Digital Cinematography, 2nd Edition

Camera Sensors 31

Dynamic Range and Exposure Latitude

The dynamic range (or tonal range) of a scene

is the ratio of the maximum and minimum light

levels in the scene.

The dynamic range of a camera is the ratio of

number of stops of latitude a sensor is capable

of recording.

The exposure latitude of a camera is the range

of tones that the camera can accurately capture

from dark to light that will produce an image that

is acceptable in color and tone without clipping

highlights and with an acceptable noise level in

dark areas of the frame.

The discipline that underlies cinematography

is the mastery of matching the tonal range of ...