Digital BW, The Print

let me preface this by saying I shoot commercially with Canon DSLRs regularly, they're 
fine.
The larger capture backs, I'm sure they are impressive, but the cost is ridiculous. It would 
take a very unusual, larger volume shop to remotely justify the expense in a market like 
mine.
Even with the Canons, I have friends spending a lot of stress time trying to figure out 
exactly when to sell the one they just bought to maximize selling price, so they can get 
the new one when it comes out. They upgrade every time, compare that ongoing 
investment to the RZ I bought used many years ago, still works very very well, probably 
better. Paid for, done.
I recently got to visit one of our top digital guru's studios, he is also a photographer. He 
has all the toys, and showed a print from a new prerelease 39mp back. He commented 
that we had finally arrived. He also forgot that practically right next to it was a print made 
from a Tango drum scan of a 4x5 sheet of Velvia. It was very clear that we had indeed 
arrived, to someplace where things cost far far too much and aren't nearly as good.

For B&W, I shoot 5x7 neg film and use the zone system, still, when I can. There is no 
digital capture system that will have the single exposure light sensitivity (speed), 
incredible controllable range of light it can include, and have the kind of resolution in the 
print, that I am aware of.
Compared to the cost of my old used Deardorf, lenses, film holders, and film, a potentially 
comparable capture system price simply sounds like a joke. I'd rather get a new car.
The simple fact of the matter is that the old technology and tools and materials are being 
obsolesced by something that can not actually take it's place, and costs ten times more.
It's a classic case of how one group will create a new marketplace while killing the old, just 
because they can, not because we needed it.
Many of the images/prints I have made, and want to continue to make, can not be done 
with the new, nor can I even afford that of it that might come close.

Keep in mind, I do shoot digital, even for some personal things. I have no dogmatic 
problem with it. It just doesn't do the job, for me, for some, it seems to.
I'll keep my eye on it, but I repeat, I can make my B&W "art" with film, I can't with digital 
capture. I'm not willing to give up those images, I don't need further limitations than my 
own head.
My apologies for the length, it's Sunday.
Tyler
www.custom-digital.com