Question for fine art large format photogaphers....?

Question

Have you made the switch to digital? I have a 4 x 5" field camera, and am finding that getting film is getting tough, and that (unless you have a darkroom) developing film using the Zone System is near impossible. Plus, with the quality of digital cameras and since most EVERYTHING is digital these days, is it time to make a change? Would love feedback.....

Answer 1

Well Jake I am not one to disregard the digital revolution, but I am like you, an advocate and user of large format cameras. I am not sure where you live, but I don't have any problems getting large format film. If you do have problems getting film there are so many online stores that sell all varieties of 4x5 film. B&H for example is a good place to buy film, here is their website http://www.bhphotovideo.com
Now in terms of switching over to digital have you ever thought about just purchasing a scanner? It is a lot cheaper of an investment than buying a whole new camera system, and even with a mid-grade flatbed you will be able to achieve better images than a lot of your high end digital SLR's. Theoretically speaking, for a digital slr to come close to 4x5 resolution, the camera's sensor would have to have a minimum of 200 megapixels, however this is mathematics, a 39 megapixel sensor can come close to the look and feel of a drum scanned 4x5 image (though the 4x5 still slightly edges out the 39megapixel back). So the best solution it would seem would be to go for a 39 megapixel medium format digital camera,or simply just buy the back with an adapter for your view camera, but this is a serious investment, about $30,000.
There is another solution which is more practical and cheaper. You are a Zone system photographer, and I am sure you probably also subscribe to the F64 manifesto, so minimal grain, sharpness of image, and full range of tones are critical. Perhaps you might be interested in a digital scanning back as these backs lend themselves well to the ideals of the zone system. These scanning backs are made specifically for large format cameras, and produce robust, dynamic images that beat out even the best digital SLR, namely the Hasselblad H3. The best part, the cheapest digital scanning backs from Betterlight are only $6400, http://www.betterlight.com/eModels.html cheaper than having to go out and buy a new camera body and set of lenses as you will be able to use your pre-existing large format camera system. The cheapest backs are rated at 144 megapixels(non-interpolated), which is a little more than 100 megapixels more than the highest rated medium format back. Of course if you have more money they do have a 416 megapixel back. There are drawbacks to these backs, but the great thing is that you can still use film for your 4x5 when the scanning back is not practical. So basically you have the best of both worlds.
I myself am going to perhaps buy a digital scanning back as I have been doing more product photography these days, and I need the swings and tilts, rises etc... that SLR's just don't do(even with tilt shift lenses), and isn't this one of the biggest reasons to use a 4x5 other than the larger format? If you are not shooting action, which most 4x5 users are not, then a scanning back is a good choice especially if you are a commercial product photographer, or even a landscape photographer. You will be happy to know that the dynamic range of these large format digital images are better than what you can achieve with most large format films
here are some full res images that you can view http://www.betterlight.com/fullRes_zoomifyLIST.html
On a final note if you do switch over to digital, how do you intend to print? Inkjet? As you know archivalness is really a big concern with any museum or collector who buys your art, and not all inkjet media is as archival as a silver gelatin print. Although this is changing in the United States, elsewhere in particular Europe and especially France digital fine art prints are sort of a novelty in serious Photo galleries even if they are archival. Plus you just have to consider the aesthetics, a well printed fiber based silver gelatin print is just more rich than even your best printed Epson k3 inkjet prints (I should know, I own a K3 based printer and I also used to do a lot of fiberbased printing when I had access to a darkroom)
My hope is that in the following years, lightjet prints will have improved in terms of what they can do with black and white prints. Hopefully too the technology will be more available to the general public, or at least adopted by a company who can make it affordable for everyday use.

Answer 2

There is a certain aesthetic - even spiritual - pleasure in working with large format cameras. The pace, the process ... everything about it is deliberate, contemplative and satisfying.

But I'll never shoot any kind of film again. It's simply not practical.

Using high quality digital equipment, I know - I have the large prints to prove it! - that I can accomplish the projects I wish to accomplish, and for which I will be paid appropriately.

It's still a challenge to work in the same deliberate style I used when shooting large format film. But that's a discipline that every serious photographer can use - if they choose to.

Just because it's easier, quicker, and certainly cheaper to work in digital it doesn't mean that we will become sloppy "snap-shooters."

Knowing the capabilities and limitations of my equipment, and understanding what I can do with a captured image in Photoshop, gives me the results I want.

The "quality" issue has been resolved.

The working process is still dependent on my skill and my willingness to go to places, wait for the light, choose my composition carefully ... and capture what my imagination leads me to.

The tools have changed - for the better, in my opinion - but the creativity and discipline remains the same.

Answer 3

Perhaps you should check out the Analog Photography Users Group (apug.org).

Set up a temporary darkroom and do your own processing. Its not as convenient as having a dedicated space but its workable.

I still love my film and film cameras. I doubt I'll ever change.

Answer 4

There are some pretty nice digital cameras. Some even have all those zoom lenses and stuff. Thats for the real photagraphy people. They do keep coming out with more and more types of cameras, so get it when u want it.

Answer 5

If you think quality, I don't think that dig is there yet. It is difficult to get 4 x 5 film or even 8 x 10. And once that is gone, Dig better be good.