Digital BW, The Print

David...Thanks for sharing so much.  You have given me a lot to 
think about...Val

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, PhotoWorkshops 
Partnership <info@p...> wrote:
> On 28/12/03 10:18 
am, "DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com"
> <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> > As I do a lot of B&W landscapes I have not made the switch to
> > digital capture. I have been scanning 6x7 negatives to maximize
> > print quality for 8x10 and 11x14 and use the 1280 w/PT Sellenium
> > inks. I've been happy with the output. Needless to say, I would
> > love ditch the film processing step, but assume that I would 
notice
> > a significant difference in the output if I went to 35mm digital
> > capture for this type of work.
> > 
> > However, for my smaller B&W 35mm work, like street work, that I
> > would produce as 5x7 (or possibly 8X10), I have been thinking 
about
> > a Nikon D100 (as I have Nikon lenses).
> > 
> > I would like some input before droping the money on a D100 body!
> > 
> > Questions:
> > 
> > 1.) Has anyone on this forum compared the piezo "small print"
> > quality from 35mm/6+ mp digital versus 100 and 400 ASA film 
scanned
> > at 4000 dpi? At 5x7, is there noticable/significant quality
> > differences in the resulting print?
> 
> Val
> 
> My experiences for what they are worth - I find I am very 
dissatisfied with
> 400ISO B&W film scanned from the grain point of view. Tri-X, TMax 
and HP5
> are what I've used and disliked - Delta 400 scans better but I 
don't like
> the overall tonality.
> 
> 100ISO films are better. I've had some good results with FP4 but 
I've landed
> on using Fuji Velvia as my source for some B&W landscapes. It is 
effectively
> grain free - scans very well and can be digitally enlarged to 
Super A3 B&W
> (I use Permajet/MIS septone inks in an Epson 1200) with great 
results. Need
> a tripod and a good lens to start with (by good I mean distortion 
free in
> this context)
> 
> Overall I find at 5x7 there is noticeably less granularity from 
digital (I
> use a D100) with everything except the Velvia (Provia 100, 
Ektachrome 100
> too at this size). I'm very cautious of the higher sensitivities 
on the D100
> unless I want film size chroma noise in my digital images.
>  
> > 2.) Assuming there are folks on this list that are using the
> > 35mm/6+ mp cameras...what is your overall satisfaction level with
> > this tool matched with the piezo system?
> 
> I have been very happy with the D100 for colour capture but I just 
cannot
> take the camera out and think B&W. I find this one of the biggest 
drawbacks
> to digital as it stands! My own way of working may give you a good 
idea of
> my opinions:
> 
> B&W landscape work either 1) 35mm Fuji Velvia - 4000dpi scan - 
Photokit or
> similar layered conversion to B&W with some micro dodge/burn on 
adjustment
> layers and always some spotting (I do my own E6 in clinically clean
> conditions and even then you need some spotting) or 2) 6x6cm 
Ilford SFX (no
> filter) scanned on Epson 2450 flatbed - I prefer this route to the 
above as
> I still cannot think B&W with Velvia in my cameras
> 
> Colour landscape either 1) colour from Velvia/Provia/Ektachrome 
original
> above 2) D100  both to A3 Ilford Smooth Gloss or Pearl on profiled 
Epson
> 2100.
> 
> The D100 images will stretch to 13x19 inch Super A3 with care over 
workflow,
> and sharpening. I've found Nikon Capture essential (haven't tried 
the Abobe
> Raw plug-in though)
> 
> If you want to take this further contact me off list
> --
> Regards
> David Prakel
> 
> Centre of Britain PhotoWorkshops Partnership
> www.photopartners.co.uk