Digital BW, The Print

> > Who cares at 600%? I'm talking side by side comparison. in 
person. right
> > in front of you. Not magnified 600 percent!

It does matter to be honest. If you're shooting Leica or Contax, that 
600% resolution adds a lot to the snap and shadow detail in a 
photograph particularly B and W. If you're shooting Nikon or Canon, 
the lens resolution isn't as good as that of Leica or Contax (with 
the exception of a few Canon lenses such as the 50mm f1.4) so it 
isn't going to show up the final print. I had some Portra film put 
into my R4 and blown up 8 by 10 inches and I am happy with it. Of 
course I'm also happy with my 1 megapixel 8 by 10 inch prints which 
are improved up in Photoshop and the Epson printer too but for 
different reasons.

Perhaps a Minilux would do the trick? (thoughts of a 6 MP Minilux 
dancing around)...
> 
> The problem is, Jerry, you are then letting output get in the way 
of judging
> the actual file. 

Actually that's the only thing that counts. I've been lousy prints 
done from Leica/Contax shots. People in a gallery are going to judge 
you on whether you walk the walk but not talk the talk.

 Also, depending on your output size 600 percent (6x loupe)
> may be just the right comparison...remember 1x on a monitor is only 
72dpi.

The monitor is the lousiest way to judge your final print. You have 
to print it out on a real printer to judge whether you did a good job 
or not.

> Honestly, I haven't met anyone who does BW work other than you who 
thinks
> digital shooting is better than film...with respect to 
detail/resolution.  

Actually I know a lot of people who do BW work that like digital 
shooting better. Some of them are PJ's as well but it's the perceived 
detail/resolution and not the actual detail/resolution which the 
average viewer is going to look for.

application)...but we
> know that we aren't getting the same amount of information and that 
our
> options will be limited.  

Agreed. Scanning film is still superior to shooting digital. However, 
digital shooting in street photography is glorious experience by far 
but it doesn't beat a Leica M6/M7 yet :) IMHO!

> story...particularly when you get larger than about 11x14...I agree 
the
> prints are sharper.
> 
And also when you're shooting Leica or Contax equipment. Using Nikon 
or Canon zoom lenses isn't going to be mean too much relative to 
primes. What equipment you use does matter there in terms of final 
resolution. Those lenses approach MF quality especially when you're 
getting up to 11 by 14 and beyond. I'm willing to bet that a Leica M6 
plus Hexanon-M will win over the Canon EOS D-60 plus 28-135 zoom any 
day :> even at smaller sizes like 8 by 10's.

Alf