Delta 400 vs Digital comparison

[ian_s]

While not intending to create an 'discussion' over which is better, I decided to take my digital camera along with me while taking my first roll of film
Below are two images taken within seconds of each other, one film one digital.

Unfortunately the sheep wouldn't stand still no matter how nicely I asked ! its this frustration that means I have to be content with landscapes and tree's.

Some differences are probably down to the lens (although both images are slightly cropped) and I did use a film profile on the digital image.

To some this may be a slightly pointless exercise but I was interested in how similar a digital image plus simulation was to a film image scanned

The sheep seemed to enjoy their 1/50 sec of fame.

 

[Glenn]

The composition of the first is better IMO, and the cloud detail is better in the second. Otherwise, precious little to choose between the two. Which one is the digital image?

 

[Toby Webster]

You possibly recall that I did - and still often do - exactly that same thing when I started using film again, in part to see how close my own digital film emulations were, partly because I didn't quite have confidence in my own operation of the film cameras after so long with digital. It is an interesting exercise, and there's much to be learned.

You have these very close indeed, and I hope you are encouraged. The second is slightly cleaner, with a little more contrast and more definition, particularly in the sky, though oddly less so in the foreground. #2 might just have the edge, because of the more defined sky. The more I look, the less I would wish to commit myself as to which is which.

 

[ian_s]

Thanks for the feedback, the second is the digital image. It did need careful checking to ensure the sky highlights didn't clip, the film image was free of this concern when I took it. As the same lens wasn't used (but the same aperture was) for both some of the differences could be down to this and a slightly different focus point being used.

Although I selected 16 bit TIFF scanning for the film image it was very noticeable how much less latitude there was for digital adjustment there was particularly in the shadows. Perhaps this is because the developing and scanning process had been completed at optimum settings.

I think the next step is to find an orange filter and try this to see if it provides a more contrasty sky.

 

[tormi]

I like the second very much, the shape of this old cedar tree is fitting well with the clouds, I just think that the bottom as well as the sky could be cropped a little bit, nothings happens there, and maybe a little bit brighter

 

[John King]

The sheep in the 2nd seem to have a lot more 'muck' on them! But there is not a lot between either picture. There is grain on both but you really have to look hard to see, which says a lot for Delta 400. I have used a little Delta 100 so may try 400 as a comparison.

 

[John King]

Thanks for the feedback, the second is the digital image. It did need careful checking to ensure the sky highlights didn't clip, the film image was free of this concern when I took it. As the same lens wasn't used (but the same aperture was) for both some of the differences could be down to this and a slightly different focus point being used.

Although I selected 16 bit TIFF scanning for the film image it was very noticeable how much less latitude there was for digital adjustment there was particularly in the shadows. Perhaps this is because the developing and scanning process had been completed at optimum settings.

I think the next step is to find an orange filter and try this to see if it provides a more contrasty sky.

Whatever colour filter unless there blue sky the difference will be minimal. A touch of the PS burn tool on the darker parts of the clouds will probably work just as well or better

 

[ian_s]

Whatever colour filter unless there blue sky the difference will be minimal. A touch of the PS burn tool on the darker parts of the clouds will probably work just as well or better

Thanks, in the end I found a yellow multicoated heliopan filter on Amazon warehouse for £25 and will give this a go if and when there is some blue sky visible

 

[Joanna Carter]

Thanks, in the end I found a yellow multicoated heliopan filter on Amazon warehouse for £25 and will give this a go if and when there is some blue sky visible

As John has already said, a coloured filter will not affect cloud texture. It only darkens blue/cyan skies by darkening them, or orange/yellow/green foliage by lightening it.