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[OM] Re: Trip to the big city - pro processing lab

Subject: [OM] Re: Trip to the big city - pro processing lab
From: Stephen Scharf <scharfsj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:51:15 -0700 (GMT-07:00)


-----Original Message-----
From: AG Schnozz

>Well, I went to Rockfish today...

>Stopped off at the lab to pick up several rolls of Velvia. Later
>spent quality time at a camera store.  I learned a few things.

>First of all, the pro lab is processing a record amount of E6
>these days.  Two reasons: Fewer quality labs processing E6
>anymore and more advertisers are DEMANDING film.

I don't believe this for a second...especially when Custom Process here in 
Berkeley is on the verge of 
bankruptcy, and The New Lab has had to resort to processing C41 customer level 
film again
to make up for the lack of revenue in E6 or they were going to go under, too. 
Oh, and I forgot, Ilford is almost bankrupt, and Kodak isn't a model of 
business prescience, either. 

>Say what?  You've got to be kidding?

>Nope.  Seems that the "quality" of digital capture isn't quite
>up to snuff.  Nor is the color.  Hmm.  
I don't believe this either. The color from digital is better than from film. 
There are lots and lots of pros shooting with medium format backs that wouldn't 
look at another piece of sheet film. 
>Those medium format and
>4x5 shooters are experiencing an increase in business.  "We
>shouldn't HAVE to sharpen an image because the lens wasn't good
>enough or the format too small".

>Ok, several things at play:  The APS sized sensors may be good
>at resolution, but the lenses aren't. 

This must be why some of the best photo publications in the world are shooting 
entirely digitally (Sports Illustrated) or the majority of their images 
digitally (Nat'l Geographic). The Nikon DX sensors are effectively APS sized.

 <SNIP>
>And probably the biggest factor:  The photographers are doing a
>better job getting it right during the shoot when using film.
>This attitude of "we'll fix it in post" isn't flying.

I don't believe that for a second, either. This is tantamount to the store 
saying that photographers like Vincent Versace, Peter Read Miller, Greg Gorman, 
Jay Maisel, Douglas Dubler, John Paul Caponigro, John Shaw, Michael Reichmann 
don't do as good a job the first time as they would with film??? One of the big 
advantages that pros say shooting digital for commercial or product photography 
is knowing they got the shot, and they can break down. Just because you can fix 
things in post doesn't mean any skilled photographer who cares about his craft 
should or would approach his photography that way. The process of capturing the 
image is the same, regardless of the sensing medium, and if you talk to good 
pros, they will all tell you whether they should digital or film that they try 
to get the image right in the camera the first time. Who on earth that is 
serious about their craft doesn't do that? Something that Peter Read Miller 
mentioned in our workshop is that they get shots now
  in sports with digital that they could not get at all with film, period. 

Personally, I would put more stock in what working pros tell me they do than a 
camera store that has a vested interest in selling me something, especially 
film and MF camera that has been sitting on a shelf for a long time. 

this from Rob Galbraith today:

"The British Journal of Photography reports that Fujifilm has decided to stop 
manufacturing its line of medium format film cameras, including, apparently, 
the GX617 and GX680, both of which have small but devoted followings.

This news comes on the heels of Tamron's October 1st announcement that it would 
discontinue Bronica medium-format SLR cameras in the U.S. and possibly 
worldwide (the company issued two different press releases). "

Face it, the writing is on the wall for film with respect to commercial,  
photojournalism, sports or product photography.

-Stephen.







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