Digital BW, The Print

As been mentioned numerous times, digital dslr images obviously meet
or even exceed the best possible results from 35mm scanned images.
Maybe in B&W the results are not as compelling as with 35mm color 
where grain is considered a negative. With B&W, there is the
interesting aspect that grain plays, because for some, grain is an
intrinsic value/component of 35mm photography. Losing that with
digital "creaminess", it's obvious why some photographers prefer the
film image.

But when it comes to larger format B&W, the question really becomes
much more muddied. Can small format digital (24x36mm or 6x4.5 cm) meet
or exceed 2 1/4 or 4x5 film imagery where grain is considered a
negative quality? In this scenerio, pure resolving power of details is
paramount.

Michael Reichman has just published an interesting comparison of
diffraction effect on his
website--http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/u-diffraction.shtml

The significance here relates to the cost differential of larger
format one-shot digital back, compared with the 24x36 full frame
bodies of Canon and the  now discontinued Kodak slrn. It is my
contention that large format film results can be attained with these
smaller digital cameras using stitching techniques. This can be done
orienting the camera vertically & using a panorama jig, or using a
"technical" camera with a sliding back for multiple exposures using
the same nodal point of a larger coverage area lense.

In any event, there are interesting digital solutions/alternatives to
large format B&W film photography.

John Nollendorfs