Tonal Range Digital vs Film

[hceline]

I have a technical question.
I've been using Canon SLRs (lately the Elan 7) and I'm really happy with them. But I'm thinking about picking up a 10D--I love digital, and ALL the photos I take end up going through Photoshop at some point. I primarily shoot art photography and other photos which must be printed at 8 x 10 or larger.

My question is, how does the 10D CCD RAW image compare in terms of dynamic range with, say, Velvia or B&W print film?

I'm asking because the images I take tend to have a slightly 'warm' analog feel, and I'm nervous that because of having to white-balance or whatnot that my color response will be unnaturally neutral.

It also seems that film responds to light differently in regard to it's color ramp (shadow/midtone/highlight distribution)--I suppose you could try to approximate this with curves in PS, but would it be of equivalent quality?

My last digital was a Nikon Coolpix 990, a point-and-shoot from about two generations ago (the pictures it too looked good at first, but didn't print well and were terrible at any ISO over 100), so I'm a little nervous in getting a digital SLR. Obviously technology has improved since then and Canon is leading the pack, but is the color depth in a 10D film-equivalent and as subtle as slide and B&W (or damn near close enough)?

Because being able to shoot available light at ISO 400 without film grain would be fantastic!

Thanks,

-=H=-

[justme_dc]

I my experience the 10D has a tonal range closer to E6 than to C41 film. To put it in numbers print film has a tonal range (stops of light captured) of about 8 slide has a range around 5, digital hits right around 6 or so. Of course you mileage and epxosure may vary. I Personally feel that Digtial is closer to E6 in it's look which is fine by me because that is mostly what I shoot anyway. Slide Film (expecially Fuji) has a certian "feel" to it that is hard to replicate with digital. I am still figureing out how to either make the 10D behave like film or adjust my shotting so that digital looks "right".


Good Luck to you!

[Mr.Jalapeno]

It's more like slide film in that the exposure latitude is fairly narrow. Also, like slide film, it's very easy to blow out the highlights.
However, once you have a properly exposed image in your computer, you can either expand or contract the tonal range with your imaging program.
I treat exposure with my Canon EOS 10D like Provia or Sensia. However, digital images tend to be less contrasty than slide film, sort of like NPH--shadows don't block up as easily as Velvia. Moderate highlights clip and have a different sheen than negs or slides. Brilliant highlights are easy to blowout. If you save in raw format you can extend the dynamic range, especially highlights, over JPEGS.