Are digital cameras not capable of this?
Discussion
On the news this morning there was an article about two photographers, Joe Cornish and David Ward, taking large landscapes with large format film cameras. The images produced were beautiful, but is it really necessary to hump such cumbersome equipment around to get such images? I was surprised as I thought that a decent digital slr in the right hands could produce pretty much anything that could be done with a film camera.
As an aside, I thought it was rather ironic that when the chap from the National trust was being interviewed, he was out of focus!
As an aside, I thought it was rather ironic that when the chap from the National trust was being interviewed, he was out of focus!
i noticed the out of focus interview- was shameful cameraman! I get so annoyed that the beeb let such bad camerawork slide through. Id be sacked if i came back with out of focus footage like that.
I think those large format cameras are used because the digital equivalent of large or medium format, is very very expensive.
Plus they've probably been doing landscape photography for years- they have the equipment they like, and lenses they like, and they get fantastic results- so no need for change.
Personally, if i was doing it id use a full frame sensor dslr, and photostiching! But then im no pro photographer
I think those large format cameras are used because the digital equivalent of large or medium format, is very very expensive.
Plus they've probably been doing landscape photography for years- they have the equipment they like, and lenses they like, and they get fantastic results- so no need for change.
Personally, if i was doing it id use a full frame sensor dslr, and photostiching! But then im no pro photographer
Cheers chaps, I did wonder if it is just a case of they are used to their equipment which they may have been using for years, whereas someone starting today would take the digital route.
Fordo, re the camera work, I just found it funny considering the item's topic, but I have noticed a deterioration in some of the footage shot recently, do you have any insight as to what is behind this?
Fordo, re the camera work, I just found it funny considering the item's topic, but I have noticed a deterioration in some of the footage shot recently, do you have any insight as to what is behind this?
The two cameras you saw were: 5x4 camera and a Leica M series 35mm range finder camera.
I would guess that both photographer would be shooting low ISO slide film which is virtually grain free.
The 35mm the leica M series lenses are the sharpest 35mm camera lenses your money can buy. (The Leica M series digital is not up to the required standard and I understand that it also has a number of issues)
The 5x4 camera with Schneider or Rodenstock lens are way, way sharper than modern digital SLR lenses.
All modern lenses are no longer able to have lead in them, which has cause a number of issues in their construction. (The Leica and the 5x4 camera would have lead in there lens construction)
It is still very hard to match a low ISO 5x4 colour slide for quality, and a lot of digital images do need to be sharpened up in photoshop before they are acceptable.
The only medium format kit that is in the running, I would say is the Hassleblad system, but you will be paying out £ 30-£40k for a system that you will have to replace regularly to compete with say £ 10k worth of 5x4 kit that won't wear out and has lasted 20years.
The 5x4 system will also have the most flexible movements of any camera system (Which will allow you to straighten up buildings, maximise depth of field, adjust plains of focus) A Hassleblad with a shift lens can't compete as well in this field.
The only competition that Hassleblad have, is the PhaseOne backs system, I think that the backs are better. But the PhaseOne uses the Mamya 645 camera system which is not a patch on the Hasslebald system IMHO.
I would guess that both photographer would be shooting low ISO slide film which is virtually grain free.
The 35mm the leica M series lenses are the sharpest 35mm camera lenses your money can buy. (The Leica M series digital is not up to the required standard and I understand that it also has a number of issues)
The 5x4 camera with Schneider or Rodenstock lens are way, way sharper than modern digital SLR lenses.
All modern lenses are no longer able to have lead in them, which has cause a number of issues in their construction. (The Leica and the 5x4 camera would have lead in there lens construction)
It is still very hard to match a low ISO 5x4 colour slide for quality, and a lot of digital images do need to be sharpened up in photoshop before they are acceptable.
The only medium format kit that is in the running, I would say is the Hassleblad system, but you will be paying out £ 30-£40k for a system that you will have to replace regularly to compete with say £ 10k worth of 5x4 kit that won't wear out and has lasted 20years.
The 5x4 system will also have the most flexible movements of any camera system (Which will allow you to straighten up buildings, maximise depth of field, adjust plains of focus) A Hassleblad with a shift lens can't compete as well in this field.
The only competition that Hassleblad have, is the PhaseOne backs system, I think that the backs are better. But the PhaseOne uses the Mamya 645 camera system which is not a patch on the Hasslebald system IMHO.
Agreed. The large format film is miles better quality than any (mainstream) DSLR.
However, I can get consitantly good iamges that blow up to A2 from the D3, and that's all I need. What I don't need is a bill from a chiropractor having lugged 60 lbs of kit 3 miles each way.
But then, I'm just a lazy git.
However, I can get consitantly good iamges that blow up to A2 from the D3, and that's all I need. What I don't need is a bill from a chiropractor having lugged 60 lbs of kit 3 miles each way.
But then, I'm just a lazy git.
You will probably find that the 5x4 kit (Camera 3-4 lenses and bits) is lighter than a DSLR or Hassleblad Kit, The Tripod might be the only heavy part (You would need a slightly heavier tripod for the 5x4 than you would for the DSLR)
For a while I tried the Shen-Hao 6-17 camera and it was very light given its size.
For a while I tried the Shen-Hao 6-17 camera and it was very light given its size.
Snapper7 said:
You will probably find that the 5x4 kit (Camera 3-4 lenses and bits) is lighter than a DSLR or Hassleblad Kit, The Tripod might be the only heavy part (You would need a slightly heavier tripod for the 5x4 than you would for the DSLR)
For a while I tried the Shen-Hao 6-17 camera and it was very light given its size.
I used a Medium Format Bronica for about 5 years, and with all the backs and lenses, it weighed the same as Dover.For a while I tried the Shen-Hao 6-17 camera and it was very light given its size.
Snapper7 said:
The two cameras you saw were: 5x4 camera and a Leica M series 35mm range finder camera.
I would guess that both photographer would be shooting low ISO slide film which is virtually grain free.
The 35mm the leica M series lenses are the sharpest 35mm camera lenses your money can buy. (The Leica M series digital is not up to the required standard and I understand that it also has a number of issues)
I have both an MP (film) and an M8 (digital). There were some early issues with the M8 but these were sorted very quickly....I would guess that both photographer would be shooting low ISO slide film which is virtually grain free.
The 35mm the leica M series lenses are the sharpest 35mm camera lenses your money can buy. (The Leica M series digital is not up to the required standard and I understand that it also has a number of issues)
NDA
Glad to hear that your M8 is now sorted. My friend is still having problems with his. He also does not like the newer lenses.
When I lasted looked at getting an M* it had bad banding issues and I gave up on the thought of owning one. I loved the M6. (I had a couple of bodies & drives, 21mm, 28mm 35mm, 50mm 90mm. I always wanted, but could never find a good second hand 75mm f2 at a sensible price) I ended up selling it all for upgrades to my Caterham
Glad to hear that your M8 is now sorted. My friend is still having problems with his. He also does not like the newer lenses.
When I lasted looked at getting an M* it had bad banding issues and I gave up on the thought of owning one. I loved the M6. (I had a couple of bodies & drives, 21mm, 28mm 35mm, 50mm 90mm. I always wanted, but could never find a good second hand 75mm f2 at a sensible price) I ended up selling it all for upgrades to my Caterham
I don't have a clue what he has done, I know that when I last spoke to him he mention that he had problems and his views on the new lenses (Sold his original kit in the earlier days of digital and then brought back into Leica). The last I was aware, Leica was saying that they had no known issues and wouldn't take the camera back.
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