Hello everyone, today we're going to explore how to use the Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) feature of the QooCam 3 Ultra camera to capture unparalleled panoramic photos. AEB is a powerful ally for professional panoramic photographers, helping elevate your work reach to new heights in image quality.
Shooting Scenario
Let's imagine we're shooting the interior of a hotel room. The challenge here is the extremely strong outdoor light that can easily cause overexposure. Under normal exposure (EV0), the details on the bed are completely lost, with white areas blown out and shadow areas submerged in darkness. Such extreme lighting conditions are a great test for the camera's dynamic range.
The Limitations of Single Exposure
I've tried auto exposure, but found it unable to salvage all the details. The outdoor scene remains too bright, and the details on the bed are lost. Trying to lift the shadowed areas only leads to an increase in noise and a decrease in image quality. This is known as "aggressive curve pulling," which often results in rampant chromatic noise and a loss of fine details.
The Power of HDR DNG
At this point, we use the AEB feature to take multiple DNG shots and generate HDR images. The result is a much higher image quality, with the histogram showing no gaps—this is the key advantage of HDR.
How to Use AEB: Step-by-Step
- Basic Settings
Let's start with the basic AEB settings. The QooCam 3 Ultra's AEB feature allows you to adjust the number of shots, exposure intervals, and exposure times, which means you can maintain a low ISO while capturing both dark and bright areas clearly.
Currently, the maximum number of shots for AEB at 14K resolution is 7. For real estate photography, 7 shots with ±1.3 exposure intervals are usually sufficient. This is equivalent to nearly 4 stops of exposure latitude and it also greatly expands the dynamic range.
- ISO
When shooting, I always recommend using the lowest ISO value, such as ISO 100, to ensure minimal noise and the best image quality. The AEB feature allows you to take multiple shots at different exposure levels and then combine them into one photo with an extremely wide dynamic range.
- Exposure Time
You can manually set the exposure time based on the scene. By observing overexposure and underexposure indicators, you can determine whether the exposure is appropriate. For example, you can set the base exposure time to 1 second, and then increase the exposure time every 1.3 stops, with the longest exposure time reaching up to 16 seconds.
4. White Balance
I suggest using a fixed white balance setting, which can be adjusted later even if slightly off. Automatic white balance may cause problems in scenes with fast-changing light, leading to color bias.
- Shooting Tips
- Use a tripod to ensure camera stability.
- Always use the countdown function to give yourself time to hide from the frame.
- Position the camera at a good position, such as at an eye level, for a more natural perspective, making the result feel like the viewer is really present at the location.
- Storage Method
It is recommended to use the built-in storage, as it is faster. The QooCam 3 Ultra comes with 100GB of built-in storage. And a full group of AEB shots (7 RAW photos and 1 JPG photo) will take up about 1.3GB of space.
Moreover, the QooCam 3 Ultra has a fantastic feature: If you are using the built-in storage and there is also an SD card or external hard drive inserted, the camera will automatically switch to the SD card or hard drive when the built-in storage is full. This ensures you never run out of space, providing ample storage for large file capacities.
- Post-Processing
After shooting, import the photos into your computer and use QooCam Studio for post-processing. Once you have synthesized the 96MP images, you can generate a 16-bit floating-point HDR DNG file, giving you a great dynamic range and color depth. This software automatically recognizes all parameters, and the stitching quality is top-notch, with almost no seams visible. For a smoother and better result, choose dynamic stitching.
The final exported result will be stunning, with rich details and well-controlled noise.
Summary
By skillfully using the AEB feature, you can unleash the powerful capabilities of the QooCam 3 Ultra in handling high-dynamic-range scenes. This feature is a game-changer for commercial photography, particularly for virtual tours, capturing high-quality imagery with rich detail and impressive post-processing potential.
If you have any questions about post-processing with the QooCam 3 Ultra or would like to learn more tips, feel free to leave a comment below. Let’s explore the infinite possibilities of photography together!
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