In article , Alfred
Molon wrote:

most dslr sensors are capable of over 12 stops, limited by the d/a
converter.

Not true. Most DSLRs have less than 9 stops of dynamic range, according
to the tests of dpreview. See for instance the Nikon D300s:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond300s/page17.asp

dpreview tests dynamic range by comparing jpegs which is bogus, to say
the least.

The best it achieves is 8.6 EV. Even the D3, with its bigger pixels is
not better:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD3/page20.asp

Also here the maximum is 8.6EV.

scroll to the bottom where they measured 12 stops with raw.

dxo labs measured it at 12.2 he
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Nikon/D3

and roger clark measured 13.7 here, but he measures the capability of
the sensor itself, not the rest of the system.
http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedeta...formance.summa
ry/