Enlarging from 8x10

[Brian C. Miller]

Based on the comments in the New Portra 400 Film thread, I'd really like to know how many 8x10 shooters out there actually print enlargements from their film, either from a scan or an enlarger.

[IanG]

Brian, I only enlarge at the moment, 40x30 is about the maximum I can do at present although I've enlarged 5x4 to somewhere around 20ft in the past and would do the same if needed from my 10x8 negatives.

Ian

[BennehBoy]

16x20 for me thus far (but much larger intended). My use of 8x10 has always been more about the look more than what size I can get prints up to/grain - I think I'm somewhere outside the curve on this though.

PS - I also scan to print.

[John Bowen]

I've got the 8x10 conversion for my Beseler enlarger, but have never set it up.....

So far, I've been happy to contact print, but one of these days I may end up with a negative of an AA type of landscape that just screams to be enlarged....

When I want a print larger than 8x10, I pull out the 7x17...

[ljsegil]

16x20 from a scan is my most common print from whichever of my photos I deem (probably mistakenly) to be worth looking at. I believe that with the Epson V750 that the image quality I can get from 8x10 is marginally superior to that of 4x5 or 5x7 (all wet mounted, 8x10 on the bottom of a sheet of ANR glass, not height adjustabe by me anyway, 4x5 and 5x7 on Betterscanning's variable height fluid mount), though the difference is not great. But I do simply get more pleasure (back excluded) shooting 8x10 than the smaller formats, and that counts for something to me. I most commonly do shoot color and will be stocking up on the Portra 400 8x10 while I still can, both for 8x10 use and cut down for 4x10. And I did load my freezer when we did the special order for 5x7 Portra last year. Of note, we tried to arrange a special purchase from Kodak for 8x10 E100VS but could not obtain enough orders to meet Kodak's minimum. If there is interest out there for that product we could try again to achieve the necessary numbers. Special orders with Kodak are possible (see Keith Canham's site for what will be an ongoing repository for potential special buys in odd sizes with the potential of multple emulsion choices from Kodak) but Kodak does not make it easy to achieve their minimum purchase requirements and they do extract their pound of flesh if they do produce the film. But when the need requires, the effort is worth attempting.
Larry

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

I print with a Durst 184 and an Aristo VCL on either 16x20 or 20x24 which are great sizes for B&W's.

[Frank Petronio]

I scan it. 8x10 scans great on a cheap Epson flatbed and you can easily go 30x40 from those (and I have, just not everyday).

[Ben Syverson]

8x10 isn't even breaking a sweat at 30x40... You still won't see grain at 50x60.

[John Kasaian]

I've got an Elwood enlarger. I seldom use it though---8x10 contacts have a look I enjoy.

[BetterSense]

For those that print optically, what kind of paper do you use? How do you process it? Giant BTZS tubes?