Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/03/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]OK, here's the deal: I have unexpectedly gained access to some money which can only be spent on new computer equipment. No MP or digilux2 or Mamiya7 for me, I'm afraid. But this does allow me to do something I have been considering but for which I lacked the funds: set up a digital darkroom. I'd like to be able to scan negs (color and B&W), photoshop them and store them with reasonable ease, and then print both B&W and color nicely on larger than 8.5x11" paper. I'm not talking major production or high volume here. This is a hobby for me, not a profession. I've read a lot and formulated a plan. I'd like to run it by y'all in the hope that the wiser heads around these parts can tell me if any part of my plan is monumentally stupid or even just slightly misguided. Total Budget: $2200. 1) Computer--the best I can get for around $1000. I'm thinking of a Pentium 4 at around 3GHz with two 120GB hard drives, 1GB of RAM, and CD/DVD writer. (I was planning to build one, but then I discovered that Dell from time to time has brief sales in which they drop their prices so much that it no longer makes sense to build. Unfortunately, a sale that would have fit the above into the $1000 just ended last weekend, so I may have to wait a little bit, but I'm hoping I can find a similar deal.) 2) Monitor--$0. I've got a decent one. 3) Software--$0. I've already got PS 7. :) 4) Scanner--$600. I'm thinking the Nikon Coolscan V. 5) Printer--$600. Epson 2200. The 13x19 printing and my longstanding preference of matte over glossy make this seem a better choice than the HP7960 for me. 6) Monitor calibration--$150. Spyder with Photocal. Total price: $2350, which I can stretch to. Please keep in mind that this sum is significantly more than the value of my car, and somewhat more than the value of my wife's car, so suggestions that involve increasing this amount will not help me very much! Thanks in advance for any advice you might have, Aaron - ------------------------------------- Aaron Sandler aaron.sandler@duke.edu http://www.duke.edu/~ajs2 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html