Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Austin Franklin" 
<darkroom@i...> wrote:
> Hi Jerry,
> 
> > Have you ever read this:
> > http://www.luminous-landscape.com/d30_vs_film.htm
> 
> Yes.
> 
> > From what I see -it (digital) tops it (film) already.
> 
> Well, for snapshots and web images, that is probably true...but for 
an
> enlargement of any size, not even close.  Remember, what you are 
viewing is
> at 72dpi, and on a computer monitor...and most anything looks good, 
even
> shots from a Pentax P&S!


Austin -- Digital is not just better for "snapshots and web images".

At least, Michael Reichmann, whose opinion I value highly and who is 
the author of the Luminous Landscape article you say you read, 
disagrees pretty vehemently with you.  You can read the quotes I've 
included below and see that he thinks the digital D30 is preferable 
to Provia 100F film even up to 10" x 15".  Moreoever, he believes 
that the digital pictures have a higher "apparent resolution":

"All this is lead-up to my current opinion; unvarnished and without 
reservation. Prints that I can make from D30 images are better than 
the prints that I can make from 35mm film. Period." 

"The D30, whether because of its unique CMOS imaging chip, 
electronics, software, magic fairy dust or whatever, allows me to to 
make prints that are superior in apparent resolution, colour 
saturation, shadow detail and overall image quality than what I am 
able to produce from film. ( I should also make clear that D30 images 
are the first digital camera images that to my eye don't look 
digital. They look like film.)"

"Quite a statement, isn't it? But, after just 4 days and a few 
hundred test images, that's my opinion. Others may find differently. 
So be it. But I can only tell you that if I were to head into the 
field today with my Canon gear and wanted to come back with an image 
from which I could make a print for gallery exhibit or sale, in a 
size up to about 10 X 15", I would use the D30 in preference to the 
EOS-1V using Provia 100F. That's where, as the current saying goes, 
the rubber meets the road."

-- Herb Sitz