Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) Guide

Published Oct 01, 2019 13:15 PM

Understanding wide dynamic range (WDR) is critical to capturing high quality images in demanding conditions. However, with no real standards, any manufacturer can claim WDR, and many do even if actual performance is weak, causing confusion for even experienced users.

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In this tutorial, we break down these issues, explaining:

  • 2023 State of WDR
  • What is WDR?
  • Camera WDR Challenges
  • Solution: True Multi-Exposure WDR
  • Number Of Exposures Varies
  • True WDR Camera Improve Effective Details
  • How WDR Is Measured
  • Decibels Vs. WDR Ratio Measurements
  • Interpreting Manufacturer WDR Specifications
  • Resolution Vs. WDR
  • Multiple Exposures May Reduce Low Light Performance
  • Fake WDR Techniques
  • Backlight Compensation (BLC)
  • Digital WDR (DWDR)
  • Model Resolution Limitations
  • Manufacturer Terminology Confusion

2023 ***** ** ***

**** *** ** *** ******, ***** it *** ************ ********* ** **** expensive, ******-*** ******.

*** ** ***** *** ***** * universal ******* ***** ** ***** ******, but ** ** *** ****** **** ever ******. ** ****** **** ***** to ********.

******* ** ****, ******** **** *********** in *** *********** ** **** ******* than **** ******, ** *** ************ can ******* ***** ****** ** "**** WDR" **** ** ********** ** ****-***** performance (*** **** ********** **).

WDR **** ******** *******

**** ****** ** ******* **** ***** manufacturers ** ****** ****** **** *********** ****** **** ***** ** *********** in ******** ******.

** *** *****, ******* *****-*** ** *********** **** *******, **** ****** ****** against *********, ** **** ***** ** scenes, *****, *** ** ******, **** limited ****** *********.

*** ***** ***** ***** *** **** rankings:

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**** **** ** **** ** ****** to **** ******** ** ***** ****.

What ** ***?

*** ****** *******************, *** ** *********** *** ******* to ******* **** ******* ****** ****** a ***** ***** ** ***** ******. For *******, ** *** ***** *****, the ****** ** *** ***** ** very ****** *** ** *** ******** behind *** ****** ** *** *******, while *** ***** ** ****** ****** of *** ******** ** ** **** not ******* ****** ********.

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Camera *** **********

******* ************ ********* **** **** ****** of ******** ******* ** ***** ********** on ******* ********. ******* **** ***** ** ******** an *****. *******, *** **** ***** and *** ***** ** ****** ***, but *** ****** ***** *** *** image ** *** ****.

** *** **** * ***** **** even ********, *** ****** *** ****** adjust *** **** ******* **** ** its ******* ***** ** *** *** right ****** ** *****. **** ** why ************* ********* **** ***** ******* in **** ******** ******.

*******, ** *** ***** *** * wide ***** ** ********, *** ****** has * ***** *********. ** ** restricts *** ****** ** ***** ** takes ** ** ******** *** *** bright *****, *** ***** ***** ***** will ** *** ****. *******, ** it ******* *** ******** ********, ********** for *** ***** *****, *** ****** side **** ** ****** ***. *** image ***** ***** **** ***** ********:

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Solution **** *****-******** ***

***** *** **** ********* *** *** scenes ** ******* *** ******** ************* to ******* **** **** *** ****** areas, *** **** ****** ****** ******** is ** *** ******** ********* *** then ******* **** ** ******* * better ******* *****, ******** ** ** True *** ** *****-******** ***. *** short ******** ******** *** ****** *****, while *** **** ******** ******** *** dark *****. *** *** ************** *****:

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** *** *******, **** *** *********** is *********** ****** *** ***** ******* manufacturers ******* ** ******* *** ******* (e.g., '*******' ** '**********' *** ** BLC).

****** ** ********* ******

*** ****** ** ********* **** ** true *** ******, **** * ******* of * ** * ** * in **** ******. *******, * ******* number ** ********* **** *** ****** mean *** ****** **** ******* ****** than ***** ***** **** *** *********. Image ********** **********, ****** *******, *** other ******* *** **** * ********** as ****.

************, *** ***** ****** ** ********* and ******* ** ***** ********** **** are ****** ********.**** ***** ********* ********* *** ***** testing ********* ** *** **** *** performance ** ****** ** *********** ******.

**** *** ******* ******* ********* *******

**** *** ******* *** **** * big ********** ** ****** **** ******* light ******. *** *******, ** *** image *****, *** ****** ** *** left **** *** ******* *** *** shows **** ***** ******* ********* ** *** *******'* **** ******* washed ***. ** ********, *** **** WDR ****** ** *** ***** ******* shows *** *******'* ****, *********, *** clothing, ** **** ** ******* ** the ***** ****** ***, **** ** the ***** ***** *** *****, ******* lot *** ******** *****, *** ****.

