HDR vs Ai

[HenryS]

Dear LSI,

Currently I get images from various sources and I use HDR to adjust them.
Now I have to add Nikon 8000 into my workflow.

The obvious solution would be to use scanner's native software to put images in file and then do further adjustments the regular way with HDR.

However.
Are there advantages of buying Ai for Nikon 8000 and doing some pre-HDR work in Ai? The reason for my question is that LSI could use direct scanner control for features not possible in generic case.

Please advise.

Thank you,
Henry

[President_LSI]

SilverFast Ai for Nikon and HDR


The advantage of SilverFast Ai for Nikon is:

1. Using functions in SF Ai specific to the Nikon scanner such as:
a. Exposure control (create max dynamic range)
b. Nikon specialized NegaFix profiles

2. Save all corrections into raw data and have the advantage of
still be able to do further corrections using SF HDR.

[HenryS]

<b>SilverFast Ai for Nikon and HDR</b>
a. Exposure control (create max dynamic range)

Dear Mr. President,
That's what I hoped to hear.

Nikon promises 4.2 dmax. Does SF make more?

If yes:
Will I get that better dmax in unattended Job Manager mode for whole roll or I have to manually adjust every frame?
What is the price for that in terms of scan time?

Thank you.
Henry

[President_LSI]

Dear Henry,

max dynamic range can be critical with relation to noise. You will certainly need to look at each file in the JobManager to check for best dynamic range.

Of course you could scan a whole roll of film with the best possible exposure setting into raw data and use HDR after that. That would be the fastest processing possible.

Another advantage of SF Ai-HDR combination is when scanning large files (over 30 MB) since then HiRePP becomes effective. The file loading times for HDR would be close to zero.

best regards

Karl-Heinz Zahorsky