What is HDR and How is Canon's HDR PQ different?

Canon's HDR PQ provides notable improvements in terms of dynamic range, color accuracy, and overall image quality for both photography and filmmaking. You may get the most of HDR PQ by being aware of its uses and benefits. This will assist ensure that their work is characterized by outstanding realism and detail.

High dynamic range in photography is abbreviated as HDR. Its dynamic range is the span of tones in a picture from brightest to darkest. Or to put it another way, it's a gauge of the light levels, from highlights to shadows.
For example, consider the human eye. We may concurrently see details in both highlights and shadows because of its wide dynamic range. However, through cameras it may be more challenging to capture precisely what our eyes see. Cameras are unable to record as many details as human sight because they have a smaller dynamic range.
The camera shot will resemble what the human eye can perceive more closely with a higher dynamic range. As a result, you'll be able to notice features in the highlights that would otherwise be washed out with white and catch more details in the shadows that could otherwise appear to be pure black.

PQ, or Perceptual Quantizer, is a standard developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for HDR content. PQ is designed to reflect how humans perceive brightness, allowing for a more natural and realistic representation of scenes. It maps the captured luminance levels to how the human eye perceives light, creating a more accurate and visually pleasing image.

HDR PQ works by utilizing a transfer function that mimics the non-linear way human vision perceives brightness. Traditional gamma curves used in standard dynamic range (SDR) displays do not adequately represent the vast range of brightness levels that HDR can capture. The PQ curve, however, is specifically designed to accommodate this extensive range, ensuring that both the brightest highlights and the darkest shadows are represented with high fidelity.

Photographers are able to capture more information in the highlights and shadows with HDR PQ, producing photographs with greater depth and subtlety. This is especially helpful with high contrast images, including landscapes with dark foregrounds and dazzling sky.

Because HDR PQ has a wider color gamut due to its enhanced dynamic range, colors are portrayed more precisely. Images produced as a consequence are more colorful and realistic.

HDR PQ enhances the overall image quality in video by preserving details in both bright and dark areas. This results in footage that is closer to what the human eye sees, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

HDR PQ content maintains its quality across different viewing devices, ensuring that the dynamic range and color fidelity are preserved whether viewed on a high-end monitor or a consumer television.

The more natural and realistic representation of scenes achieved with HDR PQ can make videos more engaging and visually appealing to viewers, improving the overall viewing experience.

The two most popular HDR systems are HDR PQ and HDR HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), each having their own benefits.

HDR PQ: The perceptual quantizer curve, which is intended to correspond with human vision, is the foundation for HDR PQ, as previously indicated. It is perfect for professional, high-quality footage and provides exact control over brightness settings.

HDR HLG: The BBC and NHK, however, are the ones that produce HDR HLG. It is a sensible option for broadcasting when the same signal has to be compatible with both HDR and SDR TVs because it is made to be backward compatible with SDR screens.

The key differences between HDR PQ and HDR HLG include the following:
● Brightness Mapping: HDR PQ uses a non-linear approach to map brightness, closely matching human perception, while HDR HLG uses a logarithmic curve for compatibility with SDR.
● Compatibility: HDR HLG’s backward compatibility makes it more versatile for live broadcasts, whereas HDR PQ offers superior quality for dedicated HDR content.
● Use Case: HDR PQ is typically preferred for pre-recorded content and cinematic experiences, while HDR HLG is favored for live broadcasts and real-time applications.

CANON EOS R3
The CANON EOS R3 is a camera that makes it possible to capture news, sports, and wildlife images like never before. With its intuitive ability to identify subjects simply by looking at them, you can stay ahead of the competition and meet deadlines with 30 frames per second continuous shooting and sophisticated connection.

CANON EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 allows you to be creative in ways you never could have been before, regardless of what or how you photograph. Take breath-taking 45-megapixel pictures at up to 20 frames per second, or flip a switch to record dramatic 12 bit 8K RAW video that makes use of the whole sensor width using the EOS R5. Moreover, EOS R5 boasts AI that learns through deep learning is used to develop advanced autofocus (AF), and in-body image stabilization, when combined with a lens's internal IS, can reduce camera shaking by up to 8 stops.

CANON EOS R6
With the revolutionary technology of the Canon EOS R6, you'll fall in love with photograph    y all over again. Take whole fresh pictures and perspectives of your subjects to give your visual storytelling a whole new depth.

CANON EOS R7
Since the Canon EOS R7's sensor is APS-C in size, lenses on it have 1.6 times the telephoto reach of full-frame cameras' corresponding focal lengths. You'll be able to take impactful action shots and portraits of animals that fill the frame, all while feeling as though you're right there with them.

CANON EOS R8
Whatever camera setup you choose, the Canon EOS R8 can track and follow moving subjects all the way to the edge of the frame.Eleven The camera expects movement from the main subject and refocuses as soon as it emerges, even if it is momentarily hidden.