5D3: HDR mode vs Auto bracketing?

I am wondering what the difference is between these two modes and if one is more advantageous than the other. I am shooting interiors so I would like the pull out the most range I can.

If I understand correctly HDR mode is for allowing the camera itself to create a final JPEG (no raw?) at the time of the exposures so you can see it right there on the spot, whereas with autobracketing you would compile the images into a 3rd party program like Photomatix Pro and let it create one for you. Does autobracketing w/ software (i.e. not allowing the camera to compile an image) give better results?

Would appreciate if people who tested this could chip in, thanks!

Short answer, yes. Unless you need the image right then, merging them in post will give better results.

Normally much better results, especially if you shoot RAW too. The advantage doing it in PP is that you have full control of all the stages. This means you get to optimise the image to the way YOU want it to. Rely on the in camera processing and you get the one single option the camera gives you. I suppose it's very handy if you need a quick proof to show a client on site.

Alan

Heya,

Using a 5D3 to produce an auto-HDR-jpeg? Maybe in a jam. Kinda like just getting an SL1 or similar that can do that. Seems kind of weird to me to use a 5D3 in this way.

I would use bracketing. Then do the HDR yourself in whatever software you prefer. Photomatrix comes to mind. This gives you way better control, and produces the awesome HDR images you see around this place. Not the "auto" HDR found on the auto modes on most of the newer Canons. I would avoid it. I've never seen a really great image via that, regardless of it being from a rebel or a 5d3.

Very best,

Or perhaps you'd like to use a little "magic": https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1333150

I've used both with my 5D3. I've used the inbuilt HDR when taking hand held shots of street art in dimly lit alleys at night time - excellent results.
The 5Ds manages to stich them together without any sign of camera movement between shots - in quite dark locations.
Bracketing and post will always give the best results, but for quick hand held work on the go, the inbuilt HDR does a very, very good job.

IMO, the maximum quality would be bracketed Raws edited for maximum range in LR/ACR and exported as 16 bit tiffs to Photomatix, blended and exported back to LR/ACR as a 32 bit tiff and tonemapped there. The blend could also be done in PSCS Blend to HDR, but I have seen opinions that Photomatix does it better. (No personal experience.)

Thanks for all the responses guys, this is for a client so I'm going to go with autobracketing and photomatix

IMO, HDR Mode is really for amateurs (those who shoot JPEG are that:rolleyes and really has no place on a sophisticated camera like the 5D3. Canon should have saved that bell and whistle for their Rebel line of DSLR cameras..

When you shoot RAW by using the HDR option on the 5D3 the three original RAW files are also saved and available. I use the HDR function occasionally because it is easy and fast to set the bracketing. But I usually throw away the resulting jpg file and use the RAW's for producing the final image (in the Photoshop HDR option).