Digital BW, The Print

On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at 05:43 AM, B. Alex Pettit Jr. wrote:

> I have just acquired a Mamiya 645. Once I pick a film,
> PlusX125,  TMax100, PortraBW400, I plan to do some
> comparison shots between my 4 MP Olympus E-10 and
> the film scanned at 2000 dpi with my Polaroid SprintScan45

Why only 2000dpi, dosen't the Polaroid support 4000dpi for this format?

> Output via an Epson 3000 with Cone driver and Cone or MIS
> inks.
>
> The results may be subjective, way too many variables to
> control or normalize, but at least I will not be attempting
> to force one to be best.

If you only scan at 2000 on a 4000dpi scanner you are biasing the 
result towards digital capture.

> ( I think, from some early observations, the digital will
> produce prints equal in quality up to ~ 12x16 print size.

Absolutely not my experience even with 35mm film, let alone medium 
format film...that is unless you are getting some really bad developing.

> The PlusX125 cannot support heavy sharpening due to grain.
> Other films to be eval'd this weekend. )

Then you have a serious developing problem.  Try Xtol or Acufine.  
These negs will easly go to 24x36 with excellent sharpness and 
detail...or and your E10 won't.  I have shoot TriX at 250 and developed 
in acufine and these negs, likewise give beautiful prints well beyond 
the size limits of your 3000.

You are right to say that there are many variables.  I think it is a 
really valuable exercise for each photographer to do their own 
comparisons.  At the very least the E10 will be good as a "digital 
polaroid" for checking lighting in the the studio.

Robert