Frederick,
You're very welcome. If, after reading it a few more times you have a question or two, feel free to contact me directly. Of course, this forum is filled with folks who know this system well. You've got a lot of help available to you if you need it.
Have fun!
Lenny
eiger@eigerstudios.com
EigerStudios
Museum Quality Drum Scanning and Printing
Assuming that by "tones" you mean separation or gradations of tonality, if you think digital can't even come close to analog, without intending any disrespect I'd guess that you've never seen a good b&w digital print made by someone who knows what he or she is doing. And if by "tones" you mean tonal range, I've seen measurements of dMax on various silver papers and on various "digital" papers. I don't remember the numbers but IIRC there was usually a slight dMax advantage to silver but certainly not "can't even come close."
There's a reason why people leave the darkroom to print digitally and it isn't always because they only do color or because digital is easier or faster. If we're talking about making a"fine print" (as opposed say to wedding or sports photography) it's actually much harder and usually slower. I have no problem with anyone printing in a darkroom, if that's what they like that's just fine. I printed that way for many years and enjoyed it. To each his or her own and all that. But if I couldn't make better prints digitally (better in terms of technical attributes) than I did in the darkroom I'd go back to the darkroom. And I suspect that would be true of others as well.
Brian Ellis
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
Yes, each to his/her own and all that. It's also a matter of subjective perception. I find silvergelatin prints much more appealing than digital gelatin prints. But that's not the topic of the conversation here.
I have been reading a little bit about the Divided Pyrocat, and I find it to be an interesting developer. Since it's very cheap I think I'll buy it and try it out. Originally I was going to buy a JOBO drum for 4x5 processing, but it's too expensive for me at the moment. The MOD54 seems to be my only option right now. I am just wondering if it is possible to use the Pyrocat in that configuration and avoid uneven development? I read a thread about someone processing in JOBOS and having a little bit of problems with it, untill he added a wetting agent to the solution.
Delta 100 is a lovely film, I am just getting into it. If that's what you use, stick with it. Your idea of minimising options, and perfecting few, is a good one—I used HP5+ most of the time for almost a decade, and it helped me.
Ilford recommends DD-X (pricey) or ID-11 (D76) with Delta 100, but many developers will be fine. If you look up posts by Michael R 1974 about Delta 100 on APUG, you will find a few comments about DD-X and XTol, and he has posted a few curves for it. Since you said you're not too fond of math, you may find curve drawings easier, especially when you are ready to study how film/dev respond to your light.
I have now purchased a Pentax Digital Spotmeter. I am looking forward to receiving it and starting to utilize the zone system to it's full potential. I'm really excited! I've also got an interview/meeting about a darkroom 9. May. I really hope they have 4x5 enlargers. If not I think I'll buy a cheap 8x10 and use that for contact printing. I've been wanting a rodenstock 240mm anyway. Man I would love the to have the Seneca which is for sale here now, we'll see!
You make my very point. The OP's entirely justified desire for exactness is not served by reviled estimations feigning authority.
I think it quite telling that you view percentages as estimates. The OP's question was about the ZS, for which incident metering, though being a great tool (like you) for general photographic work, offers little value. Maybe you should have learned a long time ago not to piss all over someone else's thread expressing a need for deeper understanding, with unhelpful comments justifying your own habits. I'd go so far as to say that you're comments should probably be totally disregarded 80% of the time, but really, I'd just be pulling that particular overused, sloppy figure feigning authority, out of my ass.
Last edited by ROL; 29-Apr-2013 at 18:14.
Time for you gents to fry some silver - eh !!
Bookmarks