Frank,
I got serious into photography with F100 and Velvia 50. I am sure you remember the small waterfall I shot here in Korea with my ZD camera. One week ago, from same shoot I (finally) got my Velvia 50 from my Mamya 7II back. Wow! Awesome. 6x7 slides.... my first Velvia from my 7. Awesome. 6x7. They really looks awesome. From such small light camera with a BIG hole in it for film. Shocks... so simple thing... a film box with great lens.
ZD? You know my situation, so of course my mind keeps going... MF vs. DSLR. I need something I can depend on for 5, maybe 8 years. I am only a hobbyist. What is 1Ds Mk III? How much dynamic range? Ah... but D3... suprice, some new technology can make difference. Only 12MP, does not interest me... yet ... the rumored Nikon high resolution to compete with 1Ds Mk III... but... is it close enough to MF? Well... if Nikon as impressive done their homework there.. speculations... torturing brain... Puh... ZD... DR, exposure latitude... but... on other hand DSLR... flexibility... AND... cheaper to replace sensor in five years if it breaks!
Mmm... Canon focus problems... Nikon banding... hm. Image matters, but for me much image quality, and being able to capture. Now I am all confused truthfully. Yet, the ZD camera, it has the best controls, menus, buttons of any digital camera I read of, seen or held, really bright finder. In end... perhaps come down to money... we shall see.... perhaps what happens happen.
Medium format throws out of focus more rapid than the 135 based digital, does it not? because of the different multiplication factor or... angle from sensor for "equal" lens? That makes difference also...
Definently I do not want back to DX for real serious photography though. Because DX ***really sucks***.... (at least to me)
Anders
Edit: I should add.... from D200 to ZD... colors, DR, exposure latitude... pleasure work with files. The feeling of being back to PHOTOGRAPHING AGAIN , a real upgrade to my F100, not the crappy D50 or D200.... feeling of focuse on photographing instead of gear... then ZD issue... and D3... Mmmm.... can 1Ds Mk III or D3??? high resolution of 20-24MP be same??? Any comment?
Edit #2: Looking throught my near 500 selection of images from my grand photographic journey in 2003: travel round the world for 2.5 months with my F100. That is when I picked up Velvia 50. Awesome. Most of those photos I could have made with a medium format and to higher quality (of course now I propably have more skills in photography ). Yet, parts of photos I would have not been able to capture with medium format. It is all trade offs. The added quality is nice... but all tradeoffs... The question is what is right tool for our needs. Digital has really throwed me off there. F100 and Velvia was simple, but too small now. AND, it took me months full time to scan the slides from that trip... 80 rolls.... although not all photos at full resolution. That journey though is what taught me photography. Before and after it I read John Shaw and others. It was amazing what I had learnt on the run... Now though I try be more slective in photos:P
Truth is, in some ways I should have stayed FILM. Digital makes me more consider gear. What I really enjoy is taking photo; PHOTOGRAPHY. Now lets see... what FILM?? Velvia in my Mamiya 7 for sure. Then SENSOR... ZD, Nikon 20+ MP, Canon 1Ds Mk III... or does it really matter... as long as solid for many years?