What does 16 stop dynamic range ACTUALLY look like on a mirrorless camera RAW file or LOG?

[Andrew - EOSHD]

I want to see it.

Real world subjects only (like landscape scenes, people, and so on).

[feanorfinwe]

 

 

[Ilkka Nissila]

The high dynamic range (using DGO technology) in the Sony A7 V is for low to middle ISO stills when using the mechanical shutter; DGO is not used for video, and certainly there won't be any 16-stop dynamic range at ISO 3200 or 8000. The claimed 16 stops is likely achieved on a signficantly downsampled ISO 100 still image and criteria based on engineering dynamic range  (SNR = 1).

 

Do the EOSHD website and browsers used by visitors support high dynamic range photos on Super Retina XDR and other HDR screens? Otherwise, I'm not sure what the OP is looking to see. Having lower noise can't harm the image and it's up to the user to make use of the higher fidelity, or not make use of it.

[eatstoomuchjam]

On 12/14/2025 at 5:07 AM, Andrew Reid said:

I want to see it.

Real world subjects only (like landscape scenes, people, and so on).

For a still image?  Photons to photos has never measured one - their highest measured DR is between 13 and 14 stops on some Phase One.  They have the A7V and the GFX 100 II about equal at ISO 80/100.  If you want some landscape photos from my GFX 100 II, I can certainly share a few.

For video, it's not exactly a mirrorless (but same sensor as in the mirrorless S1R II), but supposedly the Ronin 4D 8K in DR expansion mode has 16.3 total stops on the cined chart, but like most cameras, a lot less than that at a usable SNR.

[Andrew - EOSHD]

5 hours ago, Ilkka Nissila said:

I'm not sure what the OP is looking to see.

I want to see one of those 13 or 15 stop dynamic range RAW files everyone is raving about

[Andrew - EOSHD]

8 hours ago, feanorfinwe said:

 

 

 

 

None of those images show the full dynamic range.

It's a low light test more than dynamic range.

[feanorfinwe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXt3V6OAEpo

 

[Emanuel]

Yes, Andrew’s spot-on, and he’s still at it.

[Andrew - EOSHD]

4 hours ago, feanorfinwe said:

Wow. Yes.

That's a perfect example of when you get your exposure wrong by 5 stops.

4 hours ago, feanorfinwe said:

The dynamic range in this shot is about 3.5 stops!

[kye]

I shoot in uncontrolled conditions, using only available light, and shoot what is happening with no directing and no do-overs.  This means I'm frequently pointing the camera in the wrong direction, shooting people backlit against the sunset, or shooting urban stuff in midday-sun with deep shadows in the shade in the same frame as direct sun hitting pure-white objects.

This was a regular headache on the GH5 with its 9.7/10.8 stops.  The OG BMPCC with 11.2/12.5 stops was MUCH better but still not perfect, and while I haven't used my GH7 in every possible scenario, so far its 11.9/13.2 stops are more than enough.

The only reason you need DR is if you want to heavily manipulate the shot in post by pulling the highlights down for some reason, or lifting the shadows up for some reason.

Beyond the DR of the GH7 I can't think of many uses other than bragging rights.  When the Alexa 35 came out and DPs were talking about its extended DR, it was only in very specific situations that it really mattered.  

Rec709 only has about 6 stops of DR, so unless you're mastering for HDR (and if you are, umm - why?) so adding more DR into the scene only gives you more headaches in post when you have to compress and throw away the majority of the DR in the image.

[Jahleh]

15 hours ago, kye said:

Rec709 only has about 6 stops of DR, so unless you're mastering for HDR (and if you are, umm - why?) so adding more DR into the scene only gives you more headaches in post when you have to compress and throw away the majority of the DR in the image.

I shoot also mostly with available light, and when the sun has set in the light of dim headlamps. So being able to push and pull shadows and highlights is extremely important. In that regard GH7 is no slouch, but it is not quite the same than Z6iii, ZR nor even S5ii was either.

If you have a good HDR capable display (and I don’t mean your tiny phones, laptop or medium sized  displays, but a 65” or bigger OLED with infinite contrast, or a JVC projector with good contrast and inky blacks) one must be a wooden eye to not notice the difference between SDR and HDR masters. 
At least with my grading skills the 6 stops of DR in SDR look always worse than what I can get from HDR.