Digital BW, The Print

I have been giving Kodak Portra chromogenic B&W film scanned with a 
Nikon 4000ED a try but the images seem just a hair soft. Whether 
this is the film or the lens I don't know (Canon 24-85mm) but I 
suspect the lens. From previous experience I know the L glass is 
superb but it is a hair beyond my means at the moment. I used Tokina 
ATX in the past (bad mistake) and they had horrid flare problems. A 
friend suggested the new Sigma EX series, particularly the 70-200. 
Has anyone had any experience with this lens?

Thanks

Roger

That softness could well be the film itself or its processing.  Have you
tried shooting slides (E6 reversal film) with that lens?
 
Zoom lenses in general are not as good as prime (single focal length)
lenses, so you may want to try one of those.
 
Tigershark

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Sopher <rlsopher@...> [mailto:rlsopher@...] 
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 8:06 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Lenses for Canon
 
I have been giving Kodak Portra chromogenic B&W film scanned with a 
Nikon 4000ED a try but the images seem just a hair soft. Whether 
this is the film or the lens I don't know (Canon 24-85mm) but I 
suspect the lens. From previous experience I know the L glass is 
superb but it is a hair beyond my means at the moment. I used Tokina 
ATX in the past (bad mistake) and they had horrid flare problems. A 
friend suggested the new Sigma EX series, particularly the 70-200. 
Has anyone had any experience with this lens?

Thanks

Roger
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The softness is also inherent in the scanning process.  A little USM will
compensate.

Glenn

----- Original Message -----
From: "TigerShark" <sunnyd@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 6:54 AM
Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Lenses for Canon


> That softness could well be the film itself or its processing.  Have you
> tried shooting slides (E6 reversal film) with that lens?
>
> Zoom lenses in general are not as good as prime (single focal length)
> lenses, so you may want to try one of those.
>
> Tigershark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger Sopher <rlsopher@...> [mailto:rlsopher@...]
> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 8:06 AM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Lenses for Canon
>
> I have been giving Kodak Portra chromogenic B&W film scanned with a
> Nikon 4000ED a try but the images seem just a hair soft. Whether
> this is the film or the lens I don't know (Canon 24-85mm) but I
> suspect the lens. From previous experience I know the L glass is
> superb but it is a hair beyond my means at the moment. I used Tokina
> ATX in the past (bad mistake) and they had horrid flare problems. A
> friend suggested the new Sigma EX series, particularly the 70-200.
> Has anyone had any experience with this lens?
>
> Thanks
>
> Roger
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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I can't say much about all Sigma EX series lenses, but I can say 
this.  I have a Canon 70-200 f/4L lens which is a masterpiece of lens 
design (just can't afford the f/2.8L which is touted to be 
incredible).  I also use a Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 EX Aspherical.  I have 
done test shots with both lenses at 70mm using Kodak T400CN (which I 
like better than Porta) and can detect no difference between the 
lenses.  This is a qualitative judgment, for what it's worth.  I have 
heard that Sigma lenses are a mixed bag, so this may not mean much 
for the 70-200 EX.  I toyed with buying a 70-200 EX Sigma, but 
decided to save my pennies until I could afford the Canon L.

Kiefer Elliott
Vancouver, Canada

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roger Sopher 
<rlsopher@c...>" <rlsopher@c...> wrote:
> I have been giving Kodak Portra chromogenic B&W film scanned with a 
> Nikon 4000ED a try but the images seem just a hair soft. Whether 
> this is the film or the lens I don't know (Canon 24-85mm) but I 
> suspect the lens. From previous experience I know the L glass is 
> superb but it is a hair beyond my means at the moment. I used 
Tokina 

> ATX in the past (bad mistake) and they had horrid flare problems. A 
> friend suggested the new Sigma EX series, particularly the 70-200. 
> Has anyone had any experience with this lens?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Roger

You are right.  Of course most scanning adds softness, unless carefully
done on pro equip by pro operator.  Always look at the film first to
find answers in the camera / lens / film / processing chain.  If that
film is tack sharp and contrasty, it hints to the scanning as the source
of softness.
 
TS

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Thureson [mailto:glennthureson@...] 
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 5:51 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Lenses for Canon
 
The softness is also inherent in the scanning process.  A little USM
will
compensate.

Glenn 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]