The following is an excerpt from our HDR Tutorial by SLR Lounge. This workshop dubbed “the gold standard of HDR education” by FStoppers contains over 13 hours of tutorials, RAW files for you to follow along, and dozens of full prep to post examples. We cover bracketed HDR, in-camera HDR, single-shot faux HDR, single-shot bracketed HDR, panoramic HDR and more! Click here for more info.
Introduction
In our article Motion Blur vs Ghosting, we discussed the difference between ghosting and motion blur when it comes to HDR photography. In this article, we will discuss how a DSLR with a faster frame rate can significantly help reduce ghosting in your HDR images. In addition, a DSLR with a faster frame rate is also incredibly useful in scenes where you cannot use a tripod. The frame rate of your DSLR will have an overall impact on your HDR photography. If you are serious about HDR photography and are looking to buy or upgrade to a new DSLR, these 2 reasons should be taken into consideration when purchasing a new DSLR.
Watch the video below or continue reading for more details.
Watch the Video
Higher FPS Can Reduce Motion Blur and Ghosting
In certain situations, it may be difficult or impossible to use a tripod. In these situations, we are left to shoot a handheld bracketed sequence. Handheld bracketed sequences will always introduce camera shake, causing ghosting and potential motion blur in our images. We simply cannot hold a camera perfectly still across multiple exposures. In these situations, a faster frame rate is going to make a huge difference. For example, if my camera can shoot at 10 frames a second, the camera will mitigate the movement of my hands between shots since it takes the camera less time to shoot our bracketed sequence. This will reduce movement and ghosting within the bracketed HDR image. If my camera shoots at a slower frame rate, there will be more time in between shots for my hands to shift and introduce movement into the images. If you are shooting with a tripod, then the frame rate of your DSLR does not really matter.
Our Favorite Cameras for HDR Photography
Here are some of our favorite cameras for HDR photography in order of their frames per second. Remember, while FPS (Frames Per Second) is an important consideration in purchasing/upgrading your DSLR body, you don’t need a 10 FPS camera to take great HDR photographs.
4 FPS – Nikon D800
4.5 FPS – Canon 6D
6 FPS – Canon 5D Mark III
10 FPS – Canon 1D Mark IV
10 FPS – Nikon D4
Conclusion & Learn More!
For more HDR education, be sure to check out our HDR Tutorial by SLR Lounge. This comprehensive “gold standard” guide will give you a mastery of HDR photography, from the scene considerations to the actual shooting to the post production. Click here for more info.
[FAQ: What is HDR?]
