Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks, Seth. All that said, however, I'm sure I'll look back on it at some point and ask - 'what in God's name was I thinking!?' :-) On 1/15/06 9:53 AM, "Seth Rosner" <sethrosner@nycap.rr.com> wrote: > B.D., your response is going in my Leica info file for keeper email posts. > I > have not yet gone digital though I may if the Leica digital M that debuts > at > Photokina in September is as good as I hope and I can raise enough money > selling some stuff that I don't use! Big benefit permitting me the use of > my > M lenses and maintaining the Leica M manner of photography. > > That said, this post is the defining description of today's world for a > professional photographer and for a great many serious amateurs. > > Seth > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@comcast.net> > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> > Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:30 PM > Subject: Re: [Leica] re: digital treadmill > > >> I'm going to stick my neck way out here, Steve (and slide a wicker hamper >> under it :-) - >> Yes, I think I am doing better work now than I did in the past. Part of >> that >> has to do with the fact that I am shooting much more than I was. I was not >> in a financial position to just bang away at my own work - as opposed to >> commissioned work. Film costs money. Processing costs money. (Yes, I know >> I >> could do my own processing, and I could buy bulk film - which I did). But >> I >> have found digital extremely freeing, both financially and artistically. >> >> I find that digital gives me an image by image, rather than roll by roll, >> choice of color v black and white. I was never particularly fond of color >> negative film, and wasn't thrilled with conversions to black and white. >> Digital, on the other hand, gives me better color, far, far more easily >> adjusted and balanced, and gives me black and whites that look like what I >> shot on black and white film. >> >> No, I'm not thrilled with the noise in shadows, but I'm getting used to >> it. >> I know that there are those who say 'why get used to it when you can use >> film?' And the answer is "because it is part of what is now main stream >> photography." If I was really bothered by it, I'd go with Canon and get >> smoother, cleaner results at iso 1600 than I got with the best 400 iso >> film. >> But I'm not all that thrilled with the overly clean Canon look - probably >> because I grew up on Tri-X. >> >> Now, am I as comfortable with my DSLR as I was with my M6s? No, I'm not. I >> love the feel of the Ms. I love the rangefinder framing. And there is >> absolutely no question that the latest Leica M glass had virtually no >> peers. >> That said, my DSLR is every bit as quiet as my M6, and I do like its >> ergonomics. The lenses? Some are up to Leica quality, some aren't. But all >> give me images that I can be proud of as frequently as my Ms did. >> >> So am I giving up something to get something? Yes, I suppose I am. I'm >> given >> up the feel of the Ms - and I am giving up those fast prime lenses; I've >> never been a zoom guy, and I've had to adapt to that. But life is about >> tradeoffs, so why wouldn't I expect photography to be? >> >> The bottom line, as always, is the results. And I'm willing to be that >> were >> I not now known as the ultimate Leica apostate ;-), I could be posting the >> black and white images I've been posting, telling everyone I shot them >> with >> my M6, and no one would question me. >> >> Finally, none of this means that someone else shouldn't be shooting film. >> If >> it does what you want it to do, and if money isn't an object - and if you >> don't have to turn results around quickly - why not keep shooting film >> until >> there's no film to shoot? >> >> B. D. >> >> >> On 1/14/06 6:19 PM, "Steve Barbour" <kididdoc@cox.net> wrote: >> >>> On Jan 14, 2006, at 3:52 PM, B. D. Colen wrote: >>> >>>> I spent about 40-45 years shooting film. But from the point at which I >>>> realized that not only does digital give me more convenience than >>>> film, but >>>> it also expands my photographic 'reach,' I haven't thought about >>>> going back >>>> to film. Sure, once and a while I'll shoot a roll. But each time I >>>> do, I end >>>> up asking myself, 'now why did I do this? What has it given me that >>>> digital >>>> can't? >>> >>> Hi BD, I believe that most of us wound up here ie. on the LUG 'cus >>> of Leica lenses , cameras, and film...and we insisted that was God's >>> way, and was better than the alternatives. >>> Are you saying that you now get better photos with digital than you >>> can get with Leica lenses, cameras, and film ? Are there compromises? >>> Are you giving up something to get something else ? >>> >>> This is my dilemma, perhaps yours, and a lot of other photographers >>> here... >>> >>> >>> Steve >>> >>> >>> >>> And why can't I do as much with film as I can with digital?' Sure, >>>> long-term storage of images requires paying attention to technology >>>> changes >>>> and making sure that one doesn't get two generations behind when >>>> technology >>>> changes. And, no, I'm not great at cataloguing my images - but then >>>> I wasn't >>>> very good at cataloguing my negs either as I am definitely an ADD >>>> and I am >>>> lousy with detailed, boring work. But that's no different with >>>> digital. >>>> >>>> But if anyone else sees digital as a microwave, and gets better >>>> results with >>>> film - keep your microwave. >>>> >>>> >>>> On 1/14/06 3:05 PM, "David Rodgers" <drodgers@casefarms.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> A year ago I was convinced I'd never shoot film again. Right now >>>>> all I'm >>>>> shooting is film. So much for absolutes. >>>>> >>>>> In my kitchen I have a microwave and a gas range. My high-tech >>>>> microwave >>>>> is like a DSLR. I use it a lot because I'm so busy with other things. >>>>> But it's not my favorite way to cook. >>>>> >>>>> DaveR >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Douglas Nygren [mailto:dnygr@cshore.com] >>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:30 AM >>>>> To: lug@leica-users.org >>>>> Subject: [Leica] re: digital treadmill >>>>> >>>>> Nathan and Tina, Your points are well taken. I'm not 100% for or >>>>> against. I react more to those who wax over digital than to those who >>>>> defend film. >>>>> >>>>> Tina mentions sending images over the internet. I like doing that. >>>>> >>>>> Nathan and others note that people have kept the photos from the >>>>> past, >>>>> but not the negatives. Others note they have the photos and negatives >>>>> from the past. >>>>> >>>>> Someone else noted enjoying getting the instant feedback on the photo >>>>> taken. That's true, but there is also a lot of enjoyment when you >>>>> develop your film and see how it all came out. The key word is >>>>> enjoyment. >>>>> >>>>> Then again, since I use fast film at slow speeds, I don't enjoy >>>>> taking >>>>> the film through airports and x-ray machines. Maybe I'll take my >>>>> digital camera with me the next time I go to Europe, but then I do a >>>>> lot of panoramic work and where do I find a digital, panoramic >>>>> camera? >>>>> >>>>> Doug >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> 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 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information