Scanned 35mm Leica vs consumer DSLR

[kxl]

I love the smell of stop bath in the morning!🙄

I shoot 35mm B&W film, develop it, then scan using a Nikon LS-5000 scanner. For color, I use digital for the convenience, since I do not develop color negs myself.

So, to me, it's about enjoying the whole "wet" process. 😀

Keith

 

[rogue_designer]

It seems to me, that 35mm film still has a slight edge in dynamic range.

But if its a pure matter of resolution - 35mm and the better digital sensors (APS-C and Full frame) are more than equal with the performance edge falling on the digital side.

The decision to use 35mm film then is one of a particular aesthetic, workflow and artistic choice...not a technical comparison of which is "better" whatever that would mean.

However, the quality parity dissolves into something else entirely once you start talking about medium and large format film. There it's workflow only. Any technical edge still falls heavily on film's side.

 

[RayPA]

Yes. The results from even the most basic flatbed scanner are still pretty impressive, but FF sensors and high ISO improvements have narrowed or closed the gap (Funny, I can deal with high ISO film grain, but high ISO digital noise just bugs the sh*t outta me). Still, it's a matter of preferences and situations (H4C). I prefer the latitude of film when shooting on the street, but it's tough to beat digital in a controlled environment, and (as it must on a grear-related forum) it also comes down gear. Film gear is still superior.


.

 

[TimSki]

Definitely, Ray, film gear is still superior.

 

[mcgrattan]

I like the look of film images. And I found, scanning some quite thin low-light HP5 negs recently, that I can get detail out of the mid-tones in very contrasty lighting, even with my V500, that I can't get with digital.

That said, my dSLR beats scanned colour film for colour accuracy, resolution and lack of noise pretty much every time.

I use film cameras because I like using them -- the ergonomics, etc -- and because proper black and white film still has the edge [particularly in MF] for a certain kind of look.

 

[Nikon Bob]

If you are talking scanned 35mm colour film compared to a FF DSLR file I would take the FF DSLR file. B&W might be different. Lets leave medium and large format film out of this unless you want to compare medium and large format digital backs to them.

Bob

 

[mcgrattan]

FWIW, I've used medium format and large format digital backs quite a bit. I've been very impressed. However, I've only used them or seen them used photographing inanimate objects in a studio environment. Not had the chance to try one outdoors.

 

[johannielscom]

to strive for

to strive for

I'm a better shot with my D300 than I am with my Leicas, in terms of metering and focus. But I am driven by the fact that some people are better with a Leica like mine, than I am with the D300.

I want to be as good as that using a Leica.

Why not just shoot the D300? I want to use the Leica which I love for its build and handling (far more than the D300, although it's a truly remarkable camera!) and come up with shots that equal the quality. I won't rest until I'm there. And, I'm having a hell of a time getting there🙂

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Hi,
I have a Canon 40d and it is fast and sharp and all that.
But I like the results of my Leica glass on film much more. It gives me what I visualised. digital never does that. Maybe I should upgrade to digital ff but that will cost me an arm and legg again. Or maybe I should hone my PS skills.
same thing with he hasselblad.I get exactly what I was looking for.
And I like the whole process of film, especially the home development.
If I just could put the memory card in xtol🙂

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[aad]

For my printing needs, they are equal. I prefer film cameras, though.

For ultimate comparison, you need to compare direct-view slide film, thorough a loupe/scope, to make a scientific comparison. Not that it means anything.

 

[astroman]

Aaw I don't know, Slide and good quality C41 frames from my Hasselblad look pretty damn tasty scanned when they come back from my lab scanned on an Imacon by a technician.

And the prints...Ah the prints..
//Jan

I agree with snip on this.High quality scans of MF fine grain film still have a hand up over pro DSLRs

 

[Al Kaplan]

With large format you also have the ability to use the swings and tilts, rising and falling and shifting front and back. They'd work as well with a digital back but how many of us could afford a 4 X 5 digital back? There are some things that you can accomplish with a commercial view camera that can't be done with any SLR or rangefinder camera, film or digital.

 

[Sparrow]

Don't know, don't care; but i often wonder why people respond to provocative posts. That is something worthy of deliberation.