Devices and methods for obtaining image data that preserves highlight details and shadow details from image data from a high dynamic range (HDR) image sensor are provided. For example, an image signal processor may include a first data path of a relatively high bit depth, front-end image processing logic, and a second data path of a relatively low bit depth. The first data path may receive HDR image data from an image sensor. The front-end image processing logic may convert the HDR image data into lower-bit-depth image data, while preserving highlight details and/or shadow details of the HDR image, by using at least two transfer functions that preserve different subsets of the high dynamic range. The second data path may output this lower-bit-depth image data to other image processing logic for additional image processing.