Yesterday, I posted an image and posed the question: Film or Digital?
To those of you who submitted a guess, thank you. I know it’s difficult to go out on a limb like that, especially when you have the option of safely viewing the proceedings from a distance.
For what it’s worth, the final tally of guesses was:
___________
Digital: 10
Film: 8
___________
An almost even split! Moreover, some who chose digital stated that the image looks like film, and vice versa. This confirms what I suspected: this was a difficult image to identify.
So, without further delay, the answer is:
Digital
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↑Leica M9, ISO 400, and Leica 35mm Summilux FLE @ f/1.4.
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The above screen shot is of the original M9 file, opened in Aperture.
To stack the odds towards conveying a film look, I chose a scene in which the subject matter had a retro vibe about it. Then I post-processed the image to B&W. The “grain” seen in the finished image (to the right, in the shadows) is actually digital noise that has emerged from selective lightening, and that has been post-processed to look like film grain. More or less.
Some of you were impressed by it. Some of you commented that it did not “feel” like film grain, and so guessed digital. I believe it’s in fact the quality of film grain, among a few other things, that usually identifies the medium… but I have occasionally been fooled.
Once again, I thought the simulation in this example was pretty good.
As an aside, a few of you remarked that you were viewing yesterday’s post on a phone screen, which means that the process of evaluating for any nuances in image quality would have been difficult, if not impossible.
I guess many of our photos are being viewed on smartphones or tablets these days, so it’s something I should keep in mind when posting such comparative-type evaluations.
—Peter.
Prosophos 
Thanks for posting the answer Peter.
Although my first impression was from the phone, I later viewed the image on my tablet. (Both are better than a laptop, but not up to the quality of my main monitor). On the tablet I didn’t see any reason to change my mind, but thought the quality of the out of focus areas was also more digital in appearance, thought that may still be a ‘brain/noise related phenomenen.
Mike
Understood Mike. And the thanks should be from me, for your participation and for your thoughtful commentary.
Glad to see I keep my 100% fail rate.
Floyd
Still making me laugh Floyd… 🙂
That was fun, thanks for the answer.
I think the newer iPhones have retina display screens — so pretty good really, if rather tiny.
I’m still working with an “old” iPhone 3… so I’ll have to defer to you. Thanks for “playing” Guy… really appreciate it.
Well, “thats just not cricket..” as we British say! It doesn’t bother me that I was wrong, it bothers me that I was so sure I was right…..:-) If that makes sense…
Haha, great answer Jason!
Of course it makes sense. If it’s any consolation for you, Jason, I’m glad you were “sure”… at least I know the image was worthy of the exercise.
I would love to see a side by side comparison between a film and a digital shot of the same scene.
Yes, I was thinking that Mark, well I was actually thinking I’d like the exact shot I thought it was 🙂
🙂
just for fun…what the hell…hehehe 🙂
Again, a great post…the final,answer made me wonder did I see what I wanted to see? I too wouldn’t mind a true side by side comparison.
Best regards — Bishop