Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Do DSLR exposures generally offer more latitude than negative film?

1. False

2. True

3. Only under specific conditions

4. Never

The correct answer is: True

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras tend to provide greater exposure latitude compared to negative film. Exposure latitude refers to the range of exposures that result in acceptable images. In the case of DSLRs, they are able to capture a wider range of tones in both highlights and shadows, allowing for more flexibility in post-processing. This ability stems from the way digital sensors capture light. When an image is taken, the digital sensor can record a broader spectrum of light values, which means that both overexposed and underexposed parts of an image can retain more detail compared to similarly exposed negative film. With digital images, photographers can often recover details in highlights or shadows through software editing without significantly degrading picture quality. Negative film has a different dynamic range and generally handles highlights and shadows distinctly. While it does have some latitude and can sometimes create pleasing results with varying exposures, it does not match the flexibility that DSLR sensors can provide. Thus, the statement holds true that DSLR exposures offer more latitude than negative film.