Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/12/15

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: RE: [Leica] 1Ds digital results
From: "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@hfx.andara.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 21:37:19 -0400
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20021215144115.01bc8ff0@pop.hfx.eastlink.ca>

At 03:38 PM 12/15/2002 -0500, bdcolen wrote:
>Robert -
>1. Off 100 people viewing a shot of a horse race, how many do you think
>have ever noticed the "fine stitching" in the jockey's jackets? For that
>matter, of 100 photographers shooting such a scene, how many know - or
>care - that the detail is there until they look at a huge enlargement?
>Bottom line - does the digital capture the scene? Does it capture the
>color "accurately?" Does it capture light and shadow? Does it capture
>the action? Does it give the same impression, when viewed from a normal
>viewing distance, that film does? After all, NO ONE is looking at such a
>photo with a loupe other than someone trying to see what fine detail the
>film was capable of resolving.

I was just asking if the bayer pattern is the cause of the loss of fine 
detail in red.

>2. You've got to be kidding when you say the digital workflow takes
>longer than the film workflow.
>"I develop them by machine, edit on a light table and
>throw out the rejects.  I can view a slide in a few seconds using a
>loupe.  Opening a file, closing it and then deleting it probably
>averages
>to ten or fifteen seconds each file."
>
>So you're saying you take a processing machine to the venue? And wait
>how long for the slides to be processed, dried, and mounted before you
>throw them on the light table - that you also took to the venue? As
>opposed to the "ten to fifteen seconds" it "probably averages" to view
>each digital image and decide if it's a keeper - which can be done on
>the camera if one is so inclined. And if one isn't, it's sure easier
>carrying a laptop to the race track than it is transporting a slide
>processing outfit, film drier, mounts, and a lightbox. And then,
>assuming that you want to make some color or white balance adjustments
>in those slides you've thrown on the lightbox, how do you do it - unless
>you're printing - and how long does it take?

I said not on a tight deadline.  Which means it can wait until they get 
developed by normal means.

>Come on. If you want to say that you think film is superior because it
>captures that fine detail - and you have a need for that fine detail -
>okay. If you want to say you prefer the latitude film gives you, okay.
>If you want to say that you prefer to use your Leicas and Leica glass,
>and that you can't use them to shoot digitally, fine. But don't claim
>that shooting digitally slows people down - because it just ain't so.
>:-)

We are talking different worlds.  If you are not in a rush, you shoot the 
film, send it all to the editor and let them deal with it.  With digital, 
you still have to move the images around.

I am still shooting film too.

Shot a few years ago on E200 using the 180 APO Summicron at F2.  I think I 
overdid it on the saturation though.

http://www.robsteve.com/images/SportsShooter/Laroque.jpg

Shot tonight with the 400mm APO-Telyt @ f2.8 and mounted to the EOS 1D

http://www.robsteve.com/images/SportsShooter/TC31.jpg

Look the the detail in the red stockings.  Look at the in focus knee of 
each player with red stockings. What do you think?

Regards,

Robert



>B. D.
>Still shooting film.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Robert G.
>Stevens
>Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 1:57 PM
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: RE: [Leica] 1Ds digital results
>
>
>At 12:29 PM 12/15/2002 -0500, you wrote:
> >Wilfred,
> >
> > > White balance and overall color fidelity is often
> > > superior to film in good digital cameras,
> >
> >I believe you are misusing the word "fidelity".  Fidelity means
> >"accuracy of reproduction".  It is physically impossible for digital
> >cameras using Bayer pattern sensors to have higher "fidelity" than film
>
> >(unless they have a LOT of sensors, and 11M sensors doesn't come
> >close), simply because of the color interpolation that happens due to
> >the Bayer pattern sensor.
>
>I have noticed that images shot with digital seem to be missing some of
>the
>finer detail captured on slide film.  I am assuming it is this color
>interpolation doing it.  I borrowed an EOS 1D to shoot some hockey this
>weekend.  When shot at 400asa the details in the material of the jerseys
>
>seem to be missing.  Using the same lens,  E200 pushed to EI 400 seems
>to
>capture more details in the Jerseys, such as the fine stiching.  It is
>really noticable with the red jerseys.
>
>Look at the sample image on the EOS 1D web page.  In the Jockey picture
>the
>red jersey has no detail, just a blob of red.  Its a big tiff file and
>takes a while to download.
>
>http://www.usa.canon.com/EOS-1D/sample.html
>
>I would also argue that digital adds a lot to the work flow for somebody
>
>that is not on a tight deadline.  Shooting at 8fps and high quality
>creates
>a lot of files that take a lot of time to open and decide whether to
>delete
>or keep.  With slides, I develop them by machine, edit on a light table
>and
>throw out the rejects.  I can view a slide in a few seconds using a
>loupe.  Opening a file, closing it and then deleting it probably
>averages
>to ten or fifteen seconds each file.
>
>Not to mention dragging a laptop to the venue to download the images and
>
>start some of the editing.  One more thing to carry.
>
>Regards,
>
>Robert
>
>
>
>
> >Now, the color may LOOK better/cleaner etc. to some, but that is not
> >something you can attribute to "fidelity".
> >
> > > Negative film can still capture a wider range of light than any
> > > non-scanning digital sensor I've seen or read about thus far.
> >
> >Hum.  What are the ranges you are seeing?  My information shows they
> >are equal, with an edge on digital, especially for color.  For B&W,
> >they are the same, pretty much, but you have to use compression and
> >compensating development to get that many stops on the film...but it is
>
> >do-able.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Austin
> >
> >--
> >To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

In reply to: Message from "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@hfx.andara.com> (RE: [Leica] 1Ds digital results)