Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "randyrancier" 
<randyrancier@y...> wrote:
>> In the near future I am going to get a wide format Epson printer 
so 
> I can do B&W right, with the new B&W pigment inks.  

Having just set up my second 'wide' printer, (Epson 7600) I have to 
ask: what do you consider wide format? ie what will be your max size?
 The larger neg size will definitely show in your finished work, but 
obviously it will be much greater at 24x30 vs 13x17. As for 5x7: 
it's a bear, but that big a neg will produce excellent results on a 
$1000.00 flat-bed, wereas the med format negs will require a more 
expensive scanner. 
  I will be looking at some 
> second hand medium format equipment, probably 
> Mamiya.  I really like the size and convienience of the 6x4.5 size 
> cameras, but I haven't ruled out the possiblity of the 6x7 format. 

The Mamiya 6x7 would be an excellent choice. 

> I may have to resort to 
> processing my own higher speed B&W negatives if I can't control 
the 
> highlights, with the other films mentioned, in my outdoor night 
> photography. 

One nice thing about a good scanner: it is capable of recording a 
much wider range than photo paper, and if that's not enough, then 
there's all the various editing tecniques to bring it all into line. 

Enjoy!

Steve Karafyllakis

http://www.stevekphoto.com