Digital BW, The Print

Keith,

First, please allow me to clarify that I never said the D30 could produce
even acceptable results in B&W...believe me, I've tried over and over and
over again! It just ain't possible to get an acceptable print to my eyes. I
heard and read that Jerry Olsen produced some nice B&W prints from his D60,
but I remain skeptical. True, the D60 has a higher pixel count than my D30,
but I doubt that it could compete against a 35mm analog print let alone a MF
scan such as the example Anthony displayed.

Please also understand that I never intended to be waving the "digital
banner". I have been a mostly LF (some MF) B&W shooter for about 30 years
now. The point of my prior post was, initially, to respond to another list
member looking at his/her options. I was also quite surprised by my result.
It seems, based on a few responses, that I should revisit my film scan and
play around some more. Believe me I really wanted to get good results from
film because, quite frankly, there are some real "pain in the a**" issues
shooting digital.

Now...I wish to thank Anthony for his incredible image (street.jpg). My
Epson Expression 1680 could never produce that kind of quality...guess I
didn't know what a really good film scanner could do. I suspected it since I
have one of Paul Roark's prints hanging on my wall; also scanned with the
Nikon 8000. Me thinks that maybe I should consider one of these scanners and
dust off my MF gear.

BTW, it is an unfair comparison. However, that does not diminish the tonal
beauty and quality of Anthony's image.

Alan Huntley

----- Original Message -----
From: "Editor P.O.V. Image Service" <editor@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Portra 400BW second example


>
>
> Anthony Atkielski wrote:
>
> >Another MF shot on a tripod, cable release, pre-release, as in the
previous
> >shot:
> >
> >http://www.mxsmanic.com/street.jpg (entire image)
> >http://www.mxsmanic.com/street1.jpg (excerpt at 100% of original scan)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> I'd love to see a D30 image that has the same detail in a crop, has the
> same B&W tonal range, and presents at least as much overall
> information.. Just aint' gonna happen with that camera in this lifetime..
>
> Is that an unfair comparison?  Probably..  But that's the game that
> proponents of  film or digital often play...
>
> Point made?
> Keith