Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What is the term used for the usable exposure range of film or digital sensors?

1. Dynamic range

2. Exposure latitude

3. Color gamut

4. Image depth

The correct answer is: Dynamic range

The term used for the usable exposure range of film or digital sensors is dynamic range. Dynamic range refers to the difference between the maximum and minimum light intensities that a sensor or film can capture, allowing it to produce details in both the highlights and shadows. A sensor with a broader dynamic range can record more subtle nuances in light and detail, which is crucial for high-contrast scenes where both bright and dark areas need to be represented accurately. This concept is fundamental in photography because it influences how well a captured image can retain detail across various lighting conditions. The greater the dynamic range, the more detail a photographer can recover in post-processing, making images look more natural and appealing. In contrast, exposure latitude refers to the range of exposure settings that will produce usable results for a given film or sensor and is related but not identical to dynamic range. Color gamut pertains to the range of colors that a device can capture or reproduce, which is a different aspect of image quality. Image depth typically relates to the bit depth of an image file, which affects color information rather than exposure range.