f-64

The UCR California Museum of photography recently hosted a chronology of digital cameras. “The End of Film, a Brief History of Digital Cameras, 1987-2009″

It included the 1987 Casio VS-101 .28 mp and ended with the Canon 5D Mark II. Should there have been an iPhone in there? Years from now, will iPhones be included in digital camera chronologies?

At first, I thought, it would be irritating to see an iPhone in a museum for photography. Granted, it is responsible for millions of photographers who would otherwise not take pictures, but what about it makes it particularly important over other camera phones?

Then I thought about the screen. The iPhones huge LCD screen truly advanced cell phone photography due to the large bright screen that provided a satisfying and intuitive platform to view images. The first of its kind to be popularly used. Furthermore, images can be instantly proliferated over the web. Consumer and DSLR cams are behind in this regard, only recently have there been wifi enabled digicams.

Although the process of snapping a DSLR pic and inkjetting is easy enough, with the iPhone, there is no need to even upload the image to a computer. Granted, the resolution is horrible, but the images look great on the screen, so in most cases, there is no need for a clearer lens or more pixels. I find myself sketching with the iPhone, or taking pictures as a form of notes.

In terms of a camera, I would not want the iPhone to sit next to the 5D Mark II. I agree with the decision to put the 5D at the end. For most professionals (journalists, commercial, events), the 5D is benchmark. But the iPhone should be viewed at least as a hyperbolic example of a camera phone and an important phenomenon in photography. Everyone can switch into photographer mode at all times. Images can be instantly viewed or even shared over the internet. The death of film also marks the death of the print. Devices like the iPhone make printing increasingly pointless for casual photographers.

test

The question is not to be confused with the debate, “is photography over,” which recently has been the subject of a formal dialogue in the SF MOMA. Thankfully, this question is far less convoluted. Is film dead? Not yet. Not until Fuji and Kodak discontinue their sales. Is film photography undermined by the   resolving power and unlimited clip of modern medium form digital? Increasingly likely. Luminous-landscape.com conducted a fairly scientific comparison test of a 4×5 drum scan vs. the PhaseOne P45 digital (39 megapixels).

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/Cramer.shtml

Cramer states “But how does the P45 do against 4×5 film?  This was THE big question for me.  For years, I have heard ruminations that 40-50 megapixels should be able to match 4×5 film resolution. I was about to see the first actual test of this… The digital files were…(drum roll)…not as sharp—but very close!” This test was conducted 4 and a half years ago in 2006! In resolving power, digital is surpassing 4×5. Now, not everyone has the price of a luxury vehicle to spend on a camera. But consider for a practicing artist the price of film– 2 dollars a sheet, 3 dollars to process it, and arm+leg more to run it through a drum scanner (or the price of a porsche to own one). One only has to shoot 1000 or so frames to be saving money! I believe the 4×5 and a medium format digital truly have “enough” resolution. 30X40 inches no problem. Furthermore, if one wishes to reach the capacity of 8×10, I guarantee it would take less hassle to shoot four frames and stitch them, than to lug around 14 pounds of 8×10 with all the setting up, film loading, and running back and forth to the film lab. Wish to have the “film look?” Tweak the hue or saturation and overlay a film grain pattern in photoshop. Wish to have camera movements? Do it in photoshop or buy one of these: http://dpreview.com/news/1007/10072901sinarpslrsystem.asp

To conclude, practicing photographers who have no intention to include film as part of their content for nostalgic or process-based work or whatever, will switch to digital because it is simply, cheaper and easier. However, I see the next 5-10 years as a final opportunity for people to use 4×5 without having to have this conversation of nostalgic or process based work. I highly encourage people to pick up a beautiful 4×5 for dirt cheap on keh.com, ebay or craigslist, use it, enjoy it, afford it, and in the end, understand and appreciate photography more than future generations who will only understand how to point and shoot. The pentax 645D is only $13,000. That looks like a fuck-load but 10 years from now, one can only imagine. Still, I eagerly await news of a 4×5 digital back.