Digital BW, The Print

Jeff,

You wrote:

>Are you happy with the Nikon 8000?

So far, so good.  It's a memory pig, so I'm about to take my Win 98 to it's
max 512 MB.  However, that is cheap (256 MB for $39 -- amazing).

The scanner was able to resolve an honest 80 lp/mm horizontally (I think the
theoretical maximum for 4000 dpi) and 70 lp/mm vertically (no doubt some
flare from the horizontal line of LEDs).  Now, that was from a
high-resolution test slide.  From actual camera negatives of test targets,
it hits only about 60 lp/mm, so there is still room for improvement.  But,
bottom line for me is that it is doing a good enough job for excellent 16x20
display prints from my MF negatives.

I thought I was going to want a glass carrier.  However, the standard
carrier they have is very clever.  It allows you to pull the film flat, just
like some of the good large-format enlarger carriers.  I now do not have any
immediate plans to buy the glass carrier.

>On another topic:

>I know you and others fill their own MIS virgin carts. I have tried ...
>... was less than satisfied with the bottom fill procedure and the carts.
>...

I agree the bottom fill method is less than perfect.  So, MIS and I have
been working on a vacuum fill method. I've done it twice now, both times it
worked great -- perfect nozzle checks with NO cleaning cycles.  Also, I'm
afraid the bottom fill method is wrecking the 1 micron screens that are
supposed to catch garbage.  I want that screen in there for the long term
health of my heads.

Where I'm at now in the testing is whether the "T" junctions that have a
soft plug in them for sticking a sharp syringe through will continue to hold
a vacuum for more than one filling.  Hopefully they will be good for many
fillings, but it's uncertain now.

I'm not sure if MIS is ready to sell the vacuum fill parts yet or not.  So
far, however, it looks like the best way to go.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com