Difference between 12bit and 14bit A/D Conversion.

Hi, I am new here and excuse my poor English. ^^
I was just wondering if there is any difference between 12bit and 14bit analog to digital convertion. Can someone explain this? or even post the same picture that was using different conversion ratio?
Thanks in advance.

14 bit gives you a wider tonal range, it comes on most of the newer camera.
Run a search on "bit depth".

All bit increases are NOT 'wider' range. In the case of the newer Canons, the width of the dynamic range is unchanged but there are simply more levels between the min and max of the range (and in the Canons, primarily to the benefit of the shadow regions)

12 bit = 4,096 level of gradation (tones)
14 bit = 16,384 levels of gradations (tones)

And here are a few quotes from Bob Atkins in response to the same question on a different forum:


"Of course you have to remember that Jpegs are 8-bit by definition and only contain information on 256 intensity levels for each color.
You probably can't detect more then 256 intensity levels by eye anyway!
Do 14-bits give you more than 12-bits? On some images you may see a difference, especially in shadow detail after suitable processing of the image and conversion to a JPEG. Other images may look identical.
Bottom line is that it's better to have more bits, but there is a limit to how many you need, or how many are useful given a certain level of sensor noise. Like in most things, it's a case of diminishing returns. 8 is good, 10 is better, 12 is a bit better than that, 14 is a little bit better than 12 bit, 16 bit might be very slightly better than 14 bit in some special situations, 18 bit probably currently offers no real advantage over 16 bit."


"Yes, if you get the exposure wrong and have to do a lot of manipulation, more bits help, as long as they are bits which contain information, not just noise. 12 good bits are certainly better than 8 and 4 bits would be horrible. However that doesn't mean you'd get as much improvement again by adding 4 more bits and going to 16."

yuribox wrote in post #7532949
Hi, I am new here and excuse my poor English. ^^
I was just wondering if there is any difference between 12bit and 14bit analog to digital convertion. Can someone explain this? or even post the same picture that was using different conversion ratio?
Thanks in advance.

Canon cameras don't offer a choice of RAW bit depth, but some Nikons do, so to see comparative photos you might ask on a Nikon board.

Also, it is not a ratio. It is just a difference in the number of digits in each number. Like the difference between writing the price of something as 5 dollars or as 534 cents. The second is more accurate.

Wow~ you guys are super~ ^^
I was always wondering about this but nobody seemed to have an answer other than vague one.
Thanks. ^^

The way to get responses herein is to say something totally stupid, like...14 bit gives you a wider tonal range,

U da man, Chauncey!

If you want to see the difference on a Nikon, then look at:

http://www.earthboundl​ight.com …14-bit-versus-12-bit.html
http://www.earthboundl​ight.com …-raw-12-bit-part-two.html

Wow~ super advantage in dark area....
I guess I will start to shoot little over exposed from now on. Ha!
Thanks for all the response. ^^