8x10 to enlarge or to scan

hello all,

I am currently looking forward to develop a 8x10 portraits project.

The question is: how do I come from negative to print? Do 8x10 enlarger exist? What are they and to what cost? Do you find them in the normal market?

Which labo can make quality scan and make really qualitative prints ?

Thanks for the coming answers

Ariel

:confused:

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Originally Posted by Ariel Genton

Do 8x10 enlarger exist? What are they and to what cost? Do you find them in the normal market?

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Yes - they cost a lot sometimes, other times people can't give them away. No you won't likely find them on your local craigslist or at the weekend yardsale.

You can scan the film by yourself in a flatbed scanner (say, v750 or 800 Epsons) to be printed on a commercial lab.
Do you have any traditional printing experience? IMO, 8x10" printing is not a "will do it next weekend" kind of task. It involves a learning process and could be very costly. For some it`s almost a way of life.

If you have to ask you'd probably do better to shoot 4x5 and scan.

Yes, this does beg the question: (why) does it have to be 8x10?

contact printing has been known to be useful for 8x10

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Originally Posted by dasBlute

contact printing has been known to be useful for 8x10

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Sure, but that would render any questions about enlargement or scanning irrelevant, so I concluded that couldn't be the motive.

I shoot 8x10 for portraits, scan the film, and print it digitally. Digital editing is great, and I don't intend to ever go back into the darkroom to enlarge. The reason to use 8x10 is the experience. I have shot portraits with every format, and they all have their advantages, but the main advantage with a giant camera is the gravity it brings to the situation and the effect that has on subjects. I shoot a lot of 5x7, too, with both 5x7 and 8x10 cameras, and 8x10 results are definitely different. Having to sit completely still through the time from focusing to exposure, and then beyond that for more shots creates it's own ambience on top of the awe factor. I also use x-ray film for the special tonality it gives, which rules out 35mm, my other main format.

It doesn't sound like the OP has your level of "experience". Very nice work, by the way. L

If it 'must' be 8x10", then contact print on to silver-chloride paper and scan the prints. Equipment needed is minimal.

Alternatively, get yourself a diffuse light-box (I recall Artograph(?) has been used by others here) and turn your camera in to a temporary enlarger using some foamcore for the structure.

I have been developping and enlarging in my early beginning in photography. the process is not that difficult if you have good material.

thanks a lot for this! really interesting and encouraging!

for the film quality, the use of the camera and the controls while framing!

then v700 is ok for them!

You should get nice scans of 8 x 10 on a V700 at 1600 to 2400 dpi. The scanner probably won't really deliver a true 2400 but you'll be close.