Large format 4×5″ scanned transparency film can still be best when quality, resolution and optical distortion control are of the utmost importance. Large format transparency film is one of the last areas where film can offer more resolving power than digital at reasonable cost (as of Feb 2009). The resolving area is sixteen times that of 35mm.
A phase one P45/P65 digital back can be used with this camera if digital is a client requisite. The adjusting movements of this kind of camera allow keystone distortion and converging verticals to be corrected so the vertical sides of a building or room are vertical with the sides of the print for reproduction giving a cleaner naturalistic look particularly important when representing modern architecture.
Situations where a client may wish to consider commissioning a large format image might be a critical double page spread in a large book or magazine, a sharp print larger than 60x90cm or detailed crops that are required to be greatly enlarged. For historical buildings prior to heavy restoration or demolition a large format image provides the most accurate archival reproduction.
