Camera
Google shares a deep dive into its new HDR+ with Bracketing technology found in its latest Pixel devices
Google has shared an article on its AI Blog that dives into the intricacies of the HDR capabilities of its most recent Pixel devices. In it, Google explains how its HDR+ with Bracketing technology works to capture the best image quality possible through clever capture and computational editing techniques.
To kick off the article, Google explains how its new ‘under the hood’ HDR+ with Bracketing technology — first launched on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 back in October — ‘works by merging images taken with different exposure times to improve image quality (especially in shadows), resulting in more natural colors, improved details and texture, and reduced noise.’
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| Using bursts to improve image quality. HDR+ starts from a burst of full-resolution raw images (left). Depending on conditions, between 2 and 15 images are aligned and merged into a computational raw image (middle). The merged image has reduced noise and increased dynamic range, leading to a higher quality final result (right). Caption and image via Google. |
Before diving into how the behind-the-scenes work is done to capture the HDR+ with Bracketing images, Google explains why high dynamic range (HDR) scenes are difficult to capture, particularly on mobile devices. ‘Because of the physical constraints of image sensors combined with limited signal in the shadows […] We can correctly expose either the shadows or the highlights, but not both at the same time.’
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| Left: The result of merging 12 short-exposure frames in Night Sight mode. Right: A single frame whose exposure time is 12 times longer than an individual short exposure. The longer exposure has significantly less noise in the shadows but sacrifices the highlights. Caption and image via Google. |
Google says one way to combat this is to capture two different exposures and combine them — something ‘Photographers sometimes [do to] work around these limitations.’ While this works fairly well with cameras with larger sensors and more capable processors inside tablets and laptops to merge the images, Google says it’s a challenge to do on mobile devices because it requires ‘Capturing additional long exposure frames while maintaining the fast, predictable capture experience of the Pixel camera’ and ‘Taking advantage of long exposure frames while avoiding ghosting artifacts caused by motion between frames.’
Google was able to mitigate these issues with its original HDR+ technology through prioritizing the highlights in an image and using burst photography to reduce noise in the shadows. Google explains the HDR+ method ‘works well for scenes with moderate dynamic range, but breaks down for HDR scenes.’ As for why, Google breaks down the two different types of noise that get into an image when capturing bursts of photos: shot noise and read noise.
Google explains the differences in detail:
‘One important type of noise is called shot noise, which depends only on the total amount of light captured — the sum of N frames, each with E seconds of exposure time has the same amount of shot noise as a single frame exposed for N × E seconds. If this were the only type of noise present in captured images, burst photography would be as efficient as taking longer exposures. Unfortunately, a second type of noise, read noise, is introduced by the sensor every time a frame is captured. Read noise doesn’t depend on the amount of light captured but instead depends on the number of frames taken — that is, with each frame taken, an additional fixed amount of read noise is added.’
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| Left: The result of merging 12 short-exposure frames in Night Sight mode. Right: A single frame whose exposure time is 12 times longer than an individual short exposure. The longer exposure has significantly less noise in the shadows but sacrifices the highlights. Caption and image via Google. |
As visible in the above image, Google highlights ‘why using burst photography to reduce total noise isn’t as efficient as simply taking longer exposures: taking multiple frames can reduce the effect of shot noise, but will also increase read noise.’
To address this shortcoming, Google explains how it’s managed to use a ‘concentrated effort’ to make the most of recent ‘incremental improvements’ in exposure bracketing to combined the burst photography component of HDR+ with the more traditional HDR method of exposure bracketing to get the best result possible in extreme high dynamic range scenes:
‘To start, adding bracketing to HDR+ required redesigning the capture strategy. Capturing is complicated by zero shutter lag (ZSL), which underpins the fast capture experience on Pixel. With ZSL, the frames displayed in the viewfinder before the shutter press are the frames we use for HDR+ burst merging. For bracketing, we capture an additional long exposure frame after the shutter press, which is not shown in the viewfinder. Note that holding the camera still for half a second after the shutter press to accommodate the long exposure can help improve image quality, even with a typical amount of handshake.’
Google explains how its Night Sight technology has also been improved through the use of its advanced bracketing technology. As visible in the illustration below, the original Night Sight mode captured 15 short exposure frames, which it merged to create the final image. Now, Night Sight with bracketing will capture 12 short and 3 long exposures before merging them, resulting in greater detail in the shadows.
