Tone Mode
G button U C photo shooting menu
The camera offers a choice of two tone modes: [SDR] and [HLG].
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| [SDR] | This mode supports a normal range of brightnesses (dynamic range). Pictures taken while this option is selected are stored in JPEG format (extension “*.JPG”). |
| [HLG] | This mode supports HDR (high dynamic range). Pictures taken while this option is selected are stored in HEIF format (extension “*.HIF”). It has a wider dynamic range than SDR.
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- Pictures taken with [HLG] selected for tone mode exhibit more “noise“ (in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, and lines) than do pictures taken using [SDR].
- The lowest value available for the [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Maximum sensitivity] item in the photo shooting menu is ISO 800.
- ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 through Hi 2.0 are not available.
- The video file type for time-lapse videos is fixed at [H.265 10-bit (MOV)].
- [Color space] in the photo shooting menu is fixed at "BT.2100".
- [Active D-Lighting], [Multiple exposure], and [HDR overlay] are not available in the photo shooting menu.
- [C30], [C60], and [C120] cannot be selected for release mode and Custom Setting d3 [Pre-Release Capture options] is not available.
Pictures shot with [HLG] selected for tone mode are subject to the following restrictions:
- Image overlay is not available with HLG photos. HLG photos will not be displayed in the picture selection dialogs for the various image overlay options available via [Retouch] in the playback i menu.
- The SnapBridge app can be used to download but not to view HLG photos.
Camera Shooting and Playback Displays
When [HLG] is selected for tone mode, the shooting and playback displays in the camera monitor and viewfinder may include “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines or may fail to accurately reproduce highlights and highly-saturated colors. In addition, abrupt tone discontinuities may be visible in the camera monitor or viewfinder when photos are displayed full-frame, although the photos themselves are unaffected. For accurate tone reproduction, use monitors, computers, operating systems, applications, and other equipment compatible with HLG.
Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) technology was developed for television broadcasting and other high-definition applications.
- Compared with Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), it increases the amount of detail that can be expressed in the upper half of the tone range for greater rendering potential.
- It matches SDR in the level of detail that can be expressed in the lower portion of the tone range to ensure compatibility with non-HDR displays.
- Photos shot with [SDR] selected for tone mode can be processed using the [Set Picture Control] and [Manage Picture Control] items in the photo shooting menu.
- Photos shot with [HLG] selected for tone mode can be processed using the [Set Picture Control (HLG)] item in the photo shooting menu.
Viewing and Editing HLG Photos
HLG (HEIF) photos can be viewed and edited using NX Studio computer software.
- NX Studio can be downloaded free of charge from the Nikon Download Center.
- Some of the options available for editing HLG photos are more limited than is the case with photos shot with [SDR] selected for tone mode.