The Gadget Show – Film vs. Digital test

Film vs Digital blow-up test

apparently this was The Gadget Show's 'biggest and most audacious test ever'. So what did we learn?

Apart from the fact it was the female presenter's chance to dress up in a cat suit a la The Avengers, and, excuse my language, they were using Nikon cameras, the D700 (digital equivalent of the F5) was set to mimic the film speed used in the F5 and they both used an 85mm lens.

The studio was set up with a white backdrop and they rattled off a bunch of photos with both cameras.

After shooting and choosing their photos it was time to blow them up. And blow them up they did, to an enormous 17x5 metres! Pyramid Visuals can print anything from vehicle livery to building wraps.

The images were so big they each had to be printed in two separate parts and then stitched together to produce each 170 sq m poster which they hung on a building in London.

I have to admit that when I saw the final images I picked the wrong one! I felt sure there would be a better clarity in the film but no, digital won outright with much better colour and less grain.

Digital camers have come on leaps and bounds and this test definitely proved that fact.

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Well the competition has ended with some terrific winning images.

My favourites are 'Troublemaker' by Stefano Unterthiner (Italy). I love the expression on the macaques face and Andy Bigg's Wild Places winning photo of the Skeleton Coast, Namibia. I am hoping to travel with Andy one day in the future.

Onwards and upwards to the 2009 competition!