Re: SV: The film is dead

[Toralf Lund]

Mark Roberts wrote:
Toralf Lund <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
 

Daniel J. Matyola wrote:
   

You are quite possibly correct.  The technology is changing rapidly, 
however, and within two years digital photography will be able to more 
things and do them better than today,
     

Quite likely, but the digital sensors havent *really* changed a lot 
lately, have they?
   

Technologically no, in terms of quality, vastly. (And in terms of price,
even more!)
 

You're right. I'm not sure that this has influenced the basic 
characteristics of the image, though, which was what the original poster 
of this little piece of the thread was talking about. I mean, the 
differences between digital and film are probably still the same, even 
though CCDs (and CMOS) have got better at being different, if you know 
what I mean.

I think something that's missing from digital cameras, is some way to 
make true distinctions in the way the data is captured - analogues to 
the way you can choose between B&W and colour film, choose different 
kinds of film for different types if lighting, have others for "special 
effects" etc.  (yeah, I know you can do wonders with image processing, 
but I'm thinking that allowing differences in characteristics at the 
sensor end would be even better.)

I've sort of dreaming of a kind of a cross between film and today's 
digital, but I've mentioned that earlier, I think.

 

The CCD technology is some 30 years old...
   

Yes, but the quality improvements it's experienced in the past 3-4 years
are greater than all those in the 26-27 years prior.
If you look at how far CMOS sensors have improved over the past few
years the trend is even more dramatic. 

It is anticipated that CMOS sensor fabs will be springing up in China in
the next few years. Watch the prices drop then. We ain't seen nuthin'
yet.
 

It's a bit surprising that the sensors haven't been produced in the same 
place as most other electronics for a long time already...

I'm wondering if this means we'll soon be seing some larger sensors at a 
low cost. (Not that I know what they cost today. Maybe the sensor cost 
isn't really what drives camera prices up in any case?)

- Toralf