> > I have become a large format junkie and have no > interest in a tiny 6Mp sensor for serious photography > whatsoever. I want more than that and a full frame > sensor. I can wait. I have a lot of top quality > FULL FRAME lenses & I want to use their entire > image, especially on the wide angles... > > If you are only a 35mm shooter, > than a 6Mp DSLR is an quality improvement, if you shoot > 4X5 and 8X10 it is NOT.
You have also become incredibly narrow minded (or were you always that way?). I am also a large format shooter, as well as medium format, 35mm, and now, it seems, a digital SLR user. 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 If being unsatisfied with low quality of 35mm makes me "narrow-minded", then I'm guilty as charged. Ditto for the fact that I'm "elitist" if I hold the opinion that some people are smarter than others.. 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 I can assure you that the bottom line in photography is not lppm (or lpm, lets not get into that again), or MTF, or whatever else people use to fool themselves into thinking they are getting something better. Photography is about going from something we can only see to something we can hold in our hands. Nothing more. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Wrong, the increased resolution of large format brings the viewer much closer the original scene, no blurring out of the fine details and annoying grain artifacts to ruin the experience....I like large high resolution prints, so sue me. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 The camera is a tool, not a religion. Film is just film, large format is just one way of shooting. You equate large format to the Holy Grail. I used to do that as well, some 20 years ago when I discovered 4x5. I grew up a little more, and I got past it. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 What you call "growing up", I call selling out for lower cost and/or convenience. The smaller formats are best for some things but there are many things where large format wins hands down no contest. To shoot anything less in those situations is a huge compromise for reasons that are really not justified. 4X5 is not really that expensive and or cumbersome as many would believe.... 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 The large format camera, as much as I like the results, and as much as I like shooting with it, is only one way of doing things. Of course, if that is all you do, thats fine. I prefer to not limit myself though. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Your assumptions are not wise. I use smaller than LF when LF wont work, but in most cases OF WHAT I LIKE TO DO, LF will work and it works better than the smaller formats. 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 A lot of the large format guys I know like to use 8x10 lenses on their 4x5 cameras. Apparently, using only the center of the image circle gives sharper pictures. Never once did I hear any of them bemoan the fact that they were wasting image circle. As a matter of fact, in 30 years of active photography, this is the first time I have seen anyone try to dismiss a format with such a specious justification. 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Wrong again, given two lenses of exact same optical design and build tolerances, the one with the shorter focal length will be sharper for a number of reasons. Also, lenses with smaller image circles for a given focal length can actually yield better resolution across the field than one designed for larger image circle. This is why you don't use a wide angle 8X10 lens for 4X5 normal photography. Yes, some people do use some of their 8X10 lenses for 4X5 but it isn't for performance reasons, it is generally to save money/weight or in situation where 4X5 only lenses don't exist like the very long lenses in LF. The other point about using less than full frame sensor with high quality 35mm lenses is the stupidity of carrying around tons of lenses all way bulkier than they have to be for the small sensor. If the magnification factor is greater than 1.41 on the DSLR, and it is on most of the non-full frame models, MORE THAN HALF the lenses image is cropped off and never recorded. With quality lenses this is wasteful and degrades image quality because you have to use shorter lenses and "spread out" a portion of their resolving power across the scene. Degrades quality if the lenses are really good to begin with..... 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Anyway, I am off to have fun with my new tool. Probably taking pictures that would be impossible to take with 4x5, since I would be using 4x5 to take pictures with if that was my mood. L8R 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Again, I never said LF could do everything, it can't. But what it does do, it does better than anything else Including TODAY'S digital...Not that that cant & wont change. JCO 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
