Don't Like Digital

[Bifurcator]

OK. I see. You're 100% right too. There's no way any 33mm format digital SLR no matter how many MP it's got can give you the same detail and dynamic latitude as a medium format camera (digital or film!).

 

[Alpha]

Yeah, it's not about film vs digital for me. It's pure detail and resolution. Until I started working on this retouching job, I'd never had to do a skin retouch on a full-length portrait shot with a dSLR.

Based on my experience in the last two days editing these shots from a 5D, if I owned a comparable dSLR and a client asked for a full-length shot with a killer skin retouch, or a full-length that they could blow up to display size, I wouldn't feel comfortable saying yes.

So that leaves me sticking with MF and LF film for the time being until I can afford an MF digital back.

 

[Bifurcator]

The argument, as I posed it, is not between dSLR's and film. It's between dSLR's and MF digital. I stated that quite clearly:

"whether to buy a dSLR or hold out for MF digital"

You introduced the 35mm film versus dSLR thing. I did not.

OH, where's the egg on face remover? My bad.


I was going mostly from your other thread about camera comparison of a different kind. I assumed, sorry. :blushing:

 

[Bifurcator]

So that leaves me sticking with MF and LF film for the time being until I can afford an MF digital back.

The wisdom of common sense. Indeed stay with the MF film over a 35mm digi any day. For what you're doing at least.

 

[Alpha]

No problem.

Just tools for the job, I suppose.

This is both good and bad for me. On one hand it saved me the hassle of doing my own tests in the studio side-by-side (since I'm working with this guy's RAW studio shots). On the other hand, it's proven to me that a 12-14MP dSLR won't be powerful enough to meet my needs, which leaves me holding out for a $5k-$10k digital back.

 

[Bifurcator]

for that 5 or 10K it's only going to hit in the middle though. You realize that of course right?

I mean in the middle between 12 to 22mp 35mm dSLR and your MF film. They don't have anything in our price range (less than the cost of a NICE house) that's better or the same yet. Maybe in the future if we don't blow ourselves up?

I had a 22mp back for awhile (6 or 8 months) and I've played with a few here and there for a few days or hours at a time and they're NOT the "WOW!" experience that some think they might be.

 

[Alpha]

Well I'm gonna do my editorial gigs on 6x7 and 4x5 for a while. We'll see how that goes.

 

[Bifurcator]

For me I learned that it all depends on the output format. If the output is going to be large photo-paper quality stuff then MF/LF film really can't be touched. If the output is offset printing for publications, periodicals, advertisements and etc., then a 12mp dSLR is overkill and a half - no "pour editing" will show up (though general selection filtering will). Super high quality posters printed by offset printers is probably in the middle with 12mp and good glass being very much enough.

What is the output medium that your editorials are delivered in?

 

[Alpha]

I need to move back and forth. I need to be able to take one image and print a Duratrans, and then turn around and send it off for publication in a magazine. I'm working on building up a portfolio of editorial work for smaller-time designers and boutiques. Some of it will go store-front. Some of it will end us as a magazine advertisements.

I, of course, have that vain hope that I'll shoot an ad for a clothing designer who will end up breaking out into a Conde Nast publication.

 

[prodigy2k7]

Why isnt your title "Don't like 12MP" instead of "Don't like Digital"

 

[Alex_B]

for that 5 or 10K it's only going to hit in the middle though. You realize that of course right?

I mean in the middle between 12 to 22mp 35mm dSLR and your MF film. They don't have anything in our price range (less than the cost of a NICE house)

hmm, and I thought houses were even more expensive over there than here in Europe

 

[Alex_B]

Why isnt your title "Don't like 12MP" instead of "Don't like Digital"

:mrgreen:

I would say it really is "I do not like anything below true MF" (MF "full frame" )

 

[Alpha]

Why isnt your title "Don't like 12MP" instead of "Don't like Digital"

Because dSLR's are the standard for most people, and at this point if I bought a digital camera it would be a dSLR. Plus I don't have the option to rent a digital back. I've never even shot with one. As far as I'm concerned, right now, dSLR's are my digital option.

The market I'm in is so ****ing weird. The north american headquarters of some of the largest companies in the world are based here. We even have one of the largest advertising firms in the country. But MF digital just doesn't exist here. None of the pro shops rent it out. Even the commercial shooters with the top client lists are shooting dSLR's (though 1dsIII's in some cases). I've only ever seen one MF digital back pass through the local market, and that was a Kodak DCS 645M about a year ago. Some people on ModelMayhem have argued that the lack of people shooting with digital backs here is actually a good reason to buy one.

I'm gonna see how much headway I can make shooting MF and LF film.

 

[Alex_B]

But MF digital just doesn't exist here. None of the pro shops rent it out. Even the commercial shooters with the top client lists are shooting dSLR's (though 1dsIII's in some cases).

That is strange indeed. digital MF is certainly a tiny fraction of the market. but those pros shooting for advertising campaigns for large companies and doing product shots and the like, they are using digital MF quite often.

Over here (walking distance) I know of a large scale HQ printing business who actually discourage people to print with them if you do not shoot digital MF. So there seem to be enough digital MF shooters around for them to make business with.

 

[Alpha]

My guess is that the big advertising firm, McKinney, is probably contracting their work out to people in major cities, particularly NY. I WANT TO SHOOT FOR THEM OH GOD I DO.

Their client list includes:
Qwest
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Mobile
Nasdaq
Travelocity
Southern Comfort
Coldwell Banker
Audi
Sony

those are just the big ones.

Where's the orgasm smiley when you need it?