A really big show

Sometimes I wonder whether I should have dropped the hard cash for a full frame DSLR back when I decided to jump into digital.  Since I like landscapes and want to print them really big it should have been a no-brainer…..had I known then what I know now.  Back then I was not that smart about features and benefits that would complement my work so I got what I felt comfortable with and what gave me a look I liked.

And it has performed as well as I could expect even once I learned how to use it well and probably push it to the limits of its capabilities.  Still, sometimes I wonder (as many photographers do), “wouldn’t I be better off with __________?”

Fortunately I found one remedy to that question – old tech film.  I shoot using 4×5 sheet film, scan to whatever size I want to print and go from there.  I’m still learning how to use it effectively, and yes it is slow and thoughtful, but for most of my work that fits my approach and actually makes me a better photographer.

How does it assuage my doubt about better resolution?  Well, here’s an example of a recent outing.  I was testing Kodak’s TMax 100 B&W print film for contrast on a very low contrast day.

4x5" sheet negative, Kodak TMax 100, 210mm, 1/4 sec., f/32, Yellow #8 filter

It’s a fairly narrow tonal range image but in keeping with the overcast day.  Good details in the shadows under the distant trees and some detail in the clouds.  The dark band down the right side is apparently a development issue I need to talk with my lab about.

There’s nothing spectacular about this image – just a test shot across a lake near the house.  You can see how the depth of field extends from the closest shrub all the way to the distant trees and the sharpness across the image is very good.  I do like the various tones in the image, from the trees to the prairie grass to the water – they give some definition to the topography and help define near vs. far features even though the lighting is very flat.

Oh, and the resolution?  Did you notice our new fire hall in the picture?  It’s right here:

I don’t know how far away that building is from where I was set up but I’m guessing about a mile.  This was a quick processing of the scanned image so I’m sure I can get a little more sharpness out of it easily.  In the uncompressed image (the original I made this one from for the blog) you can count the number of panes in each of the building’s windows and easily make out that the car is a Volkswagen Beetle.

I think I know where to turn for resolution higher than my not-a-full-frame-DSLR camera.

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