Enthusiasm reborn - it's all your fault!

[Nicos Rex]

Compared to most of you I am a bit of a dinosaur! I have been taking pictures for about 40 years but for the last few of those my busy lifestyle has meant that I have had little time to spend with a camera in my hands and even less in the darkroom.

I have been really impressed with some of the work that people here produce and share, to the extent that my love for this infuriating hobby has been rekindled.

For a start I shall be renewing my membership with the RPS, and if (as I fear) the distinctions of Licentiateship and Associateship which I had earned lapsed with my membership nearly 10 years ago will be aiming to regain them.

I love the physicality of film photography too much fully to make the transition to digital. However, I intend at some point in the not too distant future be investing in some scanning kit to allow me to start to fathom the mysteries of digital image processing of my existing images.

Clearly I don't want to spend any more than I have to. This is where a bit of advice would be much appreciated. Ideally I would like to be able to scan 35mm slides (mounted or unmounted) 6x6 cm slides (unmounted), black and white and colour prints, and negatives (b&w and colour, 35mm and 6x6 cm).

I strongly suspect that this will mean both a flatbed and a film scanner. Realistically how much should I expect to have to spend? How much can I save by not having the ability to scan my medium format stuff? Any specific suggestions as to a good value flatbed scanner to be looking at. To add yet another requirement I perhaps should mention that I am running Vista 64 bit (although I could put up with having to dual-boot XP at a pinch).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Messiah Khan]

Can't help you with any of the kit you need, but im glad to hear that your enthusiasm has been rekindled. Look forward to seeing some of your new (and old) work.

 

[aztechnology]

I would hesitate top recommend anyone to go down the scanning of film negative today. I still do, and I think it's a pain, mostly I use my scanner as a "contact print" generator. I scan in negs before deciding which ones to use in the darkroom. I mainly print B+W, and I've yet to see an affordable way of getting quality B+W prints that have the same impact as a good print on photogrphic paper, and I think I'll stay this way for a bit longer.

Having said that, I can get fantastic results from scanned colour negs (I'm not printing colour in the darkroom). I use a Minolta Elite 5400 film scanner for 35mm. At the time I bought it I kind of commited to not getting MF scans, and I still haven't (yet ). If you are looking at film scanners, you need to decide whether you want a dedicated film scanner and a flatbed scanner, or a flatbed that will also scan negs. Most quality flat beds will scan excellent quality on prints, but won't really scan much better than 2400dpi on negs (even though they claim higher, people - not me, claim that the higher dpi scans show lilttle difference from the incresed res. My 5400 shows lots of difference.

It does come down to what you want to print, if you want A3 sizes then a good quality flat be might be good enough. If you want A2 then you should be looking for a dedicated film scanner. (err for 35mm).

Another problem with dedicated film scanners now, is that they are getting harder to find. Minolta no longer produce their film scanners and many other manufacturers have pulled out too. Nikon do produce a couple but they are pricey (£800 + ). Also as many are film scanners are discountinued, vista drivers are probably scarce.

Even though I purchased a dedicated film scanner if I was revisiting the purchase now, I would look at other options. Both the following flat beds are rated well: Epson V700 - £350; Epson V750 -£500 (price googled quickly so might be found cheaper).

Sorry if thats muddied the waters slightly trahter than help. These people still are discussing scanners and such and might be of some help.

 

[Nicos Rex]

Thanks for the comment and advice.

MK:

Your work has definitely been partly to blame for the fact that I shall now be trying to squeeze a couple of extra hours out of the week!

Your best images are certainly of a high enough standard for you to seriously consider putting a panel together for LRPS. Doesn't mean THAT much, but since you have mentioned that you are hoping for a career move in the direction of more photography the letters after your name certainly wouldn't do any harm!

aztechnology:

Thank you. Your advice and experience have certainly not "muddied the waters". I was aware of the Nikon kit, but had already ruled it out due to price (not being as wealthy as Spie!). Coincidentally I had been looking at the Elite 5400 as a possibility assuming that I can pick one up second hand without breaking the bank, I can then pair it with a modest flatbed which will be a vast improvement over the ghastly Mustec unit which has gathered dust for years because it is just not up to snuff and I have felt that using it is a TWOFT!

My dipping of a toe into the digital waters will certainly not be as a replacement for "real" processing (apologies to those of you who alredy inhabit the 21st century) since I cannot imagine that it will ever be able to compete with the thrill of that magical moment when the image appears on a sheet of blank paper as I rock it in the dev tray. Rather it will be to allow me to learn the skills that I will need should I ever add a digital body to my camera bag (dinosaur that I am, I shall continue to use my treasured manual focus Nikon glass!).

 

[aztechnology]

a second hand 5400 paired with a good flat bed sounds a good choice (basically what I have), though if that approaches the cost of the epsons 700/750 , they are worth considering. (it will give you a better chance of reasonable 6x6 scans).

One thing to be aware of, is that there are no vista drivers for the minolta as far as I am aware.

You should be able to find a 5400 second hand privately for less than £250, there are a couple on the Bay for much less ( they still have a time to run)

I totally understand the traditional lure, having only start home developing last year (the cost of the kit is now incredibly cheap - full darkrooms for £25 are possible) that magic moment as the paper darkens is fantastic. I will get a DSLR soon, but I still hope that I continue to use traditional media.