Digital BW, The Print

--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "nedbuntline2002" 
<NedBuntline@H...> wrote:
> I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the 
wet 
> process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I 
> have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need 
help 
> on the scanning side.
> 
> I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no 
> problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner, 
> about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners 
with 
> a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 
4X5.  
> Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when 
> taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable 
wet 
> process resolution).
> 
> Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that 
> could provide help?
> 
> THANKS!


I can make one suggestion. I've been using an old Leafscan 45 for 
some time now with quite nice results. It is slow and really works 
best, in my opinion, with a Mac because you are able to export a 
16bit Raw file. The Windows software will not allow this and requires 
a GIPB card to work. The Mac works with the SCSI port on the Leafscan 
45. 35mm gives you a DPI of 5080, Medium format is 2,500DPI and 4x5 
is 1200DPI.  They sell from around $800.00 to 2,000.00 depending on 
luck, condition, etc. There are three sources. Ebay, and the two web 
sites I have included. They are big and weigh around 75LBS so they 
are not cheep to ship. I think they are worth the hassle though. the 
only other scanner capable of going from 35mm to 4x5 is the Imacon. I 
really great scanner but in the 10,000.00 range and up.

http://www.imagesdigital.com/index.htm . Rick Fontaine is the owner.

http://www.leafstuff.com/  Steve Helber is the owner.

P.S. if you scan the 4X5 at 1200DPI(SPI) and want to print at 300DPI 
you can get a very nice 16X20 print.


John H