contrast i.e pure white birds by underexposing a few notches .it seems to work but thats where this forum comes into its own by finding out what other users do :seesaw:
Having seen some of your bird pictures I'd say stick with what you are doing and leave the extras for experimentation as you seem to have it pretty much worked out.



My understanding of DLighting is that essentially it is processing the image with a different 'profile/curve' to the Default one.




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Posted by Dave Groen: Fri Oct 19th, 2012 11:16 16th Post
From the D800 manual -

It mentions that it changes exposure, but the example photos don't show the shadows getting darker along with the sky, so it must change the profile/curve also (unless they cheated on the example photos).


Attachment: Snap6.jpg (Downloaded 26 times)



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