35mm Digital vs. Large Format Film

09/06/2005 02:13:33 AM · #1

I know the arguement about which is better, film or digital, has been going on since digital first came on the market, but most of the comparisons were made between 35mm film and the same format digital. Haveing experience with 35mm and medium format film, I put forth the claim that 35mm digital has advanced to the point of surpasing MF film in resolution, contrast and color rendition.

Someone has gone farther and has tests to back them up.

4x5 vs. 1Ds II

Message edited by author 2005-09-06 02:14:15.

09/06/2005 02:24:03 AM · #2

For me it is a bit of a moot point. I wanted to get a Graflex 4x5 speed graphic, but no-one stocks film anymore, and you can get a 1DS MkII in most stores.

Film is, sadly, gone.

09/06/2005 02:30:42 AM · #3

Originally posted by BlackDot:

For me it is a bit of a moot point. I wanted to get a Graflex 4x5 speed graphic, but no-one stocks film anymore, and you can get a 1DS MkII in most stores.

Film is, sadly, gone.

Fuji, Fuma and Ilford all still make a wide veriety of 4x5 film.

09/06/2005 03:12:29 AM · #4

True, but the last place that stocked them (in my country), stopped.
I could order it from overseas everytime, or not.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/06/2005 03:16:39 AM · #5

Originally posted by BlackDot:

True, but the last place that stocked them (in my country), stopped.
I could order it from overseas everytime, or not.

The way things have progessed, unless you are printing from an enlarger and just like working in a darkroom, stay with digital. Even when we are talking about $8000 dollar bodies, digital is less expensive in the long run.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/06/2005 03:19:17 AM · #6

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by BlackDot:
True, but the last place that stocked them (in my country), stopped.
I could order it from overseas everytime, or not.

The way things have progessed, unless you are printing from an enlarger and just like working in a darkroom, stay with digital. Even when we are talking about $8000 dollar bodies, digital is less expensive in the long run.

The only way digital falls short is in the sort of image control you can accomplish with the swings and tilts of a view camera. But they make digital backs (very expensive) for view cameras now, so.... Anothjer issue is the raw computing power needed to process those huge image files, though. In any case, the view camera is still an indispensible tool for the architectural photographer.

Robt.

09/06/2005 03:22:07 AM · #7

That was the other thing that put me completely off. I'd have to ship the exposed film 2000 km to be printed in Cape Town.

The reason I wanted the 4x5 was:
a) The romance of working under the focusing cloth.
b) To be forced to slow down my shooting from motor drive type to 1-5 exposures that really matter.
c)To get away from Photoshop and my PC.

I guess I'll take up life painting. (shrugs)

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/06/2005 03:24:59 AM · #8

Originally posted by bear_music:

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by BlackDot:
True, but the last place that stocked them (in my country), stopped.
I could order it from overseas everytime, or not.

The way things have progessed, unless you are printing from an enlarger and just like working in a darkroom, stay with digital. Even when we are talking about $8000 dollar bodies, digital is less expensive in the long run.

The only way digital falls short is in the sort of image control you can accomplish with the swings and tilts of a view camera. But they make digital backs (very expensive) for view cameras now, so.... Anothjer issue is the raw computing power needed to process those huge image files, though. In any case, the view camera is still an indispensible tool for the architectural photographer.

Robt.

Though not as versatile as a 4x5 or 8x10 in that department, Canon does make 3 fine TS lenses which are probably much easier to handle.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/06/2005 03:28:46 AM · #9

Originally posted by BlackDot:

1. Set up your 20D on a tripod and throw a cloth over your head and the works. Don't laugh, I've done it. I'm an old View Camera dude, the isolation helps me narrow in my thinking.

2. Get a 32Mb card and go out with only that card for a day's shooting. You can get 4 RAW images on it :-) I've done that too...

3. Can't help you there...

Robt.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/06/2005 03:31:37 AM · #10

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Though not as versatile as a 4x5 or 8x10 in that department, Canon does make 3 fine TS lenses which are probably much easier to handle. [/quote]

These lenses are nice (I used the equivalent on my film bodies for slides back in the day) but they aren't especially WA (they can't be, for clipping reasons) and the movements are constrained by the architecture of the space inside the camera into which the lens protrudes. So they are a partial solution, and better than nothing, but they fall short of true view camera capabilities.

There's also perspective control available in PS, and this is very helpful as well, but still...

Robt.

09/06/2005 03:34:01 AM · #11

1. Set up your 20D on a tripod and throw a cloth over your head and the works. Don't laugh, I've done it. I'm an old View Camera dude, the isolation helps me narrow in my thinking.

Hehe, I actually thought of getting a busted 4x5 body sans the plate, and sticking my 20D in there, set to Sepia.

I will try this.