Scanner or Enlarger : What do you use?

[jwcat]

I have/use an Epson 3200 with SilverFast AI 6. I have used it for two years. I am not satisfied with my scans from my Bessa R (almost new). I am getting more critical I guess. Has anyone compared SilverFast with Vuescan? I have downloaded the Vuescan but would like other opinions from this group. I am afraid that I will not give Vuescan the test it deserves.

My problem seems to be lack of sharpness using CV 35/2.5 and J8. I know how to sharpen with programs, it just seems that original capture is not sharp enough. I have scanned Kodachrome slides from the late sixties on this scanner( one year ago) and they were very sharp. Is there any equivilant holder for 35 film strips to the one talked about on RFF recently for 6x6 films?

I have caught the GAS bug and am waiting on two items now. I would like a NIkon film scanner, but it won't happen for some time.

Thanks...John

 

[back alley]

i'm just learning the whole scanner/photoshop/printing thing but so far i like it better than i thought i would.
i still have a very nice darkroom set up and a couple of excellent fuji enlarging lenses but i wonder if i'll use them again.
i was a pretty good printer, my results were sellable and hang on some mighty nice walls today.
but i'm more lazy these days and like the scanning thing. i post my pics more than show prints, so having a hard copy is not that important to me anymore.
if i need a print i could always fire up the darkroom i guess, but i have been thinking of selling it all and putting that money towards a good printer and a stockpile of ink.

in fact, i think i just may have talked myself into it.

joe

 

[Nikon Bob]

If you need to get hard copies printed it may be cheaper to put your own scans on a CD/DVD and have someome else print it.

Bob

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I use the enlarger for B&W whenever possible, and used to have a nice for its day flat bed scanner. As with most things computer related it was state of the art the day I bought it, passe`a week later, and a relic with three months🙂.

I want to stop buying cameras and lenses (really, I can stop -- it's not addiction) and purchase a nice scanner this fall, when I can dedicate some time to learning to use it properly. For the time being the local lab scans for me.

 

[back alley]

d2, the actual scanning process is relatively quick & painless to learn.
the photo shop skills, on the other hand, are more complex.

i traded gene an oly rc (which i eventually bought back) for his old canon scanner.
it is quick (scsi) and i'm saving a bundle on even cheap scans from the lab.

joe