Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Kobrin" 
Steve,
I have had very impressive results, using a Mamiya 6x4.5 with an 
Epson 3170 flatbed, the latter which can be found new for under $100 
US. The Mamiya glass is excellent, and can probably find for sale for 
less than what it's worth (mine is an older 60's model).

Second, very fine and noticable results can be had by tilting the 
camera 90 degrees on the tripod, and shoot a slightly overlapped 
panorama of the subject, then after scanning, stitch it using 
Panotools (w/a stitching gui tool i.e. Panotools Assembler). You end 
up with 2 negs; the result is an effective approx. 6x9.  It took a 
learning curve, but the time spent is worth it...the first try at 
that workflow last winter, and resulting print was quite impressive 
and obvious, and comparable (almost) to 4x5 prints. (I use this w/f 
also to make 4x5, as the 3170 is only good for 6cm wide, not l/f 
requiring 2 scans.) Mark
 
<kobrins@w...> wrote:
> I would like to get back into MF and given the rush into digital, 
> camera prices appear very reasonable.  What is stopping me is the 
> price of film scanner that can handle 120 film. (My LS 2000 is in 
> good shape and I cannot justify buying a new scanner at this point.)
> 
> My reading of the discussion of this topic on the list is that 
> flatbed scanners compromise quality to the point where I might as 
> well stick with 35mm film.  Now my question: has anyone had any 
luck 
> with reasonably priced commercial scans of MF film?  (One lab in 
> Philly wants around $35 per shot for a 20-40mg scan and I do not 
> consider that reasonably priced.)   I would want to print 8X10 and 
I 
> suspect that a 20mg scan would do that -- although I may be off 
here.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Steve