[Leica] digital transformation

[saganicc at mskcc.org (Saganich, Christopher/Medical Physics)]

I agree for what it worth.  I think peoples enthusiasm and need to believe 
in something new mucks up their judgment.  I had the experience watching a 
few prints roll off the Epson in a well known establishment in NY.  The 
proprietor was very proud of the quality of the printing, and he should be 
the piece was beautiful.  But I kept thinking it just took about $20,000 of 
equipment to make a print that still looked like it had underdeveloped 
blacks.  My conclusion is simply inkjet B&W is available and obtainable when 
wet printing isn't.  Are wet prints outmoded?  Only marketers want you to 
believe new is better.

Christopher Saganich
 (212) 639-7391

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+saganicc=mskcc.org@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+saganicc=mskcc.org@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Robert 
Meier
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 11:15 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] digital transformation


Richard,

Yes, I've read his praise for the 7960.   I've used that too, and while I 
agree that it makes prints that look good, they are not easily mistaken for 
wet prints.   I was only looking at RC prints.   When I compare fiberbase 
prints, the tilt goes even more vertiginously towards the wet prints.

Bob


> Bob, you realized that B.D. has done a test with B&W wet print vs. HP7960 
> B&W print and he claims the results are different but comparable right?
>
> While I don't do wet prints, my 7960 B&W do look quite gorgeous....
>
> At 09:38 PM 4/27/2005, you wrote:
>
>
>>John,
>>
>>I think you have identified exactly what is most important.   I have just 
>>been going through a stack of B&W 8x10's of mine from the last three 
>>years, or so.   These are just first prints, or file or work prints, but 
>>their quality is just overwhelming -- the detail and the tonal range are 
>>outstanding, and I've never gotten a B&W digital print that is anywhere 
>>near as good.   Not from my D70 or from a scanned Leica negative, not even 
>>on my Epson C86 printer with the MIS carbon black and gray inks.   The 
>>quality of output of film cameras is just in another orbit from digital. 
>>Your second criterion is even more tilted in favor of film, if that is 
>>possible.   No digital camera has the qualities in the hand and up to the 
>>eye that a Leica has, or even a Hexar RF, or a Nikon FM2.   This is very, 
>>very important for getting a good picture in the first place.   So the two 
>>things go hand in hand and the result is, IMHO, much better pictures.
>>
>>Bob
>>
>>>For me two things matter: the quality of the output and the user 
>>>interface. I use M cameras because they suit the way I see period. I am 
>>>only loyal to Leica in that they are the only ones providing what I need. 
>>>99% of my output is projected slide and projected digital is just not 
>>>there yet quality wise. It will get there eventually and, if Leica comes 
>>>out with a M digital, I will seriously weigh the options. For one thing 
>>>present digital projectors, even with their relatively poor quality 
>>>output, are extremely expensive to buy and maintain. Sure film and 
>>>processing are expensive but have you priced out replacement bulbs for 
>>>digital projectors?!!
>>>
>>>John Collier
>>>
>>>On 27-Apr-05, at 8:35 PM, Don Dory wrote:
>>>
>>>>In the almost five years I have been participating on the LUG, there has
>>>>been a rather dramatic shift in conversation.  When I first started
>>>>paying attention, this was definitely a gear head discussion, we were
>>>>very interested in Marc's book on LTM lenses, long treatises on small
>>>>differences in the 50's, scotch religious wars, Tilley hats and more.
>>>>
>>>>In the last year the transformation to primarily digital has been
>>>>profound; actual Leica discussion has dropped to a very minor part.
>>>>Even film based discussion is a minority.
>>>>
>>>>I understand that for many, the tool does not matter.  Nathan, B.D.,
>>>>Ted, Tina, Sonny, and many others have made the transition to digital an
>>>>easy move.  Strangely enough, for me, the tool does matter: I get along
>>>>fine with a variety of cameras and formats but an M or a SL becomes an
>>>>extension of my eye more so than any other photographic tool.  While I
>>>>respect the need of the professional to streamline workflow, speed up
>>>>the billing process, or just plain know they have the shot in the bag, I
>>>>find great joy in going over new negatives or slides; love the
>>>>serendipity when the combination of chemistry and accident create
>>>>wonderful images far more that looking at an LCD.
>>>>
>>>>So I guess what I am really wondering is, how many of us on the list are
>>>>somewhat nostalgic for film, or have genuinely embraced the digital
>>>>revolution?
>>>>
>>>>Don
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Leica Users Group.
>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Leica Users Group.
>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>
> // richard (This email is for mailing lists. To reach me directly, please 
> use richard at imagecraft.com)
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 


 
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