Is this like Sony's contrast-taming process?
Like the "fill light" in raw converters? Curve/levels adjustment. Most useful (IMO) with Capture NX control points where you can select an underexposed shadow, then selectively apply d-lighting, contrast, saturation etc to that area only. In camera? Jeesh - the more options they put for in-camera jpeg processing, the more chance to piss around while setting things, the more chance to lose a shot, the more using a raw workflow looks like the best way to go - I guess an exception being for sports shooters where buffer size might be a factor. YMMV.
If somehow they could really control photon input to the pixels, on a pixel by pixel basis, it would be a godsend for digital cameras.
Yes, in their consumer cameras - it is licensed from the same source, Apical Ltd in London. However, the software application is not the same. Olympus use the Apical routines in their Studio Master software. Sony do not have it in the software, only in the camera firmware (IRIDIX processor added to signal chain - as in Nikon Coolpix 5000 etc) David -- Icon Publications Ltd, Maxwell Place, Maxwell Lane, Kelso TD5 7BB Company Registered in England No 2122711. Registered Office 12 Exchange St, Retford, Notts DN22 6BL VAT Reg No GB458101463 Trading as Icon Publications Ltd, Photoworld Club and Troubadour.uk.com www.iconpublications.com - www.troubadour.uk.com - www.f2photo.co.uk - www.photoclubalpha.com - www.minoltaclub.co.uk Tel +44 1573 226032
