Digital BW, The Print

> [snip]
> > If you are scanning 35mm, and will
> > be making huge
> > prints on the Epson 10000, then you really have one choice- a Tango scan
> > mounted with Kami fluid on the drum. That film is just too
> small to get a
> > really good scan on anything
> > less.
> >
> IMO, if you are regularly attempting to push 35mm beyond its limits (e.g.,
> huge prints), no amount of drum scanning, prayer or voodoo magic can help
> you. You should really be skipping the drum scans and putting that money
> toward a film format that CAN handle the gigantic prints.
>
> As long as you respect the inherent limits of the film format and are able
> to get a decent exposure on film, I see no need to ever get a
> 35mm drum scan
> vs. what you can get with one of the 4000dpi dedicated film scanners and a
> reasonably talented operator. Unless you just have some excess money you
> need to get rid of, in which case feel free to give me a call.... ;-)
>
> Doug

Doug,

Though I agree with you completely in principle, there are ways of getting
amazing results from 35mm, and one is to use a tripod.  You won't get better
than 40lp/mm from hand held no matter how hard you try...and that's usually
the killer, more so than simply film grain.  The obvious other, is to use
the best films you can, with careful exposure and development.  I get some
absolutely amazing results from Delta 100 and Plus-X from 35mm film.

Austin