Henning Serger
Allowing Ads
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2006
- Messages
- 2,196
- Format
- Multi Format
Hello,
let's continue with some general photography information (especially for our young and new members) and further positive news about new high quality products from Germany.
First a kind of "foreword":
It is a kind of "Binsenweisheit" / commonplace that Digital Imaging has certain strengths, and film photography has certain other strengths.
Now let's have a look at a field where the advantages of film are very clear, strong and obvious.
Where film is unsurpassed.
And where the difference to digital is so big that it will last the next decades, maybe even longer.
Let's have a look at big pictures:
You want your pictures (very) big, in unsurpassed brillance, sharpness and resolution.
You want true-life colours.
You want an almost three-dimensional effect.
And you want all that at very low costs, at the lowest costs possible.
Film can give you exactly that: Reversal film and projection.
When I was asked about that here in the past I've reported about all the tests we did in our small non-profit optical test lab and all the experiences we've made over the years in daily photography and projection with different projectors, lenses and screens.
Just for those of you who have missed this information so far:
35mm:
We have tested all the films with a relative low object contrast of 1:4 (two stops). Lenses were Nikkor AI-S 1,8/50 (long barrel version) and Zeiss ZF 2/50 at f5,6 (and some others as well).
Both lenses have the same performance in the center at f4 and f5,6, but the Zeiss is generally better at the corners and at f2.
Some test results from our resolution tests (Nikon F6, MLU, MC-30, 1/250s, focus bracketing, Zeiss ZF 2/50, f5,6, Nikkor AI-S 1,8/50, object contrast 1:4; Berlebach Report 3032).
The first resolution value represents the number of clearly separated lines, the second one the resolution limit where still a contrast difference can be seen.
Resolution is dependant on the object contrast of the detail you have focused at: with higher object contrast, you would get higher resolution than our test results [see the tests published by Zeiss: Velvia 50 and 100 with 160-170 lp/mm], and lower object contrast would result in lower resolution values):
Fuji Velvia 50: 110 125 Lp/mm
Fuji Sensia 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Provia 100F: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Astia 100F: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Velvia 100: 125 140 Lp/mm
Fuji Velvia 100F: 125 140 Lp/mm
Kodak E100G: 120 135 Lp/mm
AgfaPhoto CT Precisa 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Kodak Elitechrome 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Provia 400X: 105 115 Lp/mm
Agfa Copex Rapid; ISO 64/19°; Agfa Scala BW reversal process : 165 180 Lp/mm.
Adox CMS 20 II; ISO 20/14°; Agfa Scala BW reversal process: 230 245 lp/mm
Medium Format:
Mamiya 645 Pro TL with Mamiya-Sekor C 2,8/80 N, f5,6; same object contrast of 1:4 = two stops.
Fuji Provia 100F: 115 125 lp/mm
Agfa Copex Rapid, Scala Reversal process: 130 145 lp/mm
Adox CMS 20 II; Scala reversal process: 195 210 lp/mm
And, with excellent lenses you can transfer the above listed resolution values with only a minimal (not relevant) loss onto the projection screen!
We've tested several projection lenses, e.g. the Leica Super-Colorplan P2 2,5/90, Zeiss P-Sonnar T 2,5/90, Doctor-Optics / Kindermann 2,4/90 MC-B, Rollei Apogon 2,8/120, Schneider AV-Xenotar 2,8/150.
With all these lenses we could transfer the 120 lp/mm of E100G, Elitechrome 100, Provia 100F, Sensia 100, Astia 100F onto the screen!
Same with the 165 lp/mm of Agfa Copex Rapid and the 230 lp/mm of Adox CMS 20 II as BW-Slide (developed in Scala reversal process)!
120 lp/mm in 35mm format: That is an equivalent of 50 Megapixels. You would need a 50 MP digital projector to get the same detail at this object contrast. The 165 lp/mm of Agfa Copex Rapid are equivalent to 94 MP, for the Adox a 200 MP equivalent would be needed.
Looking at 35mm slide projection with an excellent projection lens, then the quality is surpassing all digital formats projected with a digital projector.
Because the imaging chain film + projection is much, much better than the digital imaging chain digital file + digital projector. The digital projector is the very weak part in this imaging chain and decreases the quality of the file to a big extent. From your 12, 24, 35, 40,50, 60 or 80 MP only 1,2,4 or max 8 MP (most expensive gear) remain as output.
And with all digital projectors you also have the general design flaw that the resolution is even 40% less in vertical format.
Concerning colour rendition the current digital also cannot compete with the much more precise and natural color rendition of the slides.
Therefore in the field of projection we indeed have the situation, that 35mm film is significantly surpassing all digital formats in picture quality.
And of course in costs. 35mm slide projection is dirt cheap in comparison.
And of course with medium format slide projection, using excellent lenses (camera and projection), you can significantly surpass the already outstanding 35mm performance:
Well, the 115 lp/mm of the Sekor 2,8/80 / Provia 100F combination (see above), projected e.g. with the 2,8/120 Apogon or 2,8/150 AV-Xenotar from Schneider-Kreuznach with the Rollei 66 dual P or Rolleivision 66:
120 MP on the screen.
155 MP with the Agfa Copex Rapid.
350 MP with the Adox CMS 20 II.
Its incredible what outstanding picture quality medium format slide projection is giving us.
