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Digital BW, The Print

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Re: OT Epson 4490 Scanner & 35mm b&w negs.

2009-10-12 by asp.artist

Hi, I do this all the time in both 35mm and 6x6 (your Rollie). It's great! My film cameras are out and about all the time, the digital stays home. I print in both a darkroom and on a epson 3800. I've got better skills at digital B&W than I do darkroom at this point. Run with it, its fun. And the quality of the scans has been printable to 17", and I'm sure larger.
Anne

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "robert49brake" <robert49brake@...> wrote:
>
> I have an Epson 4490 that I picked up for a bargain and use as a document scanner.  I've scanned a few 8x10 b&w prints with it and Vuescan and was mildly and positively surprised at the outcome.
> 
> The other day after fantasizing over a completely unaffordable for me M9 with a Noctilux, I went digging through the old camera box and pulled out a Yashica Electra 35 GSN which took surprisingly good photos.  It just felt good in my hand and for the price of a new light seal and a few rolls of Tri-X I could quit sticking massive, whirring DSLRs into peoples faces.  The wet darkroom is long gone and on the other side of the country but, a changing bag and a can could do the trick with the digital setup I already have.
> Question is, can the 4490 do a decent enough job on a 35mm b&w negative to see if this route is worth pursuing.  I think I could figure out a way to manually wet scan with it and I don't think I'd be looking at more than a half dozen worthwhile negs a month.  If the whole thing feels good I could send out any real keepers for drum scanning later.  8x10 is still my favorite size although I have 13x19 printers that get used for larger prints occasionally but I can't imagine going over that.
> 
> Another possibility might be some sort of DSLR copy rig.
> 
> Anyone tried either of these approaches?
> 
> Who knows it might be worth digging out Dad's old Rolleiflex while I'm at it.
> 
> Thanks, Robert
>

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