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| Capture strategy for Night Sight. Top: The original Night Sight captured 15 short exposure frames. Bottom: Night Sight with bracketing captures 12 short and 3 long exposures. Caption and image via Google. |
As for the merging process, Google says its technology chooses ‘one of the short frames as the reference frame to avoid potentially clipped highlights and motion blur.’ The remaining frames are then aligned with the reference frame before being merged.
To reduce ghosting artifacts caused by motion, Google says it’s designed a new spatial merge algorithm, similar to that used in its Super Res Zoom technology, ‘that decides per pixel whether image content should be merged or not.’ Unlike Super Res Zoom though, this new algorithm faces additional challenges due to the long exposure shots, which are more difficult to align with the reference frame due to blown out highlights, motion blur and different noise characteristics.
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| Left: Ghosting artifacts are visible around the silhouette of a moving person, when deghosting is disabled. Right: Robust merging produces a clean image. Caption and image via Google. |
Google is confident it’s been able to overcome those challenges though, all while merging images even faster than before:
‘Despite those challenges, our algorithm is as robust to these issues as the original HDR+ and Super Res Zoom and doesn’t produce ghosting artifacts. At the same time, it merges images 40% faster than its predecessors. Because it merges RAW images early in the photographic pipeline, we were able to achieve all of those benefits while keeping the rest of processing and the signature HDR+ look unchanged. Furthermore, users who prefer to use computational RAW images can take advantage of those image quality and performance improvements.’
All of this is done behind the scenes without any need for the user to change settings. Google notes ‘depending on the dynamic range of the scene, and the presence of motion, HDR+ with bracketing chooses the best exposures to maximize image quality.’
Google’s HDR+ with Bracketing technology is found on its Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 devices with the default camera app, Night Sight and Portrait modes. Pixel 4 and 4a devices also have it, but it’s limited to Night Sight mode. It’s also safe to assume this and further improvements will be available on Pixel devices going forward.
You can read Google’s entire blog post in detail on its AI blog at the link below:
| Photo: DPReview |
This week brought a wave of firmware updates from Sony and Nikon, targeting full-frame and APS-C models. Sony released new software for the a7C, a7 III and ZV-E10, delivering stability improvements and minor tweaks. Nikon released updates for its flagship mirrorless Z9 and the newer Z50II, aiming to refine performance and fix a few lingering bugs. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new.
Sony
a7C updates for Version 2.01 (Mac) and (Windows)
a7 III updates for Version 4.02 (Mac) and (Windows)
ZV-E10 updates for Version 2.02 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Allows the camera to display a notification when new software is available
WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported. - You can no longer select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi. Please use the more secure WPA2 moving forward.
- Improves the operational stability of the camera.
- Note: This update is only available for Windows and macOS. A memory card version is not provided.
Please note: the firmware updates are identical across these three camera models.
Nikon
Z9 updates for Version 5.20 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Added support for “NX Field,” a remote shooting system for corporate users. Note: “NX Field” app for smart devices may not be available in some countries and regions.
- Renamed d14 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
- Fixed the following issues:
- Pressing the playback button after repeatedly shooting bursts would in rare cases corrupt the display of all images.
- In rare circumstances, optimal exposure could not be achieved during burst shooting after changing the exposure in mode M.
- In synchronized release, pressing the shutter-release button of the master camera halfway initiated autofocus on the remote camera with the following setting selected. ▸ [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > a6 [AF activation] > [AF-ON only]
Z50II updates for Version 1.01 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Pre-Release Capture is now available using a SmallRig SR-RG2.
- Added “русский” (Russian) to [Language] in [SETUP MENU] for Z50II cameras sold in the Middle East region.
- Renamed d13 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
- Fixed the following issues:
- In rare cases, the camera would stop responding when it was reconnected to SnapBridge after it was connected to Nikon Imaging Cloud while connecting to SnapBridge.
- In synchronized release, pressing the shutter-release button of the master camera halfway initiated autofocus on the remote camera with the following setting selected:
▸ [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > a6 [AF activation] > [AF-ON only]
That’s it for this week. Make sure to check in every Friday, from here on out, for a round-up of firmware updates on all major camera models. Have a great weekend!
