Digital??

I have just shot on 35mm some test product shots for a web site I'm doing and am very disappointed with the results (Basically poor lighting!). I have been considering going digital for some time and I think this is the final straw. I want to be able to review a pic so I don't have to wait to see whats wrong. Will going down the digital route hep me will much more flexibility in changing settings, auto bracketing etc or will I still end up with a poor shot regardless of film or digital?

You will never regret going digital. I found it "freeing." The photos from my G2 and s40 are much better than anything I ever took with a Canon SLR. Digital is also more fun. Take your pics, download them, select the ones you want printed, send them to your printer: voila!

Richard Feasey wrote:
I want to be able to review a pic so I don't have to wait to see whats wrong.
=====

Hi Richard

For me, one of the main adavantages of digital cameras - mainly the 'higher end' ones, is the Histogram feature which enables you to look at the picture you've just taken on the LCD screen and to assess the range of light and dark tones/pixels in the image.

This means that you can see at a glance if the image you've taken is too dark or too light (under/over exposed).

In the studio I will typically take a light meter reading and then take a couple of test shots, check the Histogram and then decide whether I need to alter the aperture setting. It's a very good guide.

I don't think Histograms are a common feature on low-budget digital cameras, so if you're shopping around I would bear this in mind.

Best regards

Paul
--
Paul Jones
http://www.pauljones.org

At first, you'll probably end up with poor shots similar to what you got with your 35mm film camera. But the instant feedback of a digital camera will quickly correct that.

I learned more about photography in the first 2 months with my G2 than I did with my film camera which I had for 2 years.

Another option is to buy a cheapo digital camera so you can see the results right away and then use the film SLR once you've setup the shot correctly.

Richard Feasey said:

I have just shot on 35mm some test product shots for a web site I'm
doing and am very disappointed with the results (Basically poor
lighting!). I have been considering going digital for some time and
I think this is the final straw. I want to be able to review a pic
so I don't have to wait to see whats wrong. Will going down the
digital route hep me will much more flexibility in changing
settings, auto bracketing etc or will I still end up with a poor
shot regardless of film or digital?

Click to expand...

Hi Paul

Excellent point. I love digital but I'm one of the people who distrust the monitor. The monitor images can only tell you if the image is properly framed, it really wont pick up very small focus problems.

However the use of the histogram is wonderful but as you point out, probably not common in consumer camera's.

Dave

Paul Jones said:

Richard Feasey wrote:
I want to be able to review a pic so I don't have to wait to see
whats wrong.
=====

Hi Richard

For me, one of the main adavantages of digital cameras - mainly the
'higher end' ones, is the Histogram feature which enables you to
look at the picture you've just taken on the LCD screen and to
assess the range of light and dark tones/pixels in the image.

This means that you can see at a glance if the image you've taken
is too dark or too light (under/over exposed).

In the studio I will typically take a light meter reading and then
take a couple of test shots, check the Histogram and then decide
whether I need to alter the aperture setting. It's a very good
guide.

I don't think Histograms are a common feature on low-budget digital
cameras, so if you're shopping around I would bear this in mind.

Best regards

Paul
--
Paul Jones
http://www.pauljones.org

Click to expand...

Richard Feasey said:

I have just shot on 35mm some test product shots for a web site I'm
doing and am very disappointed with the results (Basically poor
lighting!).

Click to expand...

I know I'll catch he** for this but if you don't know how to setup correct lighting for film you won't do any better with digital. There is a certain amount you can tell from an LCD and histogram but it won't tell you how to setup the shot correctly. You've already seen the shots but didn't specify how they were poor. At the very least you should be able to tell what you should have changed. Bracketing is a useful function but only if exposure level is the only problem. Nothing stopping you from bracketing with film. If the lighting isn't setup correctly and the shadows are wrong or the ratios and contrast aren't what you want there is nothing in the camera that will change it.

I'm not telling you to not get a digital camera. I love mine and use it far more now than I do my 35mm film cams. I take advantage of it's features but I'm still aware of its drawbacks. In some ways I actually lose flexibility. With a Dimage 7 I have a very narrow aperture range. This limits how much I can control exposure with studio flash. For that reason I switch from Novatron to Alien Bees which has a much wider power range. Depth of field is also an issue as I can't limit it as I can with a larger format camera.

padeye wrote:
I know I'll catch he** for this but if you don't know how to setup

padeye99656 said:

correct lighting for film you won't do any better with digital.
There is a certain amount you can tell from an LCD and histogram
but it won't tell you how to setup the shot correctly.

Click to expand...

=====

Hi Padeye

I don't think you'll get many people disagreeing with you - what you say is very true.

Regards

Paul
--
Paul Jones
http://www.pauljones.org
Olympus E-20

Richard Feasey said:

I have just shot on 35mm some test product shots for a web site I'm
doing and am very disappointed with the results (Basically poor
lighting!). I have been considering going digital for some time and
I think this is the final straw. I want to be able to review a pic
so I don't have to wait to see whats wrong. Will going down the
digital route hep me will much more flexibility in changing
settings, auto bracketing etc or will I still end up with a poor
shot regardless of film or digital?

Click to expand...

I tend to agree with the people that say the same principals apply to lighting with film and digital cameras, but I think digital with its immediate feedback, allows you to learn more quickly and experiement than film would. When I do things like my low light photographs, I often times take many pictures, varying the placement of the flash, the f-stops, etc. You can do the same thing with film obviously, but you typically have to be rather methodical in using a notebook to record all of the details, and being to pick things up at a later time.

In terms of feedback on the camera's LCD screen, it gives you a rough look at the picture, but as others have mentioned it doesn't give you details about focusing. However, if you have a laptop or your studio is near your computer, it is a relatively quick matter, to pop the picture into the computer and look at it in detail. A 5 minute look is still much better than a day turn around time.

You might consider seeing if any of the pro camera stores in your area rent a digital camera you might be interested in for a day so you can get hands on experience with a camera (I assume you are interested more in a higher function camera such as a pro-sumer or DSLR camera, rather than a consumer point and shoot camera).

As others have mentioned, there are downsides to digital as well as upsides. You have to decide what matters to you.

I absolutely agree with you. At least I will have the advantage of reviewing the image and then to rectify it. At the moment I have to wait to see my results and then reshoot if not OK. I am fully aware that the lighting requirements and skill far outweigh what type of camera you have. I like to be able to see the results rather than have to wait maybe 24hrs.

Thanks for your comments.

padeye said:

Richard Feasey said:

I have just shot on 35mm some test product shots for a web site I'm
doing and am very disappointed with the results (Basically poor
lighting!).

Click to expand...

I know I'll catch he** for this but if you don't know how to setup
correct lighting for film you won't do any better with digital.
There is a certain amount you can tell from an LCD and histogram
but it won't tell you how to setup the shot correctly. You've
already seen the shots but didn't specify how they were poor. At
the very least you should be able to tell what you should have
changed. Bracketing is a useful function but only if exposure
level is the only problem. Nothing stopping you from bracketing
with film. If the lighting isn't setup correctly and the shadows
are wrong or the ratios and contrast aren't what you want there is
nothing in the camera that will change it.

I'm not telling you to not get a digital camera. I love mine and
use it far more now than I do my 35mm film cams. I take advantage
of it's features but I'm still aware of its drawbacks. In some
ways I actually lose flexibility. With a Dimage 7 I have a very
narrow aperture range. This limits how much I can control exposure
with studio flash. For that reason I switch from Novatron to Alien
Bees which has a much wider power range. Depth of field is also an
issue as I can't limit it as I can with a larger format camera.

Click to expand...