[LargeFormat] Batches*

[philip lambert]

Why does more film area mean more colour saturation?   The stronger the
sunlight the more the colour saturation I can understand. Maybe the thicker
the emulsion the more the saturation (but modern films are thinner?)
>       For max detail in still life, architecture, landscape,
> illustration, even portraiture, more film area means more
> color saturation and detailed information/sharpness.  Cropping
> is more free in darkroom with more area to work with as well.
>
>      As films have improved over the years the need for
> really big negatives has decreased dramaticly.  Personally, I believe, if
you are going to put a camera
> on a tripod, bigger format is better.
>

Bigger may be better but you just said the need for really big negatives has
decreased dramatically because of film improvements.    Digital is the way
we shall all go - I read in today's Amateur Photographer that a certain Sony
digital camera with a format the size of a postage stamp can give sharp A3
enlargements. Handheld- no tripods needed.
 I wonder if you and I would like such a print. It gets sharpened up
digitally you know, unsharp mask, or photoshop something. No skill involved
so ideal.

But using a tripod makes for better results whether you are using 6x4.5cms
or 6x 4.5 inches.  Or 10x8.
I don't see how I could use a Sinar without a tripod- no way I could hand
hold it. . I use a Nikon F3 or F90X in the hand but the results are best on
a tripod.  Philip
.