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How *** ** ********

** ** ******** ** **** *** wide *** ***** ** ***** ****** a ***** ***. *** ********* ******** unit ** ******* **** ** ************ is *** ******* (*.*., ****, *****, etc.) **** ****** ****** ************* ********** stronger *** ***********. *************, ***** ************ are *** ************ *** *** ** the ********** ** **** ************, *** cannot ** *******.

*************, *** ************ *** ***** ** a ******** **** ********.* *********** **** ***** (*****) ** used, ********** ******** ****** ** **** from ***** ** *****. *** **** levels * ****** *** ***, *** higher *** ** ****** *** ****** its *********** *********** ****** **.

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*************, **** **** *** ********* **** to ****-***** ****** (*.*., **** *** I ****** *** ** ***** **** camera?). ************, ******* ** ****-********* ** each ************ *** **** ********** *** not ** ************, *** ******** ****** by *** *************.

An *********** ********: *** *****

** *** *******, ** ********* ** alternative ****-***** ******** ** ********* *** tough * *** ***** **. ***** a *** *****, ** ****** *** brightest *** *** ******* ***** ** each *****. *** ***** ** *** two ******** * ****** ********* ** how *********** *** ***** **.

** * ******* ******* ********, **** a ***** ******* ** ** ******** area, *** ***** ** ********* ***** high, *.*., *** ** ***** *****:

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*** *** ***** ** **** ***** is ~***, **** *** **** ******* at *,*** *** *** *** ******** indoor ***** ** ~***. **** ** a ****** ***** *****, *** ** have **** **** ******* ** *** tests, ** ******* ********* *** ** as ****** ** **,***+ ***.

******* ** ****, ** ********* ********* lux ** *** ****** ***** ** be ******. **** *** ** **** by * ***** **** **** *~$*** *** *****. ************ ****** ** ********* **** the *** ** ***** ***** ** strongest ** *** ***** ** *** ratio **** **** ********** *** ***.

Interpreting ************ *** **************

*** ****** ***** ******* ************ ** specifications ** **** *** ****-******** *** not ********* *************, **** ** *** manufacturer ** ******* *** '*****', ***** is ** *** ** **** ** the ****** **. *******, ***** *** some ******** ** ********:

  • * *** ** ****** ** **** or **** ****** ****** ***** **** the ****** **** *** ******* **** WDR ** ************* **** **** ****** their ******* **** *** **** ****** that *** ****** ** *** ** the *** '*****'. '*******', *** *** cameras ********** *** ********* ** *** range ** ** - ****.
  • * *** ** ****** ** ***+ usually, *** *** ******, ***** **** the ****** ******** **** *****-******** ***. Again, ******, ***** ************* *** **** to ****** *** ***** **** ****, it ** *** **********. **** **** to ****** *** **** *** ***** or ****** **** *******.
  • *******, **** ************* *** ********** ************ in ***** *** ** *******. *** example, ***** ***** **** ** ***** true *** ******* ** '****' *****. This **** *** **** **** *** worse **** * **** ******* ************ self-assigning ***** ** *****. ****** ******* is ******** ** ******.
  • ** *** **** *** *****, ** have **** ************* ********** *** ** race **** ************** ** ***** ** now **** *****. *******, ** *** testing, ***** ******* **** *********** ***** nothing, **** **** *****-***** ****** ************* 150dB ****** ******.*** *** *** ******** *** ****.

Resolution **. ***

** *** *******, ** **** ***** little *********** ******* ********** *** *** performance. **** ********** ****** *** ** found ** *****, ***, ***, *** even **, ** *** ****** ********** models.

*******, *** *** ************* ***** ***** top-tier *** *********** ** ***** ******* resolution ******. *** *******, ********'* ** H4/H5 ******* ** *** ******* **** WDR, ***** *** ****** **. ** contrast, **** ****** ***** **** *** "Forensic ***" ** * ****** ****** in *****, ***, *** ** **********.

******* ** ****, ***** ****** *** consider ********** * ******** ***** ** WDR ***********.

Multiple ********* *** **** *** ***** ***********

***** ******** ********* ********* ********* *** slow * ******* *** ** ***, which ********* *** ****** ** ***** hitting *********'* ******, ******** *** ***** ***********. ******* of ****, **** (*** *** ***) models ********* ***** *** ************* ******* WDR ** *****, ****** **** *** not ** *** ** ** ** by *******.

*** *******, *** ****** ****** ***** includes ******* ** **** *** **** light ** *** (***** ** ****** level) ***/** **** ********* ** ***** mode (*/*).

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**** ** ** ********* ******* ** check ** *** ***** ** * priority *** *** ******** ***** *** camera ** ********.

Fake *** ********** - **** *** ***

************* ********* ****** *** ******-*** ********** as ***** ************ ** *****-******** ***: Backlight ************ (***) *** ******* *** (DWDR). *******, *** ***** **** ***** that ***** ********** ****** ** *** compare ** **** * *** *********** true *** ******.

