Highlight Tone Priority

[Deva32]

I have been re-reading my 450D manual and have come across a couple of features I have not noticed before - highlight tone priority and auto lighting optimization.
How useful are these and do I really need them?
Thanks in anticipation.

Deva

[colin C]

Re: Highlight Tone Priority

I have not found them to be of much use, but I do shoot exclusively in RAW and can therefore make any minor adjustments post capture.

Highlight tone priority allows greater tolerance to the highlight tones, where there may be a risk of burning out the highlights. The downside is that less tolerance is given to the shadow tones and digital noise is more likely in the shadow areas.

HDR is an in-camera attempt to increase the tonal range within the shot. Usually achieved by reducing the contrast of the scene. Those that have tried it say that digital noise also increases.

If I shot in Jpeg, either could be useful on occasion, but as a custom function that I switched on, as and when I needed it. I wouldn’t keep it permanently on.

Colin

[Deva32]

Re: Highlight Tone Priority

Thanks again Colin.

Deva

[Mark]

Re: Highlight Tone Priority

I'm more or less with Colin on this.

I would not use Highlight Tone Priority as a standard setting, but can see where it COULD be very usefull,say when shooting wedding dress, where you'd want as much detail in the whites as possible.

I did have auto lighting optimization set on at first, but after getting some advice from a Canon Professional Service rep, I turned it off and my images are much better, and as I tend to shoot Raw it can be turned in in software ( DPP) afterwards if really needed.

[EOS_Jim]

Re: Highlight Tone Priority

HTP also means a minimum ISO of 200..... I have used it but don't really see the benefit.