Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Alastair, can i go slightly off this topic and ask you about your opinion about film scanners? I intend on buying a film scanner but am restricted in the models that i can buy because i have a laptop - i need a USB film scanner - which tend to be the 'low-end' scanners.. one scanner i have seen lately has an optical resolution of 1800 dpi and is a USB scanner.. is this scanner a waste of time? should i buy myself a desktop computer so it can support a SCSI scanner? ive never used a film scanner before and rarely used a flatbed scanner but am keen to start digitizing my images.. because i also have access to a CD writer.. thanks Matt Tomich - -----Original Message----- From: Alastair Firkin [mailto:firkin@netconnect.com.au] Sent: Wednesday, 20 September 2000 09:10 To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] Beginner B&W Question - Indoor Available Light John, As another "beginner" of similar pedigree (started at 13 and that was 31 years ago ;-) ) I would ask you to consider processing your own b/w, digitizing the images (so we can all share them on the LUG) and screen those you want to enlarge from that. Processing does not require great space, it is easy, and can be done at the same time you are preparing dinner. I use a large "dark-bag" to load the film, you put your arms into 2 holes and have a double layer zip up lightproof bag to work in. Once loaded, in go the "magic" chemicals and out comes the film. This will allow you to push and pull, and your negs will not go through roller transport and get those tiny scuff marks which always appear in the wrong places. Digitize the images (you will save the cost of the scanner by doing the processing anyway) and put them in a little image programme like iView multimedia, and it will print out a contact sheet with labels etc. Then you can work on the images in the computer, and maybe have them digitally printed -- everyone else but me seems to be doing that now. Who knows, you might even be tempted (like me) back into the magic of the darkroom, to watch those images appear in the dim red light ;-) Cheers Alastair Firkin http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html