I thought I would post a clip from a recent "mini" field trip. I took my Betterlight scanning back into the field for the first time to see how well and even
if I could deal working with the relatively slow capture speeds and mandated computer tether in the field.
A few initial points of reference:
1) My back has the high-speed sensor, but even that takes about 40 seconds to capture a standard resolution 6000x8000 pixel image.
2) My back can also capture in "high resolution" mode up to 9000x12000 pixels, and this scan takes nearly a minute to complete at the fastest scan speeds.
3) For the shot below, I used my new Cooke SOFT FOCUS lens -- but it should be noted this lens does get quite sharp after f11.
4) This scan was done at the standard 6000x8000 capture resolution -- so I could have probably gleaned even more detail than I am showing here...
5) I captured the original in IR color for the express purpose of converting to an IR B&W image. But the crop I show has been taken from the image before processing and thus before the B&W conversion -- hence the odd, low-saturation tone, which is the way IR color looks before manipulation.
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Here is the overall image, 8000 pixels wide initially, downsized to 800 wide and some cropped off the top and bottom for web view, so you are looking at less than 1/100th the original file (!) Note the power pole by the house and barn, which is approiximately 1/4 mile (400 meters) away:
Here is the IR color "actual pixel" crop view of that pole. Note that not only can you clearly see the power lines, you can also see the splices in the lines to the right of the pole and the individual rings on the insulators that support those wires.
FWIW, I was impressed... :
DISCLAIMER: Note that the verdict is still out as to whether or not I am going to be willing to deal with the hassles incumbent to using this system in the field and therefore I am NOT recommending this as a viable digital capture solution for all photographers. The commitment required to use a view camera is significant to begin with and adding a tethered back re-doubles that commitment IMO.
