Digital BW, The Print

One forum, two discussions not more than a week apart. 
In one dynamic range is 6 to 8.5 stops and in the other the 12 bit
(~12 stop) ADCs are limiting the dynamic range too much.  
Readers are going to have to be very careful what they take away from
this (I am not saying that anyone has written something false, just
that careful interpretation is required).  

No film for me now (partly due to dermatitis).

I'd have said 8~10 stops (best total system dynamic range), with care,
but a different look than most film (i.e. similar or larger range but
different look).  A friend who always *hated* XP2 was reminded of XP2
by some (not particularly good prints) of mine.  I took it that he was
not impressed. Looking at another shot in different light, his opinion
was at the opposite extreme.  Same camera same lens same ISO and not
so different processing. 

One of the best and worst things about computer-based image
manipulation is the spectacular range of options that are readily
available.  The chance of people coming to the same conclusion about
what is best is small.

I've found the only approach is to try everything (and try hard) and
decide.  

The best CCD/CMOS sensors are more light sensitive that film for a
given mid-tone image noise.  That gives me great freedom to explore
many photographic situations in poor light that were impractical with
film.  Other applications quite easily give the other result.

Ken


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> Likely more like 8.5

> 
> > From: Elwood Spedden <elwood@w...>
>  
> > At the risk of repeating......The sensor is only going
> > to have 6 or seven stops of range.