Well, best sex for the eyes
For big enlargements slide projection delivers an unsurpassed quality.
And at extremely low costs:
A projected slide on a 2 m x 2 m screen cost me in the range of only 30 Cents to 1 per shot depending on the film and slide mounts.
A quality print of the same size (from negative film or digital file) cost me more than two hundred Euros.
New products:
Fortunately, besides the huge used market, new 35mm and medium format slide projectors are built by several German companies:
http://www.dhw-fototechnik.de/de/rolleivision-projektoren.html
http://www.braun-phototechnik.de/de/products/list/~pcat.106/Diatechnik.html
https://reflecta.de/de/products/list/~pcat.5/Diatechnik.html
http://www.rbt-3d.de/index.php?idcat=30&PHPSESSID=93f972fdd5599c04d8d1c4572c1e0711
http://www.gecko-cam.com/sales/goetschmann/
And now there is even another new manufacturer on the market with top quality products:
http://jensen-diaprojektoren.de/index.php/de/
(the English version is not quite finished yet)
Mr Jensen is a technician with a long experience in building slide projectors.
His new Jensen GMF 690 slide projector is designed to project medium format slides up to 6x9 (!).
So far your best option for formats bigger than 6x6 has been the excellent Götschmann 6x7 projectors.
With the Jensen it is possible to project 4,5x6, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 and 6x9 slides.
For the smaller formats adapters are available. And so even different formats can be presented in the same slide show.
With 7300 lumen this projector is the brightest on the market with a halogen lamp.
It can be ordered in different colours.
Currently two high-quality lenses with 90mm and 150mm focal length are available.
Mr Jensen is also working on a LED projector which will probably be introduced next year.
Furthermore the company is producing glassless slide mounts in 6x8 and 6x9 format.
Of course heat-resistent and with antistaticum.
Shipped in a long-term stable archival box (DIN 53124 norm), which can be used for slide storage.
And besides that Jensen is also working on 6x7 slide mounts, which will probably be available next year.
So very good news, isn't it?
I just love slide projection:
Besides the outstanding and unsurpassed picture quality, it is for me just the best "relaxation", the best "chill-out" after a long, hard working day:
It is like cinema at home:
Enjoying the brillant pictures on the screen, excellent music in the background, and sometimes an excellent whisk(e)y, a good glass of vine or a cold beer to complete the joy
Then life is good to me......
Best regards,
Henning
let's continue with some general photography information (especially for our young and new members) and further positive news about new high quality products from Germany.
First a kind of "foreword":
It is a kind of "Binsenweisheit" / commonplace that Digital Imaging has certain strengths, and film photography has certain other strengths.
Now let's have a look at a field where the advantages of film are very clear, strong and obvious.
Where film is unsurpassed.
And where the difference to digital is so big that it will last the next decades, maybe even longer.
Let's have a look at big pictures:
You want your pictures (very) big, in unsurpassed brillance, sharpness and resolution.
You want true-life colours.
You want an almost three-dimensional effect.
And you want all that at very low costs, at the lowest costs possible.
Film can give you exactly that: Reversal film and projection.
When I was asked about that here in the past I've reported about all the tests we did in our small non-profit optical test lab and all the experiences we've made over the years in daily photography and projection with different projectors, lenses and screens.
Just for those of you who have missed this information so far:
35mm:
We have tested all the films with a relative low object contrast of 1:4 (two stops). Lenses were Nikkor AI-S 1,8/50 (long barrel version) and Zeiss ZF 2/50 at f5,6 (and some others as well).
Both lenses have the same performance in the center at f4 and f5,6, but the Zeiss is generally better at the corners and at f2.
Some test results from our resolution tests (Nikon F6, MLU, MC-30, 1/250s, focus bracketing, Zeiss ZF 2/50, f5,6, Nikkor AI-S 1,8/50, object contrast 1:4; Berlebach Report 3032).
The first resolution value represents the number of clearly separated lines, the second one the resolution limit where still a contrast difference can be seen.
Resolution is dependant on the object contrast of the detail you have focused at: with higher object contrast, you would get higher resolution than our test results [see the tests published by Zeiss: Velvia 50 and 100 with 160-170 lp/mm], and lower object contrast would result in lower resolution values):
Fuji Velvia 50: 110 125 Lp/mm
Fuji Sensia 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Provia 100F: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Astia 100F: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Velvia 100: 125 140 Lp/mm
Fuji Velvia 100F: 125 140 Lp/mm
Kodak E100G: 120 135 Lp/mm
AgfaPhoto CT Precisa 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Kodak Elitechrome 100: 120 135 Lp/mm
Fuji Provia 400X: 105 115 Lp/mm
Agfa Copex Rapid; ISO 64/19°; Agfa Scala BW reversal process : 165 180 Lp/mm.
