Quote Originally Posted by canoli
Daniel, I was wondering if you could explain what "implement ISO as metadata" means.
White balance could be applied as a digital manipulation to the raw file before it's saved; instead, it is just "metadata", a recommendation for how to white balance the file in post. Currently, many ISO settings are applied as a digital manipulation to the raw file before it's saved. Metadata ISO would change that to be just a recommendation for how to push the file in post. It's very similar to how HTP works now.

Many camera manufacturers implement some ISO settings by digitally manipulating the raw file in the camera. This results in highlights that are blown needlessly (two full stops in the case of ISO 6400), larger file sizes (45 MB instead of 20 MB for the 5D2), and increases the precision needed to prevent quantization error.

There are no benefits to applying gain digitally in the camera, so those ISO settings should instead be implemented as metadata. Like white balance, the metadata ISO would only recommend a certain action during raw conversion.


Hope that helps.