Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jeff-

Um... Where to start.

You are using a resolution of 4368 x 2912 to capture your film- since it's
6x7, the real MAX resolution is ~2900x3400. This is equivalent to scanning
at 1250 DPI. The file is <60 megs, and will print at 12"x14" max.

When you pay for a drum scan from me, a scan this size is much less than
$50, is perfectly in focus, and has the advantage of the wet-mounting
reducing or eliminating film scratches and dust. There really is no
comparison.

If you pay $50 for a scan from me, you get a scan at 5000 DPI, it is
perfectly in focus, is spotted for any remaining major scratches or dust,
and you can print it up to 50"x60". There really is no comparison to what
you are achieving.

If you will not be printing your 6x7 negs to larger than 11x14, you may have
a reasonable solution. There is also alot to be said for DYI! Just don't
confuse it with a professional drum scan.

Lastly, while I charge about $50 for a 6x7 scan, I routinely discount for
multi-image orders, so your final cost might be less.

-- 
Regards,

Bill Morse
Wm. Morse Editions

http://www.MorseEditions.com/

On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM, Jeff Magidson <jef.jef@...> wrote:

>   I thought I would relay this technique, maybe others can use it.
>
> One piece of equipment I never got around to purchasing was a good
> film scanner for digitizing my older 6x7 cm B&W negatives. I did try
> some film scans on my Epson 2450 but it always felt the scans where
> lacking in comparisons to what I knew I could get with a good
> dedicated film scanner. There is no good way to focus the 2450 and
> none of the available software for this scanner does exactly what I
> want when scanning B&W negatives. I also contemplated sending out
> for scans but I was looking at $50+ for a good 16 bit scan and I
> really like doing these kind of things myself!
>
> On a whim I tried shooting my medium format negatives with my Canon
> 5D and I am thrilled with the results! Here is my setup:
>
> I mounted my Canon 5D with a Canon 100mm macro F/ 2.8 USM lens on my
> copy stand. For a light source I'm using a Kaiser Prolight lightbox.
> I put down a sheet of black mat-board on top of the lightbox and cut
> out an opening the size of a single 6x7 cm frame. My exposures are
> approximately 1/6 of a sec at F/ 11. With these exposures I'm using
> the mirror lock up function of the 5D. I shoot in a dimly lit room.
>
> I'm shooting Raw and converting the Raw riles using CS3 with camera
> Raw 4.1. Camera Raw allows amazingly good control over the contrast /
> tonality of the capture. Once in Photoshop I invert the image to a
> positive and do some further adjustments. I'm using the "reduce
> noise" filter in CS3 to smooth out the grain of my film negatives.
>
> I'm VERY pleased with the final results... If I had sent out my
> negatives to be scanned at $50 a pop and gotten these results I would
> have felt I got my $ worth.
>
> Has anyone else tried this technique? Anything to add?
>
> -Jeff
>
>  
>


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