Backlight ************

***, ** ********* ************, ****** ******* the (******) ******** ** * ******. This ** ****** **** **** *** want ** ******* **** *** ****** or **** ***** ** *** ***** but *** ****. ** ***** ***, you **** **** *** ******* ** the ***** ****** ** *** ******* of *** ***** ***** *****.

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**** ***-**** **** *** ****** *** available, ***** * ****** **** ****** only *** ** *** ************* ** not ***********.

"*******" ***

******* ***, **** ***** ** ****, EWDR, ** ********** *** ** *********** a ******** ********** ** ******** ******* of *** *****, ******* ** *** overall *****. **** *** ** ****** in **** ****** **** ***** *******, but ***** ********** ***** ** *** compare ** **** ***.

*** *******, ** *** ********** *****, two ********* ****** *** ***** **** by ****. *** **** *** ****** on *** **** ******** ***** ******* details ** **** ** ****** ******* of *** **********. ** ********, *** digital *** ****** ********* ****** *** the *******'* **** *** ****** ******** details ** *** **** **** ** the *****.

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**** **** **** ************* ***** **** digital *** ** ******** ** **** WDR, *** ***** *** ****** ******* the ***, **** ******' "******* *******" **. "******* ********". ****** ** ***** ***** *** refer ** ****** ***** *****(**** *****).

Some ****** ********** *******

************, ***** ********, **** *************' ******* include **** ***, *** *** ** maximum **********. **** ** ***** ** some **/**** ****** ***** *** ***** true *** ** ** ********** *** not ** *** **** **** ********* resolution, ** ** ******* ********** ******** * **** ** **** HD ********** (********* ******* ** *********).

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***** *********** *** *** **** ******, but ***** ****** ******* ****** ************** before ******** *** ** ********* ** all ***********.

WDR ************ ***** ***** *** ****** ********

******* ************* *** ** ******* ***** WDR *******, ** **** *** ******** a **** ** ************* ********* ******* they ******* ‘****’ (*****-********) ***, ‘****’ (digital/electronic ***), ** ****. ** **** provide ***** ** ********* *********, ****** conventions, ***.

*** ** ************* **** ******* **** support ‘****’ ***, ***** ***** **** of **** **** **** ******* **** support ******* ***.

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*** ******* ******* ********* **** **** and ********** ************ *********, ****** **** our*** ************ ***** ***** *** ****** Tracking******.

Test **** *********

**** ***** ******** *******.

[****: **** ******** *** ********** ********* in **** *** *** ************* ******* in **** ** ******* ******** ** WDR ************ *** ***********.]

Comments (11)
U
Undisclosed #1
Oct 01, 2019
IPVMU Certified

**** ********** *** *** ***** ****, doesn’t *** ***** **** ** ***** towards *** ******?

(1)
Avatar
Ethan Ace
Oct 01, 2019

***, * ******* **** ***** **** he *** ***-******** ******* ** **** it *** ******* ** *** ******. We'll *** ****.

Avatar
Ethan Ace
Oct 01, 2019

**** ***** *** **** ********.

U
Undisclosed #1
Oct 01, 2019
IPVMU Certified

****! (****** * ***** *** ******** might ** *** ** *****)

Avatar
Ethan Ace
Oct 01, 2019

* ***'* **** **** *** ****...

U
Undisclosed #1
Oct 02, 2019
IPVMU Certified

** *** ****** *** *** **** to **** *** *** ~*** *** and ~**** *** **** ** **** new ***** ****** *********?

**** * ****** ** ** ***** after *** ****** **, * ***** have ***** ** *** ********* ******... i **** **** **** ********, ******.

** *** *****, *** ***** *** swapped ****

**

**** ***, *******?

* ***** *** **** ********* ** have ******* ***** ******, **** * different *****, *** *** **** ***** and ****. ~*** *** *** ~**** light ****** :)

MM
Michael Miller
Oct 01, 2019

***** * ***** *** **** *** H5A *** **** ******* **** ******** now **** ***

(1)
Avatar
Ethan Ace
Oct 01, 2019

******, * ***** **** ** *** chart.

AS
Amitkumar Sirjusingh
Jan 16, 2021

*********** ** **** **** ********** ** determine '**** ***' ** ******* ** digital *** ** **** ****-** **** for '****' *** **********. * ****** though ** *** ** ********** ********* given **** ******* *****, ***** *****, imager *** *** *** **** ******* lighting ********** ********* ** *** ***********.

JH
John Honovich
Jan 16, 2021
IPVM

***** **** ******* *****, ***** *****, imager *** *** *** **** ******* lighting ********** ********* ** *** ***********.

**, *** *** *** / **** contrast ******. *** ********* **** *** scenes ** **** **************** **** *** ***** ****** *** high ***** ******, ** ****** ****** a ****** ******* ********* *** ******* or *** ***. ***** ***** ***** part ** *** ***** (****** *** low ** **** ***** ******) ****** captured. **** **** **** *****?

(1)
AS
Amitkumar Sirjusingh
Jan 22, 2021

***, ****** *** *** ********