Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/16

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Subject: Noisy digital shadows - was: Re: [Leica] re: digital treadmill
From: phong at doan-ltd.com (Phong)
Date: Mon Jan 16 14:28:56 2006

I suspect that a lot of 35mm film photographers
(especially "Leica" i.e. documentary type) expose film
at the rated ASA, which tends to block shadow details.
Many people who test their film (so that 2 stops
below metered exposure should yield substantial shadow
details) end up downrating their film.

Conversely, I think the ASA rating of digital sensors,
when it comes to shadow areas, is somewhat underrated.

That said, when it comes to very low-light shooting
(f1.4, 1/15 - 1/30 sec, ISO 800 and above.), a good
digital SLR and fast prime lenses has replaced my Leica
M.

- Phong



B.D. Colen wrote:
> I'm sure I can't explain it correctly, David, all I can tell you is that
my
> standard iso with film and digital is 800 - I do a tremendous amount of
> shooting in crappy light. And I am getting more shadow details with
digital
> than I got with film. And every photographer I've spoken to off this list
> who shoots in similar circumstances has noted the same thing. I believe
> we've had this discussion here before, and one of our technostars
explained
> this.


On 1/16/06 4:03 PM, "David Rodgers" <drodgers@casefarms.com> wrote:

> B.D.
>
>>> ....one of the reasons that I've gone with digital, is that
> digital tends to capture more information in low light than does film.<<
>
> You're going to have to explain that one to me. I always though that the
> amount of information in low light -- or "shadow detail" for those of us
> in the Pleistocene Era -- depended on exposure? As far as I know
> negative film still beats a DSLR in dynamic range.
>
> DaveR


In reply to: Message from bdcolen at comcast.net (B. D. Colen) (Noisy digital shadows - was: Re: [Leica] re: digital treadmill)