Digital BW, The Print

I am finally able to produce the prints I have wanted to, for all of my 40 year career.  I have shot film as big as 8x10, but never was able to make enlargements of those images that I liked.

I bought a Nikon D3x about 16 months ago.  The first prints that I made with Nikon Zoom and Prime lenses fell short of what I had wished.  The D3x's sensor was better then any of the lenses that Nikon made.  I contact Zeiss, asking for some loaner lenses to try on the Nikon.  What a difference.  The images I am making with the 35mm Distagon are better then I was ever able to get before using any media, with a 35mm like camera.  I just got done printing some 40x60 inch prints on my Epson 9600, and from four feet, they look darn good.  11x17 prints glow with contrast and sharpness; they are almost surreal.

The only thing I have found as good digitally is a Hasselblad using Zeiss lenses and a PhaseOne back.

But the best quality though, are the prints I am making from drum scanned 4x5 negatives.  Film still holds more info, and quality then direct digital capture.  But direct capture has that instant gratification.  Drum scanning film is quite a fuss, and expense.

Ben