Too late for medium format?

Scott,

 

This is a camera forum, so I'll keep it real short. Have you seriously listened to a real high end system with

records? Honestly? I have a fortune invested in my music reproduction system including an unbelievably expensive

processor (DCS) to upsample a CD from 44kHz/16 bit to 196 kHz/24 bit (and then CDs can start sounding really

nice). My playback system has one of the most natural sounds for a CD player (a Forsell air bearing system) and

yes, my amplification is all tube based. But compared to a record? Wow, different league. It makes a big difference

how the records are kept, how the system is set up, etc. but you are the first person I've heard in a decade that

would claim people have somehow falsely convinced themselves that records are better. During many years, just the

like the Chairman of Sony, I couldn't listen to CDs until the mastering of them and the playback systems got a lot

better (and yet, people all over convinced themselves how much better CDs sounded because it was "digital"). There

are amazing digital recordings from professional machines (1 MB/sec continuous) which sound as good if not better

than a 45 rpm record (so its not digititus here). Unfortunately, Sony chose the original standard of 44 kHz/16 bit for

the CD because it was the only way they could make the CD players cheap enough back then. MP3 is much

worse; people should all set their ipods to "Apple Lossless" to at least get CD quality sound. Today, Blu Ray disc

copies of recordings could be made and they would probably beat records hands down. But there is not the demand

for it (nevermind just for movies where Blu Ray blows away DVDs yet sales remain mediocre). In short, the sampling

rate of CDs is way too low to compete with records. Unfortunately(!), because they are a lot more convenient and

easier to maintain, etc. But please don't blame the people who listen to records as they are deluding themselves.

Far from it.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

Audun,

 

The medium format Voightlander looks really cool. Just like a nice giant M camera (only probably not that much

bigger).

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

No!!! Fuji have just released new films, Velvia 50 and Provia X films on 120. They wouldn't have done the R&D if film was

dying. You will always be able to buy film, Kodak still make various Super 8 Cine Films...

Remember, if it ever does become too late, it will be because consumers decided it was, and manufactures acted accordingly.

Well said Jack. Use it or loose it.