Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]There has been a recent thread about Leica quality and medium format at sizes to 11X14. Its not that medium format doesn't have the potential for finer detail than Leica, it's how much trouble you have to go to make a difference and whether it's worth the effort for the project at hand. Yes, at middle apertures,(exception granted to certain 100mm or so F2 Zeiss lenses) using a tripod or studio lights you will get better detail with medium format. Do the same with a 90 APO on E100SW and the differences will be small, very small. Now, take that 6X7 out and do street photography or macro in the field and compare the results with what you can do with an M6 or R8 and comparable lenses. Let's all think about Tina in some abode in Honduras setting up the tripod for the extra detail: hold still for about 10 seconds while the shutter is open! . Obviously, if you are doing catalogue work in the studio you are using something with swings and tilts with a digital back Put another way, this is almost the same debate that started in the 30's and continued to the early 60's as photography moved from 8X10 and 4X5 to 120 in Rollie's and 35mm in Leica's, Contax's, and later Nikons. As lenses and films improved most work moved to the next smaller format. Even landscape calendar work is moving into medium format and some 35mm. Last, all of this is soon moot as digital takes over more and more work. With better capture devices and clever software interpolating what should be there the images will snap with fine detail. Think about Adobe's healing brush algorithms in a digital camera to create texture from small samples. In summary, my point is that for most uses, what good technique can wring out of top notch 35mm(digital) will satisfy most uses in nature, journalism, macro, street, documentation, fashion, advertising, and now wedding. Uses that require tremendous sizes, billboards, outdoor, vain art directors, catalogue, and calendar work , and artists will still go to medium and large format capture. Just trying to get back to photography :) Don dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html