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<strong>Imatest</strong> <strong>Documentation</strong><br />

A camera's (or scanner's) dynamic range can be accurately measured<br />

using a transmission step chart illuinated from behind by a lightbox.<br />

Reflection step charts such as the Kodak Q-13 or Q-14 are inadequate<br />

because their density range of around 1.9 is equivalent to 1.9 * 3.32 = 6.3<br />

f-stops, well below that of digital cameras.<br />

Transmission step chart<br />

The table below lists several transmission step charts, all of which have a<br />

density range of at least 3 (10 f-stops). Kodak Photographic Step Tablets<br />

can be purchased calibrated or uncalibrated. Uncalibrated is usually<br />

sufficient. The Stouffer charts are attractively priced.<br />

Product Steps Density increment Dmax Size<br />

Kodak Photographic Step Tablet No. 2 or 3 21 0.15 (1/2 f-stop) 3.05<br />

1x5.5" (#2)<br />

larger (#3)<br />

Stouffer Transmission Step Wedge T2115 21 0.15 (1/2 f-stop) 3.05 0.5x5"<br />

Stouffer Transmission Step Wedge T3110 31 0.10 (1/3 f-stop) 3.05 3/4x8"<br />

Stouffer Transmission Step Wedge T4110 41 0.10 (1/3 f-stop) 4.05 1x9"<br />

Danes-Picta TS28D<br />

(on their Digital Imaging page)<br />

28 0.15 (1/2 f-stop) 4.2<br />

10x230 mm<br />

(0.4x9")<br />

DSC Labs 72-dB 13-step Greyscale 13 0.30 ( 1 f-stop) 3.7 (large)<br />

Esser Test Charts TE 241 20 from table 4.1 (large)<br />

The Stouffer T4110 (13.3 f-stops range), Danes-Picta TS28D (13.6 f-stops range), or TE 241 (13.6 f-stops range) are<br />

recommended for digital SLRs, which can have dynamic ranges over 10 f-stops. The charts with Dmax = 3.05 = 10 f-stops are<br />

probably adequate for compact digital cameras with small pixel sizes (under 3 microns).<br />

Lightbox<br />

You'll need a lightbox that can evenly illuminate the transmission step chart. 8x10 inches is large enough. Avoid thin or "mini"<br />

models, which may not have even enough illumination. The Logan Tru-View 810/920 is inexpensive and quite adequate. Light boxes<br />

are widely available, though they may be hard to find on dealers' websites. On Adorama, click on Filing/Storage | Mounting & Viewing<br />

Equipment | Lightboxes & Loupes. On B&H, click on Projection & Viewing | General Presentation Equipment | Lightboxes, Loupes &<br />

Slide Viewers | Lightboxes & Slide Viewers | Lightboxes & Light Tables. T he Kyoritsu calibrated light sources, especially the pattern light<br />

boxes, available in the North America from C.R.I.S,, are worth checking out. Image Engineering/E sser Test Charts makes an<br />

excellent integrating sphere, ideal for use with the TE 241.<br />

To measure dynamic range,<br />

Prepare a fixture for mounting the the step chart. It should be large enough to keep stray light out of the camera. Stray light<br />

can reduce the measured dynamic range; it should be avoided at all costs. I made a fixture out of scrap mat board<br />

held together with Scotch magic tape and Elmer's glue. (That old mainstay, duct tape, wasn't quite right for the job.)<br />

Place the fixture and step chart on top of the lightbox— or any other source of uniform diffuse light.<br />

Photograph the chart in a darkened room. No stray light should reach the front of the target; it will distort the results. The<br />

sourroundings of the chart should be kept as dark as possible to minimize flare light. An example is shown above. The density<br />

difference between the darker zones is not very visible, but it shows up clearly in the measurements. I used a Kodak step wedge<br />

(density steps of 0.15) that I purchased in 1969!<br />

Use your camera's histogram to determine the minimum exposure that saturates the lightest region of the chart. Overexposure (or<br />

underexposure) reduces the number of useful zones. The lightest region should have a relative pixel level of at least 0.98 (pixel<br />

level 250 or 255); otherwise the full dynamic range of the camera will not be detected. If the lightest zone is below this level, and<br />

a transmission chart is selected, a Dynamic range warning is issued.<br />

For flatbed scanners with transparency units (TPUs,<br />

i.e., light sources for transparencies), you can simply<br />

lay the step chart down on the glass. Stray light<br />

shouldn't be an issue, though there is no harm in<br />

keeping it to a minimum. 35mm film scanners may be<br />

difficult to test since most can only scan 36mm<br />

275 of 451

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