The photography industry has weathered economic uncertainty, technological disruption and rising operational costs. However, according to Zenfolio’s newly released 2025 State of the Photography Industry report, conducted in partnership with other creative businesses including Format, ShootProof and Professional Photographers of America (PPA), it’s also finding strength through adaptability, community and more thoughtful business strategies.
Now in its 6th consecutive year, the report draws on insights from more than 4,500 photographers in 70 countries. North Americans accounted for 79% of the participants, while photographers from Korea and Bolivia chimed in for the first time. The findings reveal an industry in transition but not in retreat.
One of the standout trends is the return to personalized service. Photographers who conduct viewing appointments after a shoot see as much as 20% more revenue than those who rely on online delivery alone. “Clients value the personal touch,” the report notes, adding that face-to-face sessions create opportunities to upsell prints and foster long-term relationships.
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A sign of the times? Full-time, self-employed work is on the rise compared to part-time.
Copyright: © Zenfolio |
As it turns out, adaptability pays off. Photographers who expanded their service offerings by pivoting to additional genres such as corporate headshots, drone photography, newborn portraits or sporting events were often rewarded with lucrative revenue streams. The report highlights that being open to last-minute gigs and unfamiliar styles that breach one’s comfort zone is now a competitive advantage instead of a compromise.
Nevertheless, the financial pressure is real. Between 65 and 70% of photographers reported increased business costs in 2024, including equipment and insurance. Zenfolio encourages professionals to revisit their pricing strategies and delivery models. Many new photographers still rely on selling digital files, but seasoned pros continue to profit from print sales. Print credits and tiered packages are recommended methods for boosting margins.
Technological change, particularly AI, is also reshaping the industry. Rather than replacing photographers, AI tools are helping them streamline their workflows. From culling and editing to delivering final images, that efficiency frees up more time to focus on the creative vision and client service that can’t be automated.
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AI tools help with workflow so photographers can focus on other aspects of the business, especially creative vision.
Copyright: © Zenfolio |
Drone photography was introduced to the survey for the first time this year. The findings include that it is not only gaining traction but outpacing smartphone use among professional photographers. While the adoption of mirrorless cameras saw a slight dip, traditional cameras remain dominant.
Finally, the report underscores a less tangible but perhaps more critical theme: the value of community. From online forums to local peer groups, photographers who engage with one another are more likely to grow in business, confidence and creativity. State of the Photography Industry 2025 is free to view and includes helpful advice and actionable tips.
Nikon’s been on a roll this week. Following firmware updates for the Z9 and Z50II, the company released version 2.3.0 of NX Tether, its free tethered shooting software. NX Tether allows photographers and videographers to connect their Nikon camera directly to a computer for real-time control over focus, exposure, white balance and more, all while using a larger screen for improved precision.
Users can download and enhance photos on their computers, as NX Tether is compatible with Nikon’s NX Studio and third-party tools, including Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. This latest update enhances compatibility and introduces new features that streamline studio and on-location workflows. Let’s take a look at some of the updates:
- Expanded Camera Support: NX Tether 2.3.0 makes tethered shooting available for Nikon Z5II users.
- Live View Accessibility: Live view functionality is now available when connected to a Nikon Zf.
- Framing Guide Display: The addition of a framing guide in the live view window helps with precise composition, which is especially beneficial for video shoots and detailed product photography.
- Power Zoom Position Memory: Users can save and load power zoom positions on compatible models like the Z9, Z8, and Zf, for consistent framing across sessions.
- Pixel Shift Photography: Enhanced support for pixel shift photography is available on the Z8 and Zf, enabling higher-resolution imagery.
- Slow-motion Video Recording: The Zf now supports slow-motion video recording.
- Birds Detection Feature: The Zf now supports the “Birds” detection feature, which improves autofocus performance when photographing avian subjects.
NX Tether’s interface mirrors the controls found on Nikon cameras. The application is compatible with macOS versions Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, and Ventura 13, as well as Microsoft’s Windows 10 and 11 software. Full details on camera compatibility can be found on Nikon’s website.
Nikon’s NX Tether 2.3.0 offers updates that enhance the tethered shooting experience, especially for users of the Z5II and Zf models. It’s a valuable and free tool for photographers and videographers looking for efficient, real-time control over their cameras.
For a visual overview of NX Tether’s capabilities, you may find this demonstration from Nikon’s YouTube page, recorded last year, helpful:
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