[filmscanners] RE: Real-World Scene Brightness Range

["Austin Franklin" <darkroom@ix.netcom.com>]

> Austin writes:
>
> > B&W film can easily handle 10 stops, with
> > very little effort.
>
> It can _just barely_ handle ten stops, from zero to maximum
> density.  Since
> some margin is necessary in order to hold detail, ten stops is potentially
> difficult to achieve.  Fortunately, it's not generally necessary.
>  For many
> films, the tonal resolution at the high and (especially) low ends of film
> density is rather poor as well.
>
> > Try reading up on the Zone system and
> > compensation development.
>
> I don't need to; I have the film data sheets right in front of me, and I'm
> simply reading off those.

Anthony, I believe you don't understand this subject well at all.  It
appears you are confusing film density range with scene density range, and
they are two entirely different things.  And, your claiming you don't need
to understand the Zone system (and therefore how compensation development
works), clearly indicates your lack of understanding this issue, and it's
importance to this discussion.  Nor do you appear to want to learn.

> In any case, however, real-world scenes aren't likely to ever tax
> film over
> a ten-stop range.

You say that, but it's just not true.

Austin

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