Adox CMS 20 II; ISO 20/14°; Agfa Scala BW reversal process: 230 245 lp/mm
Medium Format:
Mamiya 645 Pro TL with Mamiya-Sekor C 2,8/80 N, f5,6; same object contrast of 1:4 = two stops.
Fuji Provia 100F: 115 125 lp/mm
Agfa Copex Rapid, Scala Reversal process: 130 145 lp/mm
Adox CMS 20 II; Scala reversal process: 195 210 lp/mm
And, with excellent lenses you can transfer the above listed resolution values with only a minimal (not relevant) loss onto the projection screen!
We've tested several projection lenses, e.g. the Leica Super-Colorplan P2 2,5/90, Zeiss P-Sonnar T 2,5/90, Doctor-Optics / Kindermann 2,4/90 MC-B, Rollei Apogon 2,8/120, Schneider AV-Xenotar 2,8/150.
With all these lenses we could transfer the 120 lp/mm of E100G, Elitechrome 100, Provia 100F, Sensia 100, Astia 100F onto the screen!
Same with the 165 lp/mm of Agfa Copex Rapid and the 230 lp/mm of Adox CMS 20 II as BW-Slide (developed in Scala reversal process)!
120 lp/mm in 35mm format: That is an equivalent of 50 Megapixels. You would need a 50 MP digital projector to get the same detail at this object contrast. The 165 lp/mm of Agfa Copex Rapid are equivalent to 94 MP, for the Adox a 200 MP equivalent would be needed.
Looking at 35mm slide projection with an excellent projection lens, then the quality is surpassing all digital formats projected with a digital projector.
Because the imaging chain film + projection is much, much better than the digital imaging chain digital file + digital projector. The digital projector is the very weak part in this imaging chain and decreases the quality of the file to a big extent. From your 12, 24, 35, 40,50, 60 or 80 MP only 1,2,4 or max 8 MP (most expensive gear) remain as output.
And with all digital projectors you also have the general design flaw that the resolution is even 40% less in vertical format.
Concerning colour rendition the current digital also cannot compete with the much more precise and natural color rendition of the slides.
Therefore in the field of projection we indeed have the situation, that 35mm film is significantly surpassing all digital formats in picture quality.
And of course in costs. 35mm slide projection is dirt cheap in comparison.
And of course with medium format slide projection, using excellent lenses (camera and projection), you can significantly surpass the already outstanding 35mm performance:
Well, the 115 lp/mm of the Sekor 2,8/80 / Provia 100F combination (see above), projected e.g. with the 2,8/120 Apogon or 2,8/150 AV-Xenotar from Schneider-Kreuznach with the Rollei 66 dual P or Rolleivision 66:
120 MP on the screen.
155 MP with the Agfa Copex Rapid.
350 MP with the Adox CMS 20 II.
Its incredible what outstanding picture quality medium format slide projection is giving us.
Well, best sex for the eyes
For big enlargements slide projection delivers an unsurpassed quality.
And at extremely low costs:
A projected slide on a 2 m x 2 m screen cost me in the range of only 30 Cents to 1 per shot depending on the film and slide mounts.
A quality print of the same size (from negative film or digital file) cost me more than two hundred Euros.
New products:
Fortunately, besides the huge used market, new 35mm and medium format slide projectors are built by several German companies:
http://www.dhw-fototechnik.de/de/rolleivision-projektoren.html
http://www.braun-phototechnik.de/de/products/list/~pcat.106/Diatechnik.html
https://reflecta.de/de/products/list/~pcat.5/Diatechnik.html
http://www.rbt-3d.de/index.php?idcat=30&PHPSESSID=93f972fdd5599c04d8d1c4572c1e0711
http://www.gecko-cam.com/sales/goetschmann/
And now there is even another new manufacturer on the market with top quality products:
http://jensen-diaprojektoren.de/index.php/de/
(the English version is not quite finished yet)
Mr Jensen is a technician with a long experience in building slide projectors.
His new Jensen GMF 690 slide projector is designed to project medium format slides up to 6x9 (!).
So far your best option for formats bigger than 6x6 has been the excellent Götschmann 6x7 projectors.
With the Jensen it is possible to project 4,5x6, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 and 6x9 slides.
For the smaller formats adapters are available. And so even different formats can be presented in the same slide show.
With 7300 lumen this projector is the brightest on the market with a halogen lamp.
It can be ordered in different colours.
Currently two high-quality lenses with 90mm and 150mm focal length are available.
Mr Jensen is also working on a LED projector which will probably be introduced next year.
Furthermore the company is producing glassless slide mounts in 6x8 and 6x9 format.
Of course heat-resistent and with antistaticum.
Shipped in a long-term stable archival box (DIN 53124 norm), which can be used for slide storage.
And besides that Jensen is also working on 6x7 slide mounts, which will probably be available next year.
So very good news, isn't it?
I just love slide projection:
Besides the outstanding and unsurpassed picture quality, it is for me just the best "relaxation", the best "chill-out" after a long, hard working day:
It is like cinema at home:
Enjoying the brillant pictures on the screen, excellent music in the background, and sometimes an excellent whisk(e)y, a good glass of vine or a cold beer to complete the joy
Then life is good to me......
Best regards,
Henning