Digital BW, The Print

On Dec 10, 2004, at 9:11 AM, The Wogster wrote:

>
> Bob Frost wrote:
>> W,
>>
>> Try an Xdrive. Built-in Li-ion battery, but can also be powered by an 
>> AA
>> batterypack. My D100 camera can take AA batteries as well as its
>> rechargeable. You just have to be choosy about what you buy. If you 
>> know you
>> are going to need some CX-762 batteries in the middle of Bolivia, you 
>> take
>> them with you. Just as you take your films that you aren't going to 
>> be able
>> to buy there. Try buying Provia 100F in rural Bolivia!
>
> Very true, however a lot of people have this 
> digital-solves-all-problems
> attitude, however it adds a few new problems of it's own.

Agreed, like any new tool, there are usually tradeoffs. But given the 
incredible battery performance on most modern DSLRs, I tend to think I 
can get more shots on less weight with digital. My 20D with two 
batteries in its grip will shoot anywhere from 400-600 shots at least. 
So you figure, with two sets of batteries, and a few tiny CF cards, 
you're well over 1000 shots before you run out of juice. That's a lot 
of film to be carrying, certainly either way it's a lot of shots.

> Film is a
> relatively low weight item, batteries are considerably heavier.

My batteries aren't much bigger than a roll of 35mm film, and the 
weight isn't significantly different - if I was carrying 30 batteries 
then *maybe* I would care, but given how much performance I can get 
from a small handful of batteries and CF cards, I'm not sure it's an 
issue. So when I run out of juice and can't recharge, I've still shot a 
boatload.

> Carrying a couple of bricks of Provia 100F with you, in your pack isn't
> a big issue, carrying 25 batteries may be.  Even for powered film
> cameras, most will get 20-40 36exp rolls out of a battery, and you can
> still get non-powered cameras (particularily in the MF and LF worlds).

25 batteries is a LOT of shooting... how many shots on a brick of 
Provia 100F?

> Second issue, storage, what external forces can affect a full memory
> card, shock (dropping) probably not much, radiation - probably,
> electrical charges and magnetic fields, maybe.  Dampness, also a
> possibility......

I don't think my CF cards are really any more sensitive in this regard 
than rolls of film. Film you want to keep dry and away from light; CF 
cards you want to keep dry and away from extreme heat. But I've never 
had a problem with radiation or magnetic fields (where are you 
travelling!?). And dampness, again like film, it's something you should 
avoid, though a CF card is pretty well sealed against reasonable 
dampness (a little rain isn't gonna hurt - anything more and you should 
probably clean it - I've used distilled water to rinse a card that had 
gotten wet with sea water, and then let air dry, and it worked fine!).

Anyway, I'm certainly not trying to convince anyone to shoot digital or 
not. I'm not exactly Indiana Jones, but I've taken my 10D on trips 
where I didn't have access to power for 6 days, and I survived on my 
normal set of 4 batteries (two in the camera, two in the bag)... the 
bigger problem is memory, but CF memory can store FAR more photos per 
cubic inch than film.

Cheers,

Roger