Medium Format ... long may it live!

Hi Daveleo

For web use I can´t be bothered with a too expensive scanner, nor extra SW, betterscan holders etc. I use a plain and simple Epson V500. I clean the negatives of dust with a lint free non-abrasive wipe, and I clean the glass scanning surface for every scan. I use Epson Scan SW. I set it to document type: Film. Film type: BW negative. I set the target to 16bit greyscale, and 2400dpi (Medium Format scans). I then do a pre-scan (my SW is in Norwegian so I´m guessing at the English language equivalents), I then mark the area to be scanned, one negative at a time. I then adjust the histogram. I set the white and black points to the very edges of the histogram. It will differ for each scan. I then set the grey point to 1.00 and check if the curve is nice and even and the slope not too straight nor too rounded. If not I adjust the grey point. All the time keep an eye on the pre-scanned image. Don´t worry if it looks low on contrast and rather bland. This will be adjusted later. I check the output histogram to see if it agrees with me. I then scan the image.

Post scanning, I use Aperture and adjust levels, highlight/shadow and mid-contrast (incl radius), low and high tonal width, to my taste. I add a bit of definition, and if the highlights are a bit blown, I use recovery to bring them back down (if at all possible). I rarely sharpen my MF web scans much or at all. They usually don´t need it.
 
paulfish4570 said:
Ezzie, your Kowa kit shows incredible sharpness. Dare I say 'blad-like?
Click to expand...

I've been saying this for a long time now - Kowa lenses are as good as Hassy. I sold my Hasseldblad kit after I got KowaSix. Now, for the price of one Hassy body, back and a lens, I have a KowaSix with 4 lenses, 2 prisms and a bunch of other accesories. And no loss in image quality.
 
Great Shot, Keith. I shoot mostly digital with my D700, but over the past year have re-fallen in love with film. Especially RF and MF. My MF gear includes the ones you are thinking of getting; the RB67 and the C330. I also have the Pentax 645 and various other TLR's. But by far I get the most eyepopping results from the C330 and the RB67.
One thing I will say is that I underestimated the size of the RB67. It is enormous. Doubles as a boat anchor.

I know I am posting a lot of images and I apologize, but they are from models you mentioned being interested in. Here you go.
Rich

portraits shot with C330:
5163068003_6072575cf8_z_d.jpg


4482711013_07af8096f3_z_d.jpg
 
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thanks

thanks

Eirik

thanks for that feedback.
my plan is to print from the negatives, so I don't want a $$$$ scanner. I enjoy computer tweaking, but getting the digital copy was a big question for me.

have your advice in my folder. thanks.

if anyone else wants to chime in here, that would be appreciated (or if there is a thread on this topic, point me at it . . . i could not find one specifically for MF)
 
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wow

wow

philosomatographer said:
Although my mainstay is 35mm B&W for the moment (Olympus OM gear is so compact!) I absolutely adore medium format. This format is also the only in which I do some colour work.

Linhof Technorama 617 + SA 90mm XL:
Berlin_Falls_by_philosomatographer.jpg
Click to expand...

this LINHOF shot is remarkable. Love the portrait orientation. dont see that a lot in landscape shots. what's the cheapest I can get into LINHOF and is there a less expensive MF landscape option?

Great job.
Rich
 
daveleo said:
Ezzie , Johnmcd . . . . can I ask how you scanned your images? I am just starting out in MF (with a Fuji) and don't really have a plan or a wrokflow going yet. I will set up my own darkroom for B&W, but don't know how to get reasonable (for the web) digital scans.

Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

My workflow is a little different to Ezzie. I managed to pick up a used Minolta Multi Scan Pro dedicated film scanner cheaply a couple of years ago. Since then they have only got more expensive. It will do up to 6x9 up to 4800 dpi. I usually scan at 1600 dpi which equates by my reckoning to somewhere around 8mb in a digital sense with a 6x7.

I scan using the original Minolta software. I scan in colour positive which increases the dynamic range of the scanner slightly. I then import into PS and invert. Remove any dust that I missed before the scan. Tighten up the levels to suit and adjust to taste.

I could no doubt improve quality much more but it is quick.

I hope to set a wet darkroom soon after many, many years :)

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

John
 
thanks, John

thanks, John

thanks for that input, John.
The images posted here are so impressive, even intimidating.
I hope to join the MF party when I get a process worked out for myself.

thanks for your time.
 
Lusted after a Hasselblad, but.....

Lusted after a Hasselblad, but.....

paulfish4570 said:
Ezzie, your Kowa kit shows incredible sharpness. Dare I say 'blad-like?
Click to expand...

When I wanted a MF SLR, I tried what I could to pony up and rationalize a Hasselblad. Instead, my budget stood up to the price of a Kowa 6, and two lenses from Columbus Camera Group in Columbus Ohio (you literally roamed around this old church, pulling out boxes of photo paraphenalia and scrounging for merchandise).

Once I had the Kowa 6, I found it was a worthy counterpart to the Hasselblad glass, and my lust changed to a Kowa Super 66 for the interchangeable backs.

Kowa Glass both MF and Large Format, matches some the best out there.
 
I was recently in Halifax, NS for three days, during which it rained steadily for all but the first evening. I had my Bessa III, a monopod and a variety of films, but actually achieved very little because of the rain. I visited an old friend:

Nikon131-1.jpg

and while I was there, shot the old courthouse and the surroundings at 1/8 - 1/15, sometimes using the back of a park bench as a rest:

Nikon129-2.jpg

Nikon137-2.jpg

More in next post.

Chris
 
So I then visited the infamous 'pizza corner' and took this resting on the countertop:

Nikon135-5.jpg

and later, one from the hotel room window:

Nikon133-4.jpg

and then from sheer frustration and boredom, I attempted a self-portrait:

Nikon128-1.jpg

All on Tri-X at 1250 and developed in Diafine. Nikon 9000ED scans. The expedition was a failure, both photographically, and also in terms of the ostensible professional reason why I was there at all. Still, I guess any opportunity to take a photograph, develop and scan it is not altogether a failure as something might be learnt. When I do it again next year year I'm tempted to take an MP and a Noctilux, and a Nikon FM3a and the Nikkor 50/1.2.

Chris

Chris
 
Thank you Johan, I appreciate it. I see you are delving into the realm of MF yourself, hope to see some more pictures from you.
 
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