Digital BW, The Print

sagaface wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Can any of you recommend a scanner for (old and delicate) 4x5 negs? It's not for me, but 
> for a friend who is considering purchasing a pro-sumer oriented model and hiring 
> someone who knows what they're doing to use it, with the end result being poster sized 
> prints.
>
>  I think his price range is up to around 5-ish grand.
>
> If this topic has been beaten to death, could someone direct me to an archived thread? I 
> haven't found anything specific yet.
>
> thanks!
> Sarah
>   
Used drum scanners. More like 2-ish grand. Still beat anything out there 
at 8x or higher enlargements, and for bunches less money.

What you're looking for is a "desktop" model (that's in quotes because 
they take up the *entire* top of a desk) from companies like Howtek, 
Optronics, Screen, ScanMate, ICG, etc.

For more information, search around the archives for the yahoo group 
Scan Hi-End.

OTOH, if your friend is going to try to hire someone to do the scans, 
you should know that operator cost is the biggest part of having a film 
scanned. Why not just send the film out and have it drum scanned by a 
competent operator on his own equipment? Cost won't be that much higher, 
and you don't have to mess with buying a scanner and the associated 
equipment, and finding an area you can dedicate to scanning. Just a thought.
--
Bruce Watson