exposure problems and white out

[Helen B]

Battou,

Thanks for explaining what you meant - you were, I think, explaining why someone could underestimate the dynamic range of film.

And yes, you could probably get a little more than what I said outta reversal film. But good luck and don't count on it. Best to err on the side of caution, something Helen seems to have forgotten over the years.

Chris,

A reversal film with only 3 to 3-1/2 stops of dynamic range would be fairly useless for many pictorial purposes, and its uselessness would be obvious when you saw the results. If you truly erred that far on the side of caution, you would hardly ever use reversal film.

I'm sorry that you take this so personally, but I believe that you have given misleading information about the dynamic range of both film and digital sensors in this thread.

Helen, just read fully your quote in Battou's first post. 13 stops? Are you smoking crack? I photograph and process on Earth.

Yes, 13 stops is correct. Modern colour negative film continues to improve.

Edit: Here's an earlier thread that discusses dynamic range:link.

Best,
Helen