14 bit 40D - What is the benefit?

Now that we see the 40D specs I am curious about the increase to 14bit.
What will that do better than the 12 bit technology of the 30D?

Simply, the ability to capture 4 times the color data. I’m not sure about the real world implications yet as most pics are headed to jpeg anyway where only 8 bits are used. Maybe sometime in the future when jpeg16 or whatever MS is trying to standardize is called becomes commonplace you’ll see the difference.

If you shot raw and then PP to tiff will that help with the color gamut?

The extra bits make it possible to extend the dynamic range of the camera in the highlight region when Highlight Tone Priority is enabled. In other words, with HTP turned on, you can capture another one stop of highlight details before they get blown out.

Seeing as there is official Canon info on the 40D are we going to get a sticky for it?

http://web.canon.jp …ng/eosd/eos40d/​index.html

Is that Kathy's alter ego ?

Desertraptor wrote in post #3760111
Is that Kathy's alter ego ?

It's her masculine side.

Desertraptor wrote in post #3760111
Is that Kathy's alter ego ?

Sweet Jesus! Until you said that I thought it was her!

PacAce wrote in post #3760002
The extra bits make it possible to extend the dynamic range of the camera in the highlight region when Highlight Tone Priority is enabled. In other words, with HTP turned on, you can capture another one stop of highlight details before they get blown out.

This will make it a perfect camera for weddings. Those white dresses tend to get blown out.

liza wrote in post #3760246
This will make it a perfect camera for weddings. Those white dresses tend to get blown out.

Also, white jerseys on sports players in daylight settings. I wish I had the money, I would buy it. Maybe with my next bonus.

jgjulio wrote in post #3759989
If you shot raw and then PP to tiff will that help with the color gamut?

No, though the 40D may have a larger color gamut as well, the two are not related. 14 bit means more colors in between the ends of the darkest to lightest in a given color.. this could effect the mixed color possibilities I guess but I don;t think it would push things outside the gamut.

But I've been working with MkIII's 14 bit files, convert from RAW to 16 bit Tiff, and the color and "editability" are both amazing. Easily the best image files I've worked with.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #3760453
No, though the 40D may have a larger color gamut as well, the two are not related. 14 bit means more colors in between the ends of the darkest to lightest in a given color.. this could effect the mixed color possibilities I guess but I don;t think it would push things outside the gamut.

I’m not sure but isn’t the 14 bits coupled with the Highlight Tone Priority feature suppose to do that? There is a good discussion on Galbraith’s page discussing the feature. Not sure how it works but definitely it seems to keep detail in areas that traditionally would have been overblown.. In either case, I can’t wait to try it out

http://www.robgalbrait​h.com/bins/content_pag​e.asp?cid=7-8739-8970

Citizensmith wrote in post #3760007
Seeing as there is official Canon info on the 40D are we going to get a sticky for it?

http://web.canon.jp …ng/eosd/eos40d/​index.html

See top of forum, where stickies live..

gjl711 wrote in post #3759951
Simply, the ability to capture 4 times the color data. I’m not sure about the real world implications yet as most pics are headed to jpeg anyway where only 8 bits are used. Maybe sometime in the future when jpeg16 or whatever MS is trying to standardize is called becomes commonplace you’ll see the difference.

There are many HDR file formats.....they're just not lossy compression. I suspect this sRAW format is not really RAW, but some non standard 14bpc color format. I don't see why Canon doesn't just offer 16bpc TIF right in the camera. Sure, extra MBs for having extra bit depth that doesn't get used.....but memory is cheap these days.

Well I guess we'll see what improvement a 14bpc processor does. Canon would have to make the sensor more sensitive then the 30D to see any real benefit in DR. I'm holding any judgment until I see test results!

Man, with the 40D having a DIGC III processor, I sure hope the next 5D comes out sometime sooner rather then later Higher DR and self cleaning sensor on a 5D would be great!

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #3760453
No, though the 40D may have a larger color gamut as well, the two are not related. 14 bit means more colors in between the ends of the darkest to lightest in a given color.. this could effect the mixed color possibilities I guess but I don;t think it would push things outside the gamut.

When we start talking about colors, I think you also have to pay attention to the output file's colorspace. The only advantage for going above 8bpc colorspace is increased tonal range: 8bpc is plenty of color hues. But with standard RGB, your tonal range is expressed as lightness of each color channel. So with RGB files, they have to increase all their channels to 16 or 32bpc levels. I dunno of Lab has to, but it would be neat if you could save some space by just having a 16bpc luminosity channel and 8bpc color channels.