Nikon D4 vs. Canon 5D MK37 1/2…
At this level, no camera “wins”. Not trying to pick fights, but any camera from 60D to D7000 will produce a beautiful file worthy of most commercial applications, especial given the level of post processing that’s painted over original RAW files.
A few years back, the commercial world was enthralled to have a 10 MP camera with decent ISO @ 400. Now, almost every entry level DSLR blows those specs away and could be used successful for commercial purposes. Some will disagree, but I would be up for the challenge. I just finished looking at an issue of Vouge - based on the amount of PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING and pixel perfect Photoshop that goes into making an image, comparing the the particulars of camera A vs. camera B is a little bit trite.
I would hire FT for his abilities, not his rig. Same with you or MB. Sure, the “better” camera helps each one achieve their end result, but today, the technology that’s in these cameras are so advanced it makes these comparisons somewhat un-meaningful. It’s good to know where they “stand”, but I have seen too many beautiful images made from Nikon D70’s shot in jog fine to understand that “cleaner-er-er files” are great, but dynamic files can be better.
Clean high ISO’s are great from a technological point of view, but in reality, we must consider the quality of that light we are shooting in the first place - is it worth shooting? I am surprised that over-all dynamic range of digital still lacks behind film. I know someday they will make a sensor that can absorb light with as much dynamic range as our eyes can see. They will make sensors that render color naturally without shifs or tonal discrepancies.
On the other hand, most scenes don’t require 15 stops of light, and truthfully, screw highlights anyway! Head to head, film might hold a hair highlight a little better than a digital sensor, but not enough for me to want to just shoot film. Getting back to the photography part of it all, it’s the look on the kid’s face in the open shade, and not the “beauty of the sky” that is more important. Of course, we have to at times pick and choose our battles of what we expose for in the picture and what we let go. 4x5 landscape photographers have been doing that for years.
