First, let me start by saying that I was quite reluctant to post *anything* in this thread, since by its nature (or the way the original question was asked), it provokes rather volatile replies.
Still, I'll take my chances, hoping that RFF is still a more civil place than p.net or some other forums 😉
Anyway, if I'm not mistaken, the original question was "If faked BW is OK do we still need real BW?".
IMHO, the question, put this way, rather resembles a typical trollish provocation... because of the way it was asked. Firstly, we do not "need" anything, apart from the essentials to survive (food and shelter?). Everything else is non-essential 🙂
Apart from working pro photographers, who do not come into this equation, since they mostly use color, and not B&W (notice I say "mostly", before anyone jumps here!). By "working pros" I consider mostly news- and pressmen of the "old type", who cover various events and need to provide a photo of the event. I know there are other pros (portrait and wedding photographers, etc...), but I don't think they are the issue here.
This thread soon evolved into typical digital vs analog rant, with some clever,and some not so clever opinions.
Let me get back a bit and point out one very important thing: RFF is a place for users of rangefinder cameras, who are mostly (correct me if I'm wrong) hobbysts - "amateurs" in the pure sense of the word, i.e. "lovers" of RF photography. Most of us here do this (photography, and in particular photography using rangefinders) because we love it. We love photography, and we love our wonderful, sometimes clunky, mostly hopelessly outdated, but always fascinating cameras. It's no secret that RFF is often gear-oriented 🙂
Let's get one thing clear: we do what we do because we love it. Not because we have to, but because we love it. Having that in mind, you can't argue that Leica is better than a Zorki, or that 6x6 is better than 35mm. It's not logical, because we're all (Leicas and Zorkis, 35mm users and TLR 6x6 users, all of us using them) on the brink of extinction. However, we still use the cameras that we use - because we love to do it. We're sentimental, all of us - and sentiments don't usually mix well with logic .🙂
Some of us prefer B&W, some prefer working in color, and we even accept digital users (i.e. users of Epson RD-1). Nobody here tries to "educate" anyone else about the error of their ways (analog vs. digital, B&W vs. color, etc.). Even SLR users/photos are tolerated.
As long as we use rangefinder cameras, and we find a pleasure in doing so, we don't care about the logic behind it. We're not logical - we're all anachronisms. Just take a look around you. We're a dying breed, and we don't need anyone telling us that. We already know it.
Now, pray, do tell me what does "pure" B&W and converted B&W have to do with all of the above? Who cares? In the long run, we're all dead 🙂
Do whatever you want to do, but don't try to push your choices upon us, telling us that your choice if far superior, for whatever reason you might state. If you're a working pro photographer, chances are you've switched to digital long ago. Well, good for you!
For myself, I do have a digital camera, and I use it mostly to document my RF cameras, their repairs, dissasembly, placement of various screws, etc. For that particular purpose, I find my digital camera quite useful. 😉
Apart from that, I'll probably shoot film (B&W) as long as I can get it, since I find pleasure in doing so. It may no be logical, but that's the way it is.
(End of rant Part 1)....
