Do you still have customers for LF works?

More and more customer request digital files regardless of the type of work

involved. I still have a technikardan with full set of schneider lenses and

accessories but no digiback. I used to take that camera for all tabletop studio

and of course architectural works and the workflow consisted of scanning the

film. I'm now thinking about dropping that equipment and have it replaced by

some Canon 5D or 1Ds.

This might sound strange but i don't have the money to invest into a Back and

Digilenses and the quality of the Filmscans are not always satisfying either.

 

My Idea is to shoot with DSLR and then photoshop directly the raw-file

considering the huge possibilities that CS3 offers and the huge resolution at

low price available (1Ds 22MP for 8k). It seems clear to me that the the Canon

wouldn't reach the degree of possibilities and flexibility the Linhof offers

but I'm actually wondering if customers really care and if its possible to

reach the same level of quality (given the case that customer wants a file as

final product).

I'd appreciate some insight from you.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

Andy

Hi Andreas,

 

I still use my Toyo 4x5 in most cases when it comes to studio or interiors. But I must admit that I tend to use my Bronicas a lot more...and have a disciplined work flow in every sense of the word in so much that I develop my own film etc...

 

I am a firm believer that I am a hybrid shooter combining digital with film although at the moment the quality of film in the larger format is still a very different animal. To that extent I inform my clients that they will get a digital file with a high end scanned image. Now I honestly believe that a 22mp camera will always be a 22mp camera...but a good high end scanner is what I consider to be important in my line of work. The other issue would be a serious injection of funds which at the moment can not be justified in so much as a digi back with the adpters for my the Toyo and Bronica not to mention perhaps a couple of lens more for the Toyo. I feel that any one comparing a 35 digi to larger film formats and in the case of camera movements, needs to rethink it through in more detail...the pros & cons...and if you feel that its going to give you less work to use the digi but maintain the quality..then go for it.

 

Personally, I tend to use a combination depending on the clients budget, product etc...

 

Artur

"I'm wondering if customers really care and if it's possible to reach the same level of quality (given the case that customer wants a digital file as final product)."

 

So much of the answer is "It depends." It depends on who your clients are (and what quality their other photographers are giving them), it depends on what your specific subjects are, and it depends on how the 4x5 film is being scanned.

 

It's been my experience that many customers are increasingly interested in "good enough" digital files that fit in well with their "workflow" more than they are concerned with the ultimate in "high quality."

 

Thus I would say that a used Canon 1DsII - 16mp for 4-5K - is worth a look for architectural work *IF* you are willing to stitch images together; in other words, I think even a reasonably good scan from 4x5 will usually beat a single-shot photo from Canon's 24mm TS lens at full rise, for example, which is how I use that lens the most and also where its limitations really show. (I don't think you're going to see enough quality increase by going to the 21mp 1dSIII to warrant spending the $3-4K difference vs. the 1DsII on "camera" instead of on "computer," especially considering the power you'll need to handle those large stitched files.)

 

For tabletop, I don't know; if your clients are getting MF digital files from other photographers the difference with use of the Canon might be more evident, but if they just expect "large digital files" the Canon will do fine.

 

The 45mm TS would be my first lens purchased, btw, for stitching architecture and for tabletop. And be prepared for some swing/tilt focus difficulties with that little SLR viewfinder vs. your Tecnikardan; for tabletop especially you may want to shoot tethered (so you can view the results on a larger screen) and/or bracket your tilts. Image quality with the Canon TS lenses starts to fade with apertures smaller than f11 (f22 can be really bad), so keep that in mind too...

Only you know your particular customers. Selling your current equipment to buy a DSLR sounds like "burning your bridges behind you". Have you considered a scanning back for your LF camera, such as a Betterlight (http://www.betterlight.com/)? These are less expensive than single shot backs, especially since your current lenses will probably be good enough. A limitation of scanning backs is moving subjects.

Sure. My customers like photographs exposed in contact with a negative; gelatin-silver, platinotype, palladiotype, cyanotype; that sort of thing. As far as I can see electronic picture making technology, digital or analogue, will never have a worthwhile role in the making of silver and alternative media photographs.

 

On the other hand if it is just pictures that you want irrespective of what they are and how you get them then electronics surely is the way to go.

95% of my studio output (product photography) is produced on 4x5 transparency film,

which I either deliver direct, or scan and deliver a digital file as well as the transparency.

I have my own in-studio lab for E-6 so I am quite prompt in my production.