Digital BW, The Print

> 
> I guess, I'm looking for a bit of a survey. Digital?  Scanned film?
> Scanned B&W, color or chromes? What film formats? What scanner?
> What B&W conversion mechanism, where applicable.
> 
> What enlargements do folks usually aim to achieve ...

I've shot medium format with Tmax 100 for years and now Technical Pan since
I found the grain of Tmax was my limiting factor with digital tools.   I use
a Nikon 8000 scanner.  16 x 20 has been my target for years, but I'm also
now enjoying 22 x 28.

I had ignored B&W digital due to the film-to-digital comparisons based on
resolution.  In theory film can capture way more line pairs per millimeter
than even the best portable digital cameras.  Then a month ago I printed a
friend's Canon 20D (8 mp) images at 16 x 20 and was amazed at the high
quality of the image.

I just bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT (8 mp).  I've made comparison prints
of test charts that include resolution charts and plain gray areas that show
off the grain or noise.  The test prints are at a 16 x 20 magnification.  I
show these "un-manipulated" test prints to third parties who don't know what
is what.  The results are that the medium format Tmax 100 always is
considered the lowest quality.  The medium format Tech Pan and the Rebel XT
prints are usually considered about equal, with little preference.  (I can
see a difference, but it is probably beyond what would ever matter in a real
photo.)

I'm amazed, and Kodak is going to be dead meat way before I'd previously
thought.  The viewers just don't notice the difference in the finest (barely
visible in either case) detail; the Rebel's lack of grain or noise is what
makes the difference.

I think MF Tech Pan is still my ultimate in quality, but there is no reason
to bother with MF Tmax 100, which is now the finest grain camera film Kodak
makes since it discontinued Tech Pan.  So, I'm saving the stockpile of TP
for when I really want to go to 22 x 28 or above, and the Rebel is going to
replace my "quick and easy" Fuji GA 645 Zi that used to have higher-speed
film in it for the occasional hand held shot.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com