Digital BW, The Print

I don't work a lot with my digital camera...presumably RAW will
eventually become important for me. I do know from experience that 16
bit has tone/color advantages over 8, just like fine grain film has
some advantages over grainy (and some disadvantages). 

From a purely utility point of view Silverfast SE, at 8 bit, is
superior to Vuescan, less buggy (Vuescan conflicts with other apps),
faster. The speed issue is brought up regularly.

If you prioritize technical "quality" over compromise you'll work in
large format or medium format,  scan, thereby immediately beating any
digital original (that'll change with Mamiya's 22MP). RAW is
irrelevant to scans.

 John P C illustrates part of my point...his technical ideas are
evidently useful, but I doubt many think he's doing photography at a
level that would have been noticed pre-digital without that name.
Weston, by contrast, had two kids who were masters.

8 Vs 16 bit is not necessarily important. Plenty of great work has
been done with the simplest technology, pursuit of maximum resolution
or maximum tonal scale subtlety doesn't necessarily relate to the
merits of a photographic image...though it's good for pushing sales
and consumer obsession.

The perils of consumerism: Take for example the Canon 20D or the Nikon
D90. We know they're goners by this Summer, when the 30D and D80 that
already do exist are announced. Then the latest buyers will gloat, the
20D/D70 shooters will feel bad, and Nikon/Canon will chuckle all the
way to the bank because they have 12MP prosumer cameras in the works
for 2007.   


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, guy washburn
<guido02474@y...> wrote:
> CS justification? The ability to do everything in 16
> bit and Camera Raw 2.4 (Highlight saving, browser etc)
> make it a no brainer if you ask me.
> 
> Guy
> --- Djon <westsidemaurice@y...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > PS 7 is great...I don't know a justification for CS
> > in real photography. 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 	
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