Why use B&W film if scanning ?

**Stephen Best** · 22-Oct-2007, 17:27

Originally Posted by rippo

the whole point of a view camera, or even an SLR with a tilt/shift lens, is the use of movements. at least to me. if a view camera didn't have movements, it would just be a box camera with a really large negative.

I use movements all the time, but the main benefit of LF for me is taking the time and being able to see what you'll get. The quality of the results is a bonus. I find it difficult to focus a DSLR, but with the big screens on the back of newer DSLRs and being able to zoom in in Live View mode you may be able to duplicate some of the view camera experience. I plan to swap my D80 for a D300 to find out. For small digital prints I doubt there's any quality difference. Personally, I think that if you're going to go to the trouble of shooting film for B&W you may just as well print traditionally.

**Stephen Best** · 22-Oct-2007, 17:38

Originally Posted by Ken Lee

So my theory is that if you can't capture in 16-bit mode, at least get to it as soon as you can. In a few years, printer drivers will improve, and those 8-bit images may start to look... lame - at least to some discerning "Large Format" types.

All my scans are 16-bit and I use RAW for digital. The files stay in 16-bit until after they've been converted to the printer space. And with Epson's 16-bit driver for the upcoming x880 printers they'll never hit 8-bit. I don't know anybody that uses 8-bit for serious B&W.