D300: 12 versus 14-bit (pt2)

Part one is here
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So are there any practical benefits to shooting 14-bit NEF on the D300? The answer is no!

14-bit is actually a waste of time and effort. There is no visible, printable or practical benefit! It forces a much slower frame rate, introduces a longer shutter lag, it fills up memory cards faster and slows down computer processing time and all this for no benefit what so ever. Even in badly exposed photos, the theoretical 14-bit benefit is not visible or useable, period.

Now, theoretically there are differences and if you want to see these yourself you can. A friend poster from DPReview, Jerry Jongerius, has gone to the trouble and done a series of tests to find the visible differences and even though he can produce those, the conclusion is they are of no practical benefit. You can see his work here

Bob Johnson from Earthbound Light also has done some tests and provides some examples of the differences here and here

So as I had pointed out in my original post, my personal choice is still Lossless Compressed 12-bit RAW for the Nikon D300.


Here is what Nikon has to say on the matter:

14-bit RAW (NEF) file recording is currently only possible on the D3 and D300. The file size of images recorded at 14-bit is approximately 1.3 times larger than those recorded at 12-bit, however the extra data provides more latitude for post processing making a richer expression of tones possible and ultimately will provide superior quality output.

When evaluating the effect and comparing between 12-bit and 14-bit, the area that will show the most significant improvement between the two options is in the shadow detail. 14-bit will give you four times the information overall, but the shadow areas which receive much less exposure generally than mid tones or highlights, will have far greater detail.A binary number with 12-bits of precision can record a number with 4096 different possible values (2 to the 12th power). 14-bit technology gives up to 16,384 possible values, four times as many compared to 12-bit.

Increased bit rate does not result in more pixels or a wider range of colours, but rather more accurate precision on each pixel.The frame rate at which images can be captured is slower with 14 bit as it takes the processor longer to write the increased volume of information to the memory card, in the case of the D300 the maximum frame rate drops from 6 fps to 2.5 fps.

So when shooting with the 14-bit setting activated, you need to evaluate how important your speed of shooting is in relation to the quality of the final image, as one will be effected by the other.