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I'm using a Galaxy S7 Edge phone and the Android app called Camera FV-5 to take bracketed exposures for HDR photography. That software takes a bracketed set of +/- 2.0 EV maximum. I found out that I need at least +/– 5.0 EV for the bracketed set to get good HDR images.

Does anyone know of an app that gives me at least +/– 5.0 EV for the bracketed set?

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    \$\begingroup\$ +/-5 EV is a huge difference. What are you shooting that you decided/fount out that you need that much dynamic range? If you try to HDR that much range, the result will likely look too unnatural. \$\endgroup\$
    – scottbb ♦
    Commented Apr 8, 2017 at 14:33
  • \$\begingroup\$ @scottbb It depends a bit on the difference between raw and 8-bit jpeg. An 8-bit jpeg is only good for about 7 stops of DR, so a +/-2 EV set is only good for about 11 stops. A +/-5 stop set of jpegs would still only get you to about 17 stops DR. On the other hand, a single raw file can be good for about 12-13 stops. That gives a +/-2 EV set of raw files 16-17 stops of DR, about the same as a +/-5 EV set of jpegs. Only a +/-5 EV set of raw files would extend to about 22-23 stops. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented Apr 8, 2017 at 19:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks for the replies. The +/– 5.0 EV came from an HDR book I'm reading. So that means +/– 2.0 EV will get good results? Is it better to have several stops vs 3 stops? My phone can do 7 stops within the +/– 2.0 EV EV range. \$\endgroup\$
    – Emad-ud-deen
    Commented Apr 8, 2017 at 21:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ I'm also saving raw images. \$\endgroup\$
    – Emad-ud-deen
    Commented Apr 8, 2017 at 23:06
  • \$\begingroup\$ If you are saving RAW images, ±2 stops should be enough, assuming you're bracketing around an appropriate middle level that gives you decent shadow and highlight detail in your set. That said, if you want more than ±2EV, you could adjust your exposure compensation up/down, keeping your phone on a tripod, and shoot multiple bracketed sets of ±2EV, getting rid of any duplicate exposures. That could extend the range, when needed, but of course would require a fairly static scene. \$\endgroup\$
    – Lowell Montgomery
    Commented Apr 7, 2018 at 6:19

2 Answers 2

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Open Camera can be configured to take up to 5 images at up to ±3 stops for exposure bracketing.

Camera ZOOM FX can be configured to save all images taken by its HDR mode (don't know how many or at what EV stops).

Both can save DNG files via Camera2 API.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ thanks for the software names. I will try them to see if they give me better results. I've already tried camera fv-5 but the dng files ended up with a lot of noise on low light shots. Maybe those will give better results. I use the aurora hdr software to process the shots. I get excellent results when using my DSLR with the same brackets from the camera. \$\endgroup\$
    – Emad-ud-deen
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 7:21
  • \$\begingroup\$ I doubt DNG files will differ between programs because, in principle, they are supposed to contain raw sensor data. \$\endgroup\$
    – xiota
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 9:48
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HedgeCam 2 can be configured to bracket ±4 EV.

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