Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Super-camera frustration
These guys write an article about a super-high rez camera which apparently impress serious scientists... and then they don't breath a word about how the friggin thing works. Lame.
It's just a large-format camera with a vacuum back to hold film flat; you can buy the equipment off-the-shelf from from several manufacturers, even in sizes up to 20x24 inches, or you can make it yourself as he did. The resulting neg or transparency is then scanned at a very high DPI and printed big. It's really no big deal; it's just that LF cameras are forgotten these days now that a small digital camera is considered standard "professional" equipment.
"Surely there has to be something special about it"
Why? It's a huge, fast camera, subject at moderately high altitude (reduced haze), on a perfect day, and handled by a gifted maniac. That's a lot already.
Now, I'll know where to send anyone who questions the need for higher resolutions! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's just a large-format camera with a vacuum back to hold film flat; you can buy the equipment off-the-shelf from from several manufacturers, even in sizes up to 20x24 inches, or you can make it yourself as he did.
ReplyDeleteThe resulting neg or transparency is then scanned at a very high DPI and printed big.
It's really no big deal; it's just that LF cameras are forgotten these days now that a small digital camera is considered standard "professional" equipment.
-jbh-
Surely there has to be something special about it, even if the general public are not aware of large format cameras.
ReplyDelete"Surely there has to be something special about it"
ReplyDeleteWhy? It's a huge, fast camera, subject at moderately high altitude (reduced haze), on a perfect day, and handled by a gifted maniac. That's a lot already.
Here's an interesting take on a similar subject:
ReplyDeletewww.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/large_mosaics/index.html
-jbh-