Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>> Stunning barely begins to describe it. Granted, we are looking at these >> images on our monitors, but the fine detail is really pretty amazing. >> Obviously there are those on this list who will pooh-pooh anything >> digital, >> and those who will continue to tell us that digital development has >> hit a >> brick wall and it will be a decade before digital equals film. >> BUT...for the >> rest of us in the real world this does indeed give one pause in terms of >> making any further investment in film-based equipment at this time. >> >> B. D. - --------------------------------------- Dear Colleagues, I think we may be missing the point. I have no doubt that digital technology will be impressive and every bit as good as film to most folks. Even BF (before Foveon) the quality of the $1000 Nikon, Canon, and Olmpus cameras could turn out a splendid print. To me quality of digital cameras and even digital printing isn't the issue. The issue is the evidence we have for the original exposure -- its time, place, subject(s) and lighting. Digital can't sustain that documentation over the long term. I've been using my Leicas for over three decades. I have every one of their negatives filed and accessible in a few minutes. Those negatives are immutable. They'll be that way until they crumble into dust, which can take well over a century. The photography I want to save falls into the film category. Other uses of photography match digital technology perfectly; and I'll use digital for those purposes. As time goes on I believe that digital cameras will look very much like their film counterparts. For all I know, perhaps we'll be able to routinely click a digital module into a film camera body in the field. Interchangeable lenses at one end and interchangeable sensors at the other. A Leica M will remain a Leica M, even with this modification. And if we want a new dedicated film Leica M, we'll be able to buy that as well. But we all know how to make a contact print file of our negatives and read them against light. Digital thumbnails previewed on a computer monitor is on the other side. Ladies and Gentlemen: Start your engines! br - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html