Hi,
I trust not only what digitalpraxis says, but of course also my eyes when I look at the super talking comparative tests published somewhere in this forum, comparing native s16, native 2k, native s35, native 4k. Please evrybody just look at them if you have not yet. They are quite a definitive answer.
For resolution, all digital and good HDV is comparable to a projected copy-of-the-copy (normal way of doing it, and seeing movies) 35mm: something between 700 and 800 lines.
You my not see much difference between s16 orignated material and s35 originated material just thanks to the fact that what we see is so much worse that what is lost in the process may be comparable to the difference between s16 and s35.
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Strangely they all agree about films limit in still photography, and the domination of digital photography is accepted by everyone.. it's just in movie industry that, strangely, this old rivalry never ends. I suppose this is because people working with film do not have the proper perception of digital quality. We can undertand: a serious alternative to film was not available until last year. (still, Star wars was not perceived as soft looking if I recall well. Or... never mind. There we were: movies started to become digital)
Hey, film, DIEEEE once forever! Or revolutionize your chemicals. Mmm, please don't, we don't need more chemicals in our rivers and seas, only to get comparable results to todays' generation digital cameras.
I wholeheartedly disagree. Unless you are looking at really poorly shot and processed 35. If you look back through my posts you will see, I'm not trying to flame digital, in fact, most people I know would probably consider me a RED fanboy and I am certainly a full on tech-geek. But as someone who has worked with every major digital format and film stock, I just think it sounds silly to say that it's difficult to discern the difference between projected HDV and 35. I suggest you actually go to a post house and have them project the different formats for you rather than using some internet super-comparo to judge. Then you truly can trust your eyes.
I love this company because of the advancements they have already made and the promise of what they are working towards. In many ways digital has caught up to film, but not yet in every way and every scenario. I love RED, but if money was no object I would probably still choose 35mm film as the primary format for every film I make. Will I make that same statement a year from now... I like to think not, but whatever happens I applaud Jim and everyone else at RED for trying to change my mind and giving filmmakers a larger more advanced toolkit with which to do their work in the process.
And really... you shouldn't ever use Star Wars in an argument for digital (as apposed to film) acquisition. The technology certain wasn't ready then.
You do make a great point about how 'dirty' film production and processing is. Though I suppose most old electronics find their way to poor african nations by the ton, so maybe we just don't see the pollution. Which brings up an interesting question... recycling plans Jim?