Exposure latitude is the range of light intensities that a camera can capture. A camera system with a higher exposure latitude will be able to record more details in the dark and light areas of a picture. Cinematographers express the exposure latitude in terms of a number of f-stops. Exposure latitude is also sometimes referred to as film contrast ratio, luminosity range or dynamic range. A cinematographer (from cinema photographer) is one photographing with a motion picture camera (the art and science of which is known as cinematography). ... A 35mm lens set to f/11, as indicated by the white dot above the f-stop scale on the aperture ring In photography the f-number (focal ratio) expresses the diameter of the diaphragm aperture in terms of the effective focal length of the lens. ...

Typical exposure latitudes are:

• Video camera: 5.5 stops (ratio of 45:1)
• "Normal latitude" negative film: 7 stops (128:1)
• "Extended latitude" negative film: 11 stops (2048:1)

In the advancement of digital cinematography, expanding the exposure latitude is a critical ingredient. Digital cinematography is the process of capturing motion pictures as digital images, rather than on film. ...

Mathematical side

The contrast of a film image is the difference between the lightest and darkest tonal densities recorded on the film. The greater the difference, the greater the contrast.

Hence, contrast may be expressed as the difference between the maximum and minimum densities of a given film:

contrast ratio = 10 power-of (Dmax - Dmin) where D is density

Alternatively, contrast may be expressed as the ratio between the maximum opacity and minimum opacity of a given film: Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per volume. ...

contrast ratio = Omax/Omin where O is opacity

These expressions for contrast ratio are entirely equivalent. A substance or object that is opaque is neither transparent nor translucent. ...

Contrast should not be confused with film gamma, which is the ratio of film density to film exposure. Gamma correction is the name of an internal adjustment made in the rendering of images through photography, television, and computer imaging. ...

See also

• Dynamic range, more general article
• Contrast ratio, for display systems
• Stops (Dynamic Range)

Dynamic range is a term used frequently in numerous fields to describe the ratio between the smallest and largest possible values of a changeable quantity. ... The contrast ratio is a metric of a display system, defined as the ratio of the luminosity of the brightest and the darkest color the system is capable of producing. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

External links

• Dynamic Range of a Sensor at dpreview.com