Re: Future of LF
At this point, only LF view cameras offer the ability to adjust the focal plane which is a huge advantage in lots of situations. Photoshop can reasonably handle perspective control within limits, but no software on the planet can mimic a movable focal plane. LF as we know it, that is 8x10 and 4x5 film, will yield to digital imagers as the price/performance curves converge... but view cameras are here to stay.
Small, purpose built, digital view cameras are starting to emerge but no complete systems exist yet. This is where I believe LF is going. Even the state of the art Phase One P45 back (39MP!) has an imager that's smaller than a 645 film frame. The smaller view camera bodies will be harder to focus but I'll wager they will ultimately be closed back and shot tethered with digital focusing aids. Imagine a robotic view camera system integrated with a robotic studio stand! That would just be too cool. Shoot your camera with something like a PS2 controller while you watch the preview on a monitor, zooming, panning and checking the details as you go.
As for film, it will probably take a sudden downturn at some point. The newer imagers have HUGE dynamic range, much more than negative film. It's possible to capture a 10 zone image right now... not that you can print or display it... but that's never been possible with film... it will ultimately change exposure as we know it. A 39MP imager will produce an image that can be upsampled 2X and printed artifact free at 8' on the long edge! The best drum scan from an 8x10 will clearly show big grain and other film scan artifacts at that magnification... artifacts that simply aren't present in digital captures.
With luck and some demand from the market, compact, portable, digital view cameras will emerge and our children can grow up to be old landscape photographers without ever knowing the pleasures of back surgery, sciatica and scoliosis.
To me LF and view cameras are tantamount... and the future of view cameras hasn't really even begun to get interesting. Big things are ahead.
Chip
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