There should be one universal standard...
There should be one universal standard developed independently for unrestricted integration by all camera manufacturers who have use for RAW uncompressed, uninterpolated files with open access to all recorded data.
Heck, why not go so far as to accomodate more than a 256 level spectrum for each channel.
Allowing for future developement of a wider spectrum with greater zonal range in the native capture image.
The more levels of variation, the smaller the degree of seperation between each zone degree, the greater the range of luminosity, the better the image. Multiply that times each color channel (more than three???) and you've got more color discrimination (the good kind). And it'd take more contrast in the subject to clip the levels in the highlights or the shadows. MORE RANGE!
A simple key at the header of the code letting the decoder engine know whether the image is using 256 levels (marker A) or 512, etc levels (marker B, etc).
It may not even be developed on a sensor for decades or more. Yet if something like that would happen, planning ahead for it is precisely what a universal standard has to do, lest it be rendered useless by evolved technology further down the line.
Still selling DNG huh? I believe DNG does not permit more...
Still selling DNG huh?
I believe DNG does not permit more than 32-bits. "is that even necessary?" Well, that's not the discussion I'm interested in. Leave that for the programmers. I'm a photographer. And was only attempting to present an idea in terms of the "LEVELS" presumably most people here work at.
While I understand pushing for the one mentioned "generic" RAW format (being DNG). It is only the most recent. And happens to be owned by the major market share that is Adobe. So, by all means ! let's give them a true monopolistic hold on the digital darkroom. You know, instead of creating an independent and therefore competition breeding, not killing, standard. if you follow my sarcasm. ...
What if: Adobe starts years from now, under new management, decides to exploit a proprietery DNG standardized format license and starts charging royalties?
Adobe=Monopoly.
James, are you talking about the number of different values...
James, are you talking about the number of different values that can be recorded for each sensor position?
It is common for digital cameras to use 12 bits, hence 4096 levels. Some, I believe, already go higher, to 14 bits or more.
I believe DNG permits the use of up to 32 bits, hence over 4 thousand million levels. (Assuming it is the "BitsPerSample" tag).