Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paulo Baptista" <paulo.baptista@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Help Sought With 120 Scanning Decision


> Hi,
>
> I have similar needs for a scanner (120 and 4x5 film, good tonal gradation
> and shadow detail). I've been considering the Microtek ArtixScan 1800f,
> which reportedly has a 4.8Dmax (!) and a 1800 spi optical resolution (good
> enough for me with 6x7 cm and 4x5" originals), and uses no-glass film
> holders. The price is somewhat higher than the Epsons (around $1600, I
> think, bundled with Silverfast Ai 6.0), but still well below the Nikon.
> Does anyone have any experience with this scanner?
>

Paulo,

I can't give you any info on the Microtek but I am extremely skeptical of
product specs regarding Dmax and optical resolution. They tend to be
statements based on the capacity of the analog to digital converter and the
number of CCD's per inch, and not representative of real world capabilities.
Real values can be obtained by scanning calibrated density wedges and
resolution targets but I have never seen any such data published by a
scanner manufacturer. Not even high end drum scanners live up to their
advertising.

I have been down the scanner road though and after trying a Polaroid 4000
35mm film scanner, a 1200 ppi Linoscan flatbed, a Polaroid 120 6cm film
scanner and an Epson 2400, I now have a used Howtek 4000 drum scanner. If I
didn't have to scan 4x5 I would have been content with the Polaroid 120.
Rather than dropping $1600 on a flatbed scanner I would try an Epson 3200
with oil mounting. I would suspect that the difference between the results
with the Epson and the Microtek if any are not justified by the extra cost.
Also at that price you have a shot at picking up a used MF film scanner.

If you are going to use a flatbed for scanning sheet film, then consider a
move up to a 5x7 or 8x10 camera. Doesn't help for whatever you have already
shot of course.


Kevin,

Since you moved out of the wet darkroom due to respiratory problems, don't
try wet mounting on a flat bed with Kami fluid or similar "vanishing oils."
Watch out for the effects of working with lots of film cleaner too. Oddly
enough a number of the mounting fluids and cleaners used in oil mounting
film are as hazardous or more to your health than what you would encounter
in standard B&W film and print development.

Martin Wesley
>
>
> At 00:37 10/3/2003, you wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >    A recently developed respirtory problem has forced me out of the
> >darkroom and into the digital darkroom. My budget is low, and my
> >quality needs are high, so I am looking for input on the best
> >compromise for my scanning needs. I work in B&W and shoot a little
> >35mm and 6x6, but the vast majority of my work is 6x45. Just for the
> >sake of clarifying my needs, I'll give you a little backround. I was
> >a full time professional portrait photographer for six years. I quit
> >doing that because I chose to focus all of my creative energy on my
> >personal/fine art work.  I have begun to exhibit it, and am planning
> >on doing so alot more (hence my need for quality). At this point,
> >$2K - $3K for a dedicated 120 film scanner is not an option for me.
> >Niether is the cost of regularly having my work drum scanned. I will
> >be printing on either an Epson 2200 or a quadtone setup, haven't
> >decided which yet (that's perhaps a subject for another post). I'm
> >not into printing huge - most of my stuff is 8x10 or 11x14, but I
> >would also like to print up to the full 13x19 capability of these
> >printers and get an excellent result. I understand the difference
> >between the way a silver print and an inkjet looks, and with that
> >understanding I need to get a result that is on a par quality-wise
> >with what I am used to getting in the darkroom. I am by no means a
> >master printer, but I am picky and I am capable of getting my prints
> >to look the way I want them to.
> >So all that said, any suggestions as to scanning solutions? I have
> >heard much conflicting info regarding the Epson 3200 and it's
> >predecessor the 2450. Any thoughts as to the capability of the 3200
> >to scan 645 for exhibtion quality printing? Perhaps I should clarify
> >that more. When I speak of quality, sharpness and detail are
> >certainly important, but the ability of the scanner to capture subtle
> >tonal information is of paramount importance to me . This is the main
> >reason I shoot medium format - the superior gradation it offers. I
> >will be shooting TCN and XP2, and my guess is that these types of
> >negs should not pose much of a challenge to this scanner's dynamic
> >range. I think I understand the relationship between bit depth and
> >tonal gradation (and the 3200 looks good in this regard) but I'm not
> >sure I fully grasp how the resolution of this scanner (which I have
> >heard is actually lower than the stated 3200 dpi) would affect tonal
> >rendition, or if it would scan 645 well enough to produce a sharp,
> >detailed print in the sizes I will be doing. As far as other options,
> >I seem to recall someone mentioning a guy who does reasonably priced
> >scans for people using a Nikon 8000. In the long run, given the
> >number of negs I'll want to scan, I'm sure outsourcing them at any
> >price would exceed the cost of the Epson, but if that's what I need
> >to do to get the results I need, then that's what I'll do. Your input
> >on these or any other options would be greatly appreciated.
> >Thanks
> >       Kevin Michael
> >
> >
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