[Leica] local lab closes - digital rant

[crgrbrts at verizon.net (Craig Roberts)]

Eric said:  "We as a culture continue to accept more for less -- but 
fail to see the sacrifice in quality."

I agree and, if I wasn't having so much fun with my MF (that's "medium 
format", not the other "MF") gear, scanner and printer, would probably 
be lamenting the demise of the film lab, too. 

I'm wondering, though, what traditionalists like us thought during a 
previous photographic "revolution" -- the advent of the 35mm camera.  My 
grandfather made all his beautiful pictures on glass plates and, later, 
4 x 5 film. Their quality, even today, blows away anything that was ever 
created  by my  -- in succession -- Exakta, Petri, Miranda,  Nikon, 
Canon, Olympus  and  Leica  cameras.  I got speed and convenience, but 
Grandpa created better images.  He considered 35mm machines "toys" for 
impatient snapshooters (like that French dude HCB :-) ) .  

I was one who scoffed at the idea that digital could ever eclipse or 
even equal film in the production of high quality images, but -- unless 
my middle-aged eyesight is failing me -- the visual evidence is to the 
contrary.  I still have qualms about digital archiving, but I'm also 
anxiously awaiting the M8 or -- better yet -- an affordable MF digital 
back.

 From the soggy Nation's Capital,

Craig