Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B.D., you remind me of an old lawyer friend who used to say jocularly that he never knows what he thinks about something until after he has offered his opinion! ;-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@comcast.net> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 11:48 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] re: digital treadmill > Thanks, Seth. All that said, however, I'm sure I'll look back on it at > some > point and ask - 'what in God's name was I thinking!?' :-) > > > On 1/15/06 9:53 AM, "Seth Rosner" <sethrosner@nycap.rr.com> wrote: > >> B.D., your response is going in my Leica info file for keeper email >> posts. I >> have not yet gone digital though I may if the Leica digital M that debuts >> at >> Photokina in September is as good as I hope and I can raise enough money >> selling some stuff that I don't use! Big benefit permitting me the use of >> my >> M lenses and maintaining the Leica M manner of photography. >> >> That said, this post is the defining description of today's world for a >> professional photographer and for a great many serious amateurs. >> >> Seth >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@comcast.net> >> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> >> Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:30 PM >> Subject: Re: [Leica] re: digital treadmill >> >> >>> I'm going to stick my neck way out here, Steve (and slide a wicker >>> hamper >>> under it :-) - >>> Yes, I think I am doing better work now than I did in the past. Part of >>> that >>> has to do with the fact that I am shooting much more than I was. I was >>> not >>> in a financial position to just bang away at my own work - as opposed to >>> commissioned work. Film costs money. Processing costs money. (Yes, I >>> know >>> I >>> could do my own processing, and I could buy bulk film - which I did). >>> But >>> I >>> have found digital extremely freeing, both financially and artistically. >>> >>> I find that digital gives me an image by image, rather than roll by >>> roll, >>> choice of color v black and white. I was never particularly fond of >>> color >>> negative film, and wasn't thrilled with conversions to black and white. >>> Digital, on the other hand, gives me better color, far, far more easily >>> adjusted and balanced, and gives me black and whites that look like what >>> I >>> shot on black and white film. >>> >>> No, I'm not thrilled with the noise in shadows, but I'm getting used to >>> it. >>> I know that there are those who say 'why get used to it when you can >>> use >>> film?' And the answer is "because it is part of what is now main stream >>> photography." If I was really bothered by it, I'd go with Canon and get >>> smoother, cleaner results at iso 1600 than I got with the best 400 iso >>> film. >>> But I'm not all that thrilled with the overly clean Canon look - >>> probably >>> because I grew up on Tri-X. >>> >>> Now, am I as comfortable with my DSLR as I was with my M6s? No, I'm not. >>> I >>> love the feel of the Ms. I love the rangefinder framing. And there is >>> absolutely no question that the latest Leica M glass had virtually no >>> peers. >>> That said, my DSLR is every bit as quiet as my M6, and I do like its >>> ergonomics. The lenses? Some are up to Leica quality, some aren't. But >>> all >>> give me images that I can be proud of as frequently as my Ms did. >>> >>> So am I giving up something to get something? Yes, I suppose I am. I'm >>> given >>> up the feel of the Ms - and I am giving up those fast prime lenses; I've >>> never been a zoom guy, and I've had to adapt to that. But life is about >>> tradeoffs, so why wouldn't I expect photography to be? >>> >>> The bottom line, as always, is the results. And I'm willing to be that >>> were >>> I not now known as the ultimate Leica apostate ;-), I could be posting >>> the >>> black and white images I've been posting, telling everyone I shot them >>> with >>> my M6, and no one would question me. >>> >>> Finally, none of this means that someone else shouldn't be shooting >>> film. >>> If >>> it does what you want it to do, and if money isn't an object - and if >>> you >>> don't have to turn results around quickly - why not keep shooting film >>> until >>> there's no film to shoot? >>> >>> B. D. >>> >>> >>> On 1/14/06 6:19 PM, "Steve Barbour" <kididdoc@cox.net> wrote: >>> >>>> On Jan 14, 2006, at 3:52 PM, B. D. Colen wrote: >>>> >>>>> I spent about 40-45 years shooting film. But from the point at which I >>>>> realized that not only does digital give me more convenience than >>>>> film, but >>>>> it also expands my photographic 'reach,' I haven't thought about >>>>> going back >>>>> to film. Sure, once and a while I'll shoot a roll. But each time I >>>>> do, I end >>>>> up asking myself, 'now why did I do this? What has it given me that >>>>> digital >>>>> can't? >>>> >>>> Hi BD, I believe that most of us wound up here ie. on the LUG 'cus >>>> of Leica lenses , cameras, and film...and we insisted that was God's >>>> way, and was better than the alternatives. >>>> Are you saying that you now get better photos with digital than you >>>> can get with Leica lenses, cameras, and film ? Are there compromises? >>>> Are you giving up something to get something else ? >>>> >>>> This is my dilemma, perhaps yours, and a lot of other photographers >>>> here... >>>> >>>> >>>> Steve >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> And why can't I do as much with film as I can with digital?' Sure, >>>>> long-term storage of images requires paying attention to technology >>>>> changes >>>>> and making sure that one doesn't get two generations behind when >>>>> technology >>>>> changes. And, no, I'm not great at cataloguing my images - but then >>>>> I wasn't >>>>> very good at cataloguing my negs either as I am definitely an ADD >>>>> and I am >>>>> lousy with detailed, boring work. But that's no different with >>>>> digital. >>>>> >>>>> But if anyone else sees digital as a microwave, and gets better >>>>> results with >>>>> film - keep your microwave. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 1/14/06 3:05 PM, "David Rodgers" <drodgers@casefarms.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> A year ago I was convinced I'd never shoot film again. Right now >>>>>> all I'm >>>>>> shooting is film. So much for absolutes. >>>>>> >>>>>> In my kitchen I have a microwave and a gas range. My high-tech >>>>>> microwave >>>>>> is like a DSLR. I use it a lot because I'm so busy with other things. >>>>>> But it's not my favorite way to cook. >>>>>> >>>>>> DaveR >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>> From: Douglas Nygren [mailto:dnygr@cshore.com] >>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:30 AM >>>>>> To: lug@leica-users.org >>>>>> Subject: [Leica] re: digital treadmill >>>>>> >>>>>> Nathan and Tina, Your points are well taken. I'm not 100% for or >>>>>> against. I react more to those who wax over digital than to those who >>>>>> defend film. >>>>>> >>>>>> Tina mentions sending images over the internet. I like doing that. >>>>>> >>>>>> Nathan and others note that people have kept the photos from the >>>>>> past, >>>>>> but not the negatives. Others note they have the photos and negatives >>>>>> from the past. >>>>>> >>>>>> Someone else noted enjoying getting the instant feedback on the photo >>>>>> taken. That's true, but there is also a lot of enjoyment when you >>>>>> develop your film and see how it all came out. The key word is >>>>>> enjoyment. >>>>>> >>>>>> Then again, since I use fast film at slow speeds, I don't enjoy >>>>>> taking >>>>>> the film through airports and x-ray machines. Maybe I'll take my >>>>>> digital camera with me the next time I go to Europe, but then I do a >>>>>> lot of panoramic work and where do I find a digital, panoramic >>>>>> camera? >>>>>> >>>>>> Doug >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >