Author Topic: [GRADATION] setting explained (Read 1987 times)

adash · « **on:** July 12, 2010, 11:43:51 PM »

Directly from the source:
http://asia.olympus-global.com/imsg/webmanual/dslr_function/gradation/index.html

lisandra · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2010, 07:00:21 PM »

Quote from: adash on July 12, 2010, 11:43:51 PM

Directly from the source:
http://asia.olympus-global.com/imsg/webmanual/dslr_function/gradation/index.html

Looks very HDRish, and apparently it's available on the PEN, has anyone tried it?

adash · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:08:37 PM »

It happens to induce more noise in the shadow areas in some situations, so I prefer not to use it, if you mean the "Auto" setting.

Centauri27 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2010, 09:50:22 AM »

The Olympus tutorial provides a dramatic example of this feature in action. I use 'Auto' gradation on my E-P1 all the time. I believe it helps and I haven't noticed unnecessary noise in the shadows. Olympus' labelling for this feature can be confusing though: people might wonder which is the better default: 'Normal' or 'Auto'.

One final note: I think you can get a similar effect as 'Auto' gradation (or maybe even stronger?) by editing the JPEG during playback review and selecting the "Shadow Adj" feature. I've tried it and it works wonders in retrieving shadow details, especially in night shots.

adash · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2010, 09:52:19 AM »

Centauri27, for me the "Auto" mode in gradation has so far been the only way to get visible noise in ISO200. May be I was doing something wrong.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2010, 01:49:10 PM »

Quote from: Centauri27 on August 18, 2010, 09:50:22 AM

The Olympus tutorial provides a dramatic example of this feature in action. I use 'Auto' gradation on my E-P1 all the time. I believe it helps and I haven't noticed unnecessary noise in the shadows. Olympus' labelling for this feature can be confusing though: people might wonder which is the better default: 'Normal' or 'Auto'.

One final note: I think you can get a similar effect as 'Auto' gradation (or maybe even stronger?) by editing the JPEG during playback review and selecting the "Shadow Adj" feature. I've tried it and it works wonders in retrieving shadow details, especially in night shots.

i thought the same olys explaination seems confusing as to which offers more of the hdr like effect

Centauri27 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2010, 01:54:47 PM »

Quote from: adash on August 18, 2010, 09:52:19 AM

Centauri27, for me the "Auto" mode in gradation has so far been the only way to get visible noise in ISO200. May be I was doing something wrong.

I think that may be one of the side effects. If it was perfect, then it would be baked into the firmware and there would be no need to turn it "off".

adash · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2010, 09:55:30 PM »

Quote

If it was perfect, then it would be baked into the firmware and there would be no need to turn it "off".

You may want to get rid of the detail in the darker areas. Some photographers do that, but there is no way to do it in E-Px. You have to play with Levels in PP.

peterb666 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2010, 12:20:49 AM »

Quote from: Centauri27 on August 18, 2010, 09:50:22 AM

The Olympus tutorial provides a dramatic example of this feature in action. I use 'Auto' gradation on my E-P1 all the time. I believe it helps and I haven't noticed unnecessary noise in the shadows. Olympus' labelling for this feature can be confusing though: people might wonder which is the better default: 'Normal' or 'Auto'.

Likewise. Note that if you shoot RAW, Olympus Viewer 2 will let you turn it on or off (regardless of the previous setting). It does make a difference with shadow detail and I often shoot in poor light. While it adds a little noise in dark areas, I have never found it to be an issue and can always be cleaned up.

There are some situations where the 'Auto' setting aleviates the need to use HDR and tone mapping or fushion to get the desired 'natural' dynamic range that you expect.

Antoine G · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2010, 12:24:28 AM »

I think it's a "function like" the Nikon one well known since years now, D-Lightning ( i discover it on the D2x), avialable on its very valuable software Capture NX too, you have this function on the camera and after in PP, i must say it's very precise as this software in other hand very low at running sometimes.

But those proper brand settings are not recognized, either filters or anything else featuring in the camera, if you shoot only in raw and use another raw developer than the Olympus one, like Lightroom for example. The apercu of the raw file will be very quickly update by the Adobe one when you ingest the files.

This function is equal to the common "lightning add" in the basis settings of Lightroom too.

[GRADATION] setting explained