Exposure Control : Sony

Exposure Control

Exposure control is a key technology enabling the taking of beautiful pictures. It is all about manipulating and controlling the amount of light and shade entering the frame, which in turn determines the aesthetic qualities of the image. DYNAX was the first camera to provide ordinary users with a variety of professional techniques to control exposure.

Program Shift

This feature allows photographers to easily adjust the combination of shutter speed and aperture value according to their preferences, rather than always relying on the camera's auto-exposure program. For example, if the user selects a wider aperture, the Program Shift automatically chooses the optimum shutter speed to accompany it. This feature reflects the importance DYNAX places on the photographer's aims.

Auto Multi-Program

Another industry-first when introduced in the 7000, Auto multi-program automatically chooses the most appropriate program line for the actual focal length of the lens in use. Before its debut, only a single program line was available to photographers. The technology was further advanced with the help of fuzzy logic and used in the DYNAX 7xi.

Exposure Metering Linkage

Professional photographers require the use of an incident light meter for most of their shooting, particular studio work. For this reason, DYNAX has included the light meter as part of its photography system. The 9000 was designed to exchange information with the Flash Meter IV.

The set-up requires a device named the Data Receiver DR-1000 be attached to the camera. When the flash test-button on the Flash Meter IV is pressed, a signal is sent to the Data Receiver, which then commands DYNAX's external flash unit to fire for test metering purposes. The subsequent reading taken by the Flash Meter IV is fed to the camera, which uses it to determine the shutter speed and aperture setting.

Auto-Bracketing

The DYNAX-series was the first to adopt an Auto-Bracketing function that can be found today in many manufacturers' makes of cameras. It automatically enables the optimum exposure value when working with reversal film having a narrow latitude.

The function was first incorporated in an attachment called the Program Back Super, which replaced the back of a 7000 and a 9000. It was also available in Creative Expansion Card form for the DYNAX 7000i. The function was integrated into the body of later camera models.

AF Related Multi-Segment Metering

As more AF sensors were incorporated into DYNAX cameras, company engineers developed Multi-segment metering, which utilized the additional data from these sensors in order to increase the accuracy of automatic exposure.

Multi-segment metering first became available in the DYNAX 7000i and subsequent models.

Highlight Exposure Control / Low light Exposure Control

The spot-metering function of the 9000 provided flexibility in selecting highlight exposure control or low-light exposure control. Understanding the role that extremely fine exposure control can play in producing beautiful images, the design engineers used their knowledge of silver-halide-film's characteristics to develop the technology.

This highly regarded metering system later influenced the specification used for ISO settings for photographic film.

Zone Selection

Since the dynamic range of the image sensor is smaller than that of film, an image's highlighted area can appear washed out, while an area in shade tends to be blackened out. Exploiting the company's know-how in using negative film to print onto narrow-latitude developing paper, DYNAX engineers were able to overcome this problem. This knowledge enabled them to develop the Zone Selection feature, which debuted in the DYNAX 7D.

This technology provides two compensatory modes: H and S. H mode is used to prevent washout in highlighted areas, while S mode prevents shaded areas from appearing blackened out. The technology's design concept arose from the engineers' deep understanding of a photographer's desire to be creative and his quest to produce beautiful pictures.

DYNAX Technology Exposure Control

DYNAX Technology Exposure Control