Digital BW, The Print

Dan:
I think it's very difficult to answer your question, since there are so many variables.  On the one hand, many people are quick to blame their tools for a lack of image quality when they often lack the knowledge or experience to use them to their highest advantage.  On the other hand, there are certainly limitations to any piece of digital equipment, especially to small sensors.

For starters, I think you'd have to ask if it's fair to be looking at the prints from such a close distance.  You might well want to be looking at them from a normal viewing distance for prints that size; if they look good at that distance, why not be happy?  But if you really feel that you might be able to get better quality images, then you could do some experiments.  Do you have access to a camera with a larger sensor, so that you might be able to take the same picture with that and your camera and compare the results, assuming that the settings on each are identical?

I also think it's important to understand that the number of megapixels that a sensor has may not be as important as the size of those pixels.  I used to use a colleague's Sinar back that had only 11 megapixels, but they were so large that the files were amazing, especially in comparison to files from 10 or 12 megapixel sensors in many of today's consumer cameras.

You seem to have eliminated some issues that can lead to a lack of image quality, but I think it's always useful to have the best understanding possible of things like sharpening options and the softening effects of many noise reduction approaches.

Lastly, before you start scanning film, I can tell you that I routinely make 24 x 36" prints made from DSLR cameras (first a Kodak 14NX with a 14 megapixel sensor and now a Nikon D700 with 12 megapixels)) that look great (in all modestly) and sharp close up.  It is not uncommon, when I exhibit these prints, for people to ask if I scanned large-format film or was using a medium-formant digital camera.  I don't feel that I'm doing anything special, just working hard to get the most out of the equipment.

Good luck!
Stephen Petegorsky






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