At the risk of taking incoming fire, I'll throw my $.02 in.  All this talk 
about "stunning" images, digital or analog, megapixels and dpi, semi and 
full frame sensors, etc, etc, has once again sidetracked on the science side 
of photography.  We have heard evidence on both sides of the digital/analog 
debate that a particular list member's choice fully meets his/her needs, 
while the opposite medium cannot.  So we come down, once again, to choosing 
the right tool for the job.  This is essentially no different from someone 
choosing an unobtrusive Leica over an SLR, or medium/large format over 35mm, 
if it suits their intended purpose better.  Digital clearly fits some 
photographer's work styles better, and has been greatly enhanced by the 
current 6MP standard.  Many of them have produced TRULY "stunning" 
photographs.  Analog also continues to work best and produce "stunning" 
photographs.  Each medium is equally saddled with shortcomings.
   My beef with the debate stems from a perception that many analog retro 
grouches (and I say that in a friendly manner since I'm still part of that 
group) seem to dismiss digital as a clear failure, even today, in terms of 
turning out quality work.  Their issues seem based on pure mathmatical 
figures, where digital, indeed, can find itself somewhat short.  This belies 
the fact that there are galleries full of digital work that receive just as 
many oohs and ahhs as conventional prints.  Why?  Its what a photographer 
does with his tools, not his tools themselves, that produces "stunning" 
images.  Its been said a million times, and, apparently still bears 
repeating.
   Don't dismiss digital simply because it doesn't add up on paper.  Every 
time we have a new digital standard the retros raise the size bar just a 
little in order to prove that digital just doesn't measure up.  First it was 
clear at 6x7, then 8x10 for the 3MPs, now its A3 or even Super A3.  Well, 
last time I checked, not many of my photo club members (and I've been in 
several across the US since I'm well traveled in the military) were printing 
many, if any A3s at all in an entire lifetime.
I will stick my neck out in saying that the current 6MP digital workflow 
WILL more than meet most of most amateurs' needs. However, even my current 
analog setup has shortcomings that I wish it didn't.  My incoming D60 will 
bring some (autofocus comes to mind), and inherit some too.  BUT, I will 
focus on what I CAN do with the gear, not what I'm missing out on.  Hell, if 
I need huge blowups, well, out comes the 645.
   Just stoking the fire....

Brian Fancher

_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

*
****
*******
***********************************************************
*  For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see:
*    http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm
***********************************************************

Reply via email to