Automatic Exposure Bracketing is a functionality that I use all the time when I take photos with a drone
In previous DJI lightweight models, the merged images tended to look overprocessed. However, with its larger sensor, the Mini 5 Pro can achieve astonishing results, as we will see later
In this video, I will show you when and how to use this feature to get the most out of your images, not only in high dynamic range situations
Other related articles you may find interesting:
- Photography with the Mini 5 Pro
- Mini 5 Pro Panorama mode
- Hyperlapse with the Mini 5 Pro
- Mini 5 Pro Night Photography
When To Use It
The first reason for using AEB is to ensure that a single image is perfectly exposed
With the Mini 5 Pro, AEB mode takes 3, 5, or 7 images in rapid succession, each with a ⅔-stop exposure difference. I normally select 7 images as a sort of insurance against wrong exposure. Compared to the reference image, the darkest one will be underexposed by 2 stops, and the brightest one overexposed by the same amount
The second reason is to extend the dynamic range and improve image quality in certain lighting conditions by merging several images to HDR
Settings
We access AEB in the Photo video menu by tapping the second icon on the left. There is a choice between 3, 5, or 7 photos
It is possible to take AEB photos in vertical format by rotating the camera to portrait mode before shooting. Bracketed 50 MP photos can be taken by selecting this mode in the Camera tab of the settings before choosing the AEB in the Photo/Video menu. The new 48mm Med Tele mode is also compatible with Automatic Exposure Bracketing
As usual, each image can be saved in RAW, JPEG, or both formats. I choose the last option, as in most cases I work on the RAW files, but I may use JPEG when I need to share an image quickly
After hitting the shutter, the shooting process takes less than a minute. In the resulting seven images, the difference in exposure is achieved mostly by variations of the Shutter Speed, while the ISO value is almost constant
Merging to HDR
The main purpose of automatic exposure bracketing is to reduce the difference between highlights and shadows by merging several images into an HDR image. This is especially useful for phoros taken towards the sun; however, with the Mini 5 Pro, this technique delivers excellent results in several other situations
The dynamic range of an image is the difference between the brightest and the darkest parts. Most modern cameras can capture 10 to 15 stops of dynamic range, with the Mini 5 Pro being on the higher end of the spectrum. The human eye can capture up to 24 stops, and some images with the sun in the frame have an even higher range
Analysing the histogram of a high-dynamic-range image, we notice that the highlights and shadows are clustered near the edges
Let’s have a look at the central image of the seven photos taken with the automatic bracketing, the one that is correctly exposed. The sky is way overexposed with burnt highlights around the sun, which is partially covered by clouds. The elements on the ground are very dark. If we try to recover the shadows, the Mini 5 Pro, with its large 1” sensor, does a remarkable job, but we notice a loss of detail, contrast, and saturation, as well as some noise
In the darkest image, which is 2 stops underexposed, the structure of the sky is well preserved, even around the sun, while the shadows contain hardly any information. In the brightest image, overexposed by two stops, the shadows are well preserved, and we can recover even the darkest elements, if needed.
When merging to HDR, the program takes the highlights from the darkest image and the shadows from the brightest one, thus reducing the dynamic range in the resulting image.
This image was taken against the sun, uncovered by clouds. I never shoot photos under these conditions, as it is impossible to get perfect results; however, this scene fits our purpose to demonstrate extreme dynamic range
I will merge the seven images to HDR using Luminar Neo, my favourite photo editor. You will find info about Luminar Neo, together with a discount coupon, in the video description. It is an affiliate link, so I get a small commission in case of purchase. You can watch my video about Luminar Neo via the link above.
In the catalogue window of Luminar Neo, I select the seven bracketed images and drag them to HDR Merge on the right. By tapping the three dots icon above, we access some options. In most cases, I suggest selecting Chromatic Aberration Reduction and Ghost Reduction
I then tap Merge, and after a few seconds, the merged image is stored in a folder named HDR merge. Below the Merge button, there is an option, Batch Merge, that can be used to merge several bracketed images at once. In this case, I select 35 bracketed images, and the software produces the five merged ones in around a minute, very handy
Examples
Let’s compare merged images to individual photos of the same scene
The quality of the merged images produced by the Mini 5 Pro is astonishing. In these scenes, taken against the sun, partially covered by clouds late in the afternoon, the sky structure is excellent, and the building and vegetation have much more detail and richer colors
The difference from the single images is massive, and we don’t notice the overprocessed look that’s often present when merging photos with the Mini 4 Pro or previous models
I have applied only basic editing to lift the shadows, increase the contrast, and adjust the colour. It is possible to go deeper and apply local adjustments if needed, but in most cases, the results are outstanding
Merged images are not limited to high-dynamic-range situations. Here you can see examples of vertical photos, using the Med Tele mode, moderate dynamic range, and night photography. On all these occasions, the merged images deliver better results than the single photos
If you are serious about drone photography, I encourage you to experiment with merged images under all different conditions