Digital BW, The Print

Mark writes:

> I still think we are splitting hairs and arguing semantics which
> isn't really valuable, but personally, I would prefer a 6MP CCD/CMOS
> image over a straight 6MP scan with grain aliasing and all... you
> apparently don't agree... no problem.

We are all entitled to personal preferences, but it is important to
understand that RGB conversions to black and white are not the same as
shooting black and white to begin with.  This means that, in film, it's best
to shoot with black and white film if you want the full range of
possibilities for black and white.  It also means that, at present, the
black and white possibilities for digital capture are limited, since there
aren't any black and white digital cameras (if there were, however, they'd
offer possibilities similar to film).

Print black and white from color thus limits flexibility severely, but if
the B&W look that you want is obtainable from RGB conversion, then certainly
there is no reason to shoot with B&W capture.  If you like to use exotic
filters, narrowband filters, etc., when shooting black and white, then RGB
is likely to give odd results.  As an extreme example, you'll never get
infrared from RGB conversions.  Nor will narrowband yellow or other filters
produce the expected results.

> Also, for some reason you clipped your quote out of my reply, "Portra
> 400BW gives results that are similar (if not equal to) Technical
> Pan..."

I quoted it myself again, however.

Portra 400BW provides amazingly high resolution and fine grain, particularly
given its relatively high speed.  It also has great latitude, making it
useful for contrasty scenes (such as night scenes).  It is not the equal of
Technical Pan, which has a different look, still higher resolution, and
still finer grain.  But Portra 400BW is a lot closer to Tech Pan than it is
to Tri-X, and if you cannot shoot TP, Portra 400BW has many similar
qualities.  I can shoot night scenes handheld with Portra, for example,
whereas TP doesn't offer that option.

> ... felt your comment "similar (if not equal to)" meant
> that there wasn't any real reason to be doing so...

Oh no.  Technical Pan is a great film, and when it's possible to shoot it,
it is well worth shooting.  Portra 400BW is not an acceptable substitute
when you need the specific qualities of Technical Pan.  But if you cannot
shoot TP and you need something with very fine grain and very high
resolution, particularly at a much higher speed, Portra is handy.