[Leica] More on the digital darkroom

[moorea@andovercontrols.com]

I too am considering going with a "digital darkroom" and I'd like to
get some comments on what I see as some real benefits, in case I'm
overlooking something.

FYI: I shoot mainly B&W neg (candids) and color transparancies
(travel, natural history), using Leica (on topic) and Nikon AIS.

1. I can carry & shoot only color transparancies, and for B&W work
   simply desaturate before printing.

2. I can carry fewer types of film.  Maybe even just one (MS100/1000,
   rated as necessary), unless the job specifically calls for
   something else.

3. I can carry one less body (currently one B&W and one slide).  Sure,
   I'll have to be more careful about exposure, but I'd rather carry
   my incident meter instead of that extra body.

4. I have the option of projecting the shots (though in color) that
   I'm currently taking with B&W negative film, something that am
   currently unable to do.

5. I keep myself away from the chemistry.  My local lab does an
   excellent job anyway.

6. Once I've tweaked an image, I can reproduce it with ~100% accuracy.
   I dodge & burn my B&W images frequently, and making accurate copies
   "the old way" is next to impossible, not to mention time consuming.

One major concern: I sometimes deliver B&W candids to paying
"customers."  Is digital output really suitable for this? (a FAQ, I
know).

Another: the slides won't be as archival as my B&W negatives.

If I hold a digital print next to a conventional one (given the same film,
same image, unretouched, etc.), what differences will I notice?

I already know (and am not happy with) the tradeoffs involved in being
dependant on the computer, software, scanner, drivers, obselete media,
etc. so I'm not too interested in hearing all of that (neither is the
LUG, probably!).

Thanks,
Andrew
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