RealXenuis
Officious Intermeddler
Hi all,
Very new to the forums here, for the obvious reasons. So, I've acquired my first rangefinder (film and digital - x-pro1 is preordered) and I have a few questions, which probably span several threads, so brief answers, suggestions, and/or referrals to the appropriate threads are all much, much appreciated!
Briefly: I've shot a couple of SLR's (including an APS Canon which I loved!), a few DSLRs, and recently started dabbling in MF (wife's Bronica). I've briefly used a couple of RFs but in no way long enough to become very familiar or comfy with them. I very recently sold my d7000 to move to a smaller, less..."aggressive"...looking kit. I liked using the RFs that I've tried and am to some degree blindly wading in. Lucky you!
First thing: I have seen different techniques to physically focus lenses on RFs. I purchased a Voigt 15 II, but never having used a lens with a focus nub (nomenclature?) I tend to hold the left bottom of the cam body resting on the top of my middle left finger, left side of body against left thumb, while focusing with my left index finger. Am I way off on this?
Secondly, just wanted confirmation here that when using fully manual, the meter led's in the viewfinder AREN't supposed to light up, correct?
Thirdly, I'm considering workflows for film. I recently had one roll of 120 and one 35 processed, both digitized, both with fancy scans. It cost me something like $24, and thats not including purchase of the film (expired film). To avoid the fancy scan prices, I've been researching scanners. I would still have my local (I live in Austin, there are two very good ones here luckily) shops process:
As far as processing, is there an obvious and great difference btwn the local shops, the chains, and sending them off to reputable mail order shops? (I always brought it to these shops when I shot SLRs, but that was before I got into digital and I never scrutinized the negatives nor printed larger than say 4x6)
As far as scanning, will the fancy scans from the shops generally always be a lot better than a good scan from a consumer machine?
I will mostly be digitizing 35 (slide, b&w, and neg) and would entertain the idea of MF as well, but the priority would be affordable 35 scanning. I'd privilege quality over speed, as I'm not looking to archive years of photos or anything.
If I can get pretty good quality from a consumer scanner, which models should I be looking at, given my aforementioned criteria?
I'm sorry for sort of mashing this up into one post, but I figure there are many of you out there who could point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any help!
Very new to the forums here, for the obvious reasons. So, I've acquired my first rangefinder (film and digital - x-pro1 is preordered) and I have a few questions, which probably span several threads, so brief answers, suggestions, and/or referrals to the appropriate threads are all much, much appreciated!
Briefly: I've shot a couple of SLR's (including an APS Canon which I loved!), a few DSLRs, and recently started dabbling in MF (wife's Bronica). I've briefly used a couple of RFs but in no way long enough to become very familiar or comfy with them. I very recently sold my d7000 to move to a smaller, less..."aggressive"...looking kit. I liked using the RFs that I've tried and am to some degree blindly wading in. Lucky you!
First thing: I have seen different techniques to physically focus lenses on RFs. I purchased a Voigt 15 II, but never having used a lens with a focus nub (nomenclature?) I tend to hold the left bottom of the cam body resting on the top of my middle left finger, left side of body against left thumb, while focusing with my left index finger. Am I way off on this?
Secondly, just wanted confirmation here that when using fully manual, the meter led's in the viewfinder AREN't supposed to light up, correct?
Thirdly, I'm considering workflows for film. I recently had one roll of 120 and one 35 processed, both digitized, both with fancy scans. It cost me something like $24, and thats not including purchase of the film (expired film). To avoid the fancy scan prices, I've been researching scanners. I would still have my local (I live in Austin, there are two very good ones here luckily) shops process:
As far as processing, is there an obvious and great difference btwn the local shops, the chains, and sending them off to reputable mail order shops? (I always brought it to these shops when I shot SLRs, but that was before I got into digital and I never scrutinized the negatives nor printed larger than say 4x6)
As far as scanning, will the fancy scans from the shops generally always be a lot better than a good scan from a consumer machine?
I will mostly be digitizing 35 (slide, b&w, and neg) and would entertain the idea of MF as well, but the priority would be affordable 35 scanning. I'd privilege quality over speed, as I'm not looking to archive years of photos or anything.
If I can get pretty good quality from a consumer scanner, which models should I be looking at, given my aforementioned criteria?
I'm sorry for sort of mashing this up into one post, but I figure there are many of you out there who could point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any help!
Mudman
Well-known
Precision camera is in Austin, isn't it? They have a deal with forumites for discounted scanning/developing cost of c-41 and slide film. I think th v500 or v700 from epson are both worthwhile scanners for 120 and 8x12s from 35mm
RealXenuis
Officious Intermeddler
Thanks Mudman. I checked again with my wife and she's not interested in scanning in her MF negs, so with that said, would you suggest the Plustek 7600? Is it much more difficult getting the color right with the SE version as opposed to the Ai?
Yes Precision. They've been pretty fantastic (and Holland as well). I'll check out their specials, thanks!
Yes Precision. They've been pretty fantastic (and Holland as well). I'll check out their specials, thanks!
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Film workflow: typical Ritz or CVS scans are 6M pixels suitable for 4x6 max. Real scans from great scanners are expensive.
Two vendors have excellent automated scans. Precision in Austin will scan 35mm as 24M pixel JPEGs. MF is similarly high res. North Coast Photographic in San Diego offers the same, I'm told on exactly the same equipment. For both of these, the costs are very reasonable, Precision is $12/roll. This is my preferred route for film, use their scans, perhaps buy an expensive scan for a particular frame.
Precision develops your C-41 or E-6 free for RFF members, a great offer.
North Coast does their own processing for B&W as well as both color processes. I usually process my own B&W, but if you want them to process B&W, better to send it to North Coast.
Two vendors have excellent automated scans. Precision in Austin will scan 35mm as 24M pixel JPEGs. MF is similarly high res. North Coast Photographic in San Diego offers the same, I'm told on exactly the same equipment. For both of these, the costs are very reasonable, Precision is $12/roll. This is my preferred route for film, use their scans, perhaps buy an expensive scan for a particular frame.
Precision develops your C-41 or E-6 free for RFF members, a great offer.
North Coast does their own processing for B&W as well as both color processes. I usually process my own B&W, but if you want them to process B&W, better to send it to North Coast.
RealXenuis
Officious Intermeddler
Thanks Col, I wasn't aware that was an ongoing price. I think perhaps I should just continue to have it done by Precision. I would have to develop a LOT of film before I would recuperate my cost for the scanner, and by then perhaps there would be newer,better,cheaper scanners.
Does anyone know if I can just walk into Precision and name-drop the forum to get the special pricing? It would be absurd for me to ship, when they're just down the street from me (basically)
Does anyone know if I can just walk into Precision and name-drop the forum to get the special pricing? It would be absurd for me to ship, when they're just down the street from me (basically)