12 or 14 bit AD vonversion with D300

[Rene de Heer]

I was wondering if someone could tell me whether there is a significant (noticable) difference between 12 or 14 bit. Reason why i am asking is because of the slowdown in continous shooting mode with the D300.
Many thanks
Rene de Heer

[Robert Amoruso]

I have not tested the 14-bit on my D300 yet so I am interested in responses as well. I know Alfred Forns has. Alfred??

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I remember reading that "theoretically" it should not make a noticeable difference in most circumstances. There may be a little less banding if you make an image of a sunset or so. It would be interesting to see images of the same subject 12 v. 14 bit to see if the differences are visible in jpgs scaled down for the web. On my 1D3 shadows look smoother but I couldn't tell for sure if this has to do with the bit rate or simply because the image quality is just better than in previous models.

[Fabs Forns]

I think there is definitely a difference in 14 bit images.
What I do the few times I use the D300, I go to 12 bit unless there's a lot of flight action like hovering or landing where wing position (speed) could make or break the image.
Otherwise, I use 14 bit.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I think there is definitely a difference in 14 bit images.
What I do the few times I use the D300, I go to 12 bit unless there's a lot of flight action like hovering or landing where wing position (speed) could make or break the image.
Otherwise, I use 14 bit.

How would you describe the difference? Smoother shadows and transitions? Emil Martinec who is a physics professor and owns a 1D3 and who really knows what he is talking about doubts that there is much use for 14 bit in real life.

[Alfred Forns]

There is a big difference between 12 and 14 bit The most noticeable is the shadow gradation

The usual range would be about six stops Within those stops you have 64 steps vs 256 for the 14 bit Another way to look at it is (not exactly) similar to processing in 8bit or 16 bit regarding the histogram

In actual image quality I don't have a direct comparison for the same bird with each I have noticed the 14 does render a better image (visually) just converted from raw

btw the D300 slows down to 2.5 fps at 14 bit The D3 does not !!!

[John Chardine]

Nor does the Canon 40D. 6.5 fps @ 14 bit (no 12 bit mode) and all for $1100!

[David Stimac]

Does the D300 slow down to 2.5 fps even with the vertical grip?

[Greg Forcey]

Does the D300 slow down to 2.5 fps even with the vertical grip?

Yes it does unfortunately.

[Robert Amoruso]

I know that for the Canon 1D Mark III, 14-bit is a giant leap forward in image quality.

[Mike Boyce]

Just picked up a D300 today and had similar questions, so I called Nikon's Technical Support (free) first. They claim there is virtually no difference in prints made with today's top of the line printers and inks when shooting the D300 at 12 or 14 bit depth. They do say that once the print technology "catches up", that there is sure to be improved gradations in color tones. If this is true, the question really becomes which is more important to you now... frames per second, or maximizing captured data for possible future use.

By the way, Nikon Technical Support claims you will gain roughly one additional frame per second shooting RAW at 14 bit depth when using the MD-D10 and EN-EL4a (or AA batteries) with the D300 bringing the 2.5 fps up to 3.5 fps. This might be important if one is considering purchasing an MB-D10 and wants to use 14 bit depth.

[Robert O'Toole]

FYI:

From DPreview on D300 12 vs 14 bit:


D300: Its also also worth noting that we are indeed plotting both 12-bit and 14-bit RAW modes on the graphs below but that because their results were absolutely identical you can't really distinguish one from the other. 14-bit RAW in theory provides you with more 'data points' between the maximum and minimum brightness (the dynamic range) which could be useful for level-type adjustments.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond300/page20.asp


Robert

[Robert O'Toole]

When the D3 and D300 were first released there was a lot of discussion on this topic and I agree with Axel. There is really no real world difference.

The small gain that 14 bit does have is in the deep shadows and will only really come into play with big tonal adjustments (like curves or levels). So this means that the slight gain is really on of DR and not smoother tones anywhere in the image.

Also it might be worth noting that DPreview found the D300 Dynamic Range of 8.8 EV in default 12 bit compared to the 40D at default 14 bit of 9.1 Ev. Not a very big difference. I would take the 51 point AF, 1005 pixel RGB sensor, and 8 fps for $1800 over 6 fps and 14 bits for $1100.

Robert

[Robert O'Toole]

Nor does the Canon 40D. 6.5 fps @ 14 bit (no 12 bit mode) and all for $1100!

When DPreview tested the 40D they got a disappointing 6.2 fps at 1/2000 of a sec and only 6.3 above that speed. Below 1/2000 FPS dropped.

The D300 tested at 6.1 fps body only and 8.1 fps with the MBD10 grip all from 1/500 and up, 12 bit of course.

FYI dont shoot the messenger, I own both systems :)


Robert

[Robert Amoruso]

From what I have read, the 12-bit vs. 14-bit difference will be in the shadows. Which could be important for landscape photographers looking to maximize tonal separation in the shadows. It is something I will have time to investigate this summer.

Thanks for the links and info Robert.