Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Nov 21, 2004, at 6:50 PM, firkin wrote: > The immediate question is what do you do that requires 10 to 12. I > mean this seriously, not as a jibe or insult. I would like a few extra pixels in case I have to crop. There's not much room for error with a 6MP camera. > My mind tell me that 10 to 12 seems about right, because I suspect > (never tried and therefore don't know) that you could print 16 x 20 at > about this level with 35mm happiness. Barry Thornton claimed that only > really "lucky" good 35mm negs could produce "perfect" images larger > than about 10 x 14 (I think) I remember thinking "I've got larger > ones" but then thinking but they are not all "perfect", so he may be > right. I agree. I tried to enlarge 35 negs to 16x20. It can be done, but I think it depends on the subject matter and the technical quality of the the neg. For anything above a 11x14 I grab the Rolleiflex. ;-) > Like many, I suspect I've been too worried about making big > enlargements, when smaller well crafted images would be "better" and > store much more easily !!!!! Some shots simply look better small... > This brings me back to my nagging question; will todays good film > scanners "match" a 10 mega pixel dedicated digital camera when you > view moderately large images side by side? I used a 1ds (11MP) back at my old job and compared some shots with scans I made with my Nikon SC 5000 ED (4000dpi) against it. Modern Leica glass with fine grain film is right up there or better. But it gets tougher to match as the asa goes up. I have a gut feeling the new 16MP 1ds II would be a lot tougher to compete against. On the other hand film negative has way more exposure range, digital is like shooting slide film. Besides compared to a Leica, the 1Ds feels like a Speed Graphics, Ever tried sticking one of those in your pants pocket? ;-) But I don't shoot 35 film, because of ultimate resolution. It has enough for what I do. If I was a res nut I would be running around with Hobo 8x10. ;-) feli _______________________________________________________ feli2@earthlink.net 2 + 2 = 4 www.elanphotos.com Feli