Re: [APML] Film vs Digital - is film really dead?

["Matt BenDaniel" <matt@starmatt.com>]

Alan,

Take a look on the Yahoo SBIG Group.  It has thousands of members and more
newbies than the APML.  Newer generations of imagers have increasing
facility with computers.  The biggest difference of younger imagers is
that they prefer the instant feedback and the automation that digital
media provide.  They also tend to be more willing to spend money on
ready-made components than home-spinning their own hardware solutions.

Of course the members of the APML tend be exceptions from the above.  We
film types understand that excellent results can be achieved with less
expense and more cleverness and elbow grease, with a longer payback cycle.

That said, I agree with your impression of CCD.  Even though I'm
computer-savvy, I've found adjusting to CCD suprisingly difficult.  It
seems that CCD cameras and the related computer technologies have more
failure modes which are harder to diagnose.  Nevertheless I feel impelled
to master CCD so as not to become outdated.  In the meantime, film is
still my preferred medium, and I intend to stay with it until the last
good astro films disappear.
-- 
Matt BenDaniel
http://starmatt.com

Alan Voetsch said:
> --- Matt BenDaniel <matt@starmatt.com> wrote:
>> It's
>> plain fact today that we see many more newbie astrophotographers
>> succeeding with CCD than we do with film. These newbies have been
>> swayed by the advertising. The editors cite this trend as inherent
>> superiority of digital media.
>
> I can tell you this; if I were starting in AP with a new CCD camera, I
> would fail miserably. Some may be better suited for it than me, but with
> the increased reliance on a computer, I would be in BIG trouble.
>
> I would have to say that while more might be succeeding, more overall
> are failing. The CCD learning curve is quite steep. The ones who do
> succeed most likely have a friend who also succeeded, or happened into
> one of the online help groups.
>
> Alan




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