Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Guys,
In commenting on the M9 after reading every review and examining every image I could find, I realized that one should ask oneself, "What does ISO mean?". In film, I believe it's based on how the shadows are exposed in what light. With digital, they seem to just up the gain and increase contrast so we get a usable image. however, the grey shadow areas are not really there anymore. So are we deluding ourselves when we turn up the dial? Is it just like pushing film B&W where all one is doing is increasing the contrast? In a pushed film one can print the image but there can be an absence of the lower tonalities.
So what's happening with Digital?
and why do I ask? Well in stage performances of classical music, the musicians are lit from above. This gives bright hair and shoulders but there are shadows under each facial feature especially as the faces are lit by glancing rays from above. Here's an area where true high ISO imaging would help. The shaded areas would be represented by even tonalities and not blotchy grain. Am I asking too much? Would I be better off with high ISO film?
I discovered this Wikipedia reference if that helps figure things out! Essentially we should be getting a Noise based ISO, latitude and a saturation, (bright pixel blooming limit), based speed. But how do we use this data and what do the settings on the camera really mean?
Thanks,
Asher
In commenting on the M9 after reading every review and examining every image I could find, I realized that one should ask oneself, "What does ISO mean?". In film, I believe it's based on how the shadows are exposed in what light. With digital, they seem to just up the gain and increase contrast so we get a usable image. however, the grey shadow areas are not really there anymore. So are we deluding ourselves when we turn up the dial? Is it just like pushing film B&W where all one is doing is increasing the contrast? In a pushed film one can print the image but there can be an absence of the lower tonalities.
So what's happening with Digital?
and why do I ask? Well in stage performances of classical music, the musicians are lit from above. This gives bright hair and shoulders but there are shadows under each facial feature especially as the faces are lit by glancing rays from above. Here's an area where true high ISO imaging would help. The shaded areas would be represented by even tonalities and not blotchy grain. Am I asking too much? Would I be better off with high ISO film?
I discovered this Wikipedia reference if that helps figure things out! Essentially we should be getting a Noise based ISO, latitude and a saturation, (bright pixel blooming limit), based speed. But how do we use this data and what do the settings on the camera really mean?
Thanks,
Asher