Film man becoming semi digital. [Archive] - Large Format Photography Forum

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Ray Higgins

8-Dec-2010, 11:17

Good Morning photo folks;
I have joined LFPF some time ago and have used it to find information now and then. But now I need some technical info to make the switch to a semi digital process. So I best introduce myself to you all. My name is Ray. I have been an avid photo nut for as long as I can remember, and also operated my own portrait and wedding studio for a number of years; (An experience that can make one wonder if the human race has a future.)

When I closed my studio I went back into black iron work and machining. I disposed of my studio gear by setting up at camera shows. In the process of selling off my photo gear I took items in trade and before I realized it I was a camera collector. After collecting all sorts of cameras I finally found my nitch in LF. I have a nice collection of Graphlex/Graphic cameras and also a number of B&Js view cameras, press cameras and etc.

I am now retired and and consider myself a historical photographer. I collect historical photos, copy family albums, and record the passing of of buildings and landmarks before they are destroyed by "progress."

What I am trying to do as of now is photocopy the old photos with film and scan the film into a computer. I just can not let go of film as my archival back up. I have a v700 epson scanner, a HP c5180 printer and an outdated dell computer. The v700 is a keeper but I could use some advice on replacing the computer for one that is compatible with the v700 and photo use in general. I would also like to update to a printer that has very good B&W capabilities as well as color.

I am also considering having my photo set-up self contained. I am sick and tired of computer problems generated by the internet.

Well, photo folks this is who I am, and this is what I can use advice upon. Please keep in mind that I am a digital novice so don't go overboard on technicalities. I want to use the equipment, not build it.

A $1000 or less for a computer and several hundred for a printer will probally fit in my budget. I don't need top of the line items, just something that will serve my purposes adequatly.

Thank You All,
Enjoy Your Lives Today...RAY

Gem Singer

8-Dec-2010, 15:30

Hi Ray,

I am also retired and do not consider myself to be a computer wiz.

I purchased an IMac computer, an Epson V750 scanner, and an Epson 3880 printer.

Those components were not purchased at the same time or place, but all three of them worked right out of the box. If I can make them work in harmony, anyone can do it..

You have a good scanner. Pair it up with a 3880 printer, then get an Apple computer with at least 4gs of RAM, and you'll be good to go.

Best of luck.

Brian C. Miller

8-Dec-2010, 16:27

Welcome, Ray!

Since you currently have a Dell, I'm guessing that of course you are using Windows. I recommend that you budget $700 for the computer, and $300 for a good monitor. I have a HP LP2475w, which is a wide-screen 24" model, and the colors are fabulous. Take a look at a site like NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com) and comparison shop within your budget. You'll want something with 4Gb RAM, because Windows just needs the space now. If you get more than 4Gb, then remember to get Windows64 for the OS.

If you want to do web surfing with a seperate computer, there are cheap little netbooks running Linux, which will keep you safe from all of the Windows-targetted attacks.

Vick Vickery

8-Dec-2010, 18:48

Welcome to group therapy!

Ray Higgins

9-Dec-2010, 09:21

Good Morning; I would like to thank you-all for responding. I researched the Epson 3880 and I believe it is beyond my needs. Wow, it would be fun to print 37 inch prints though. I was impressed with the claimed archival life of their B&W inks...4oo years!!!

My photo projects are formatted in 8 1/2 X 11 size because all related items are available from the local office supply. Therefor I believe an 8 1/2 by 11 printer would be adequat for my use as long as it has photo-black ink that has a long archival life.

I will check out the HP LP247w and NewEgg suggestions. Please keep the thoughts coming from you that have the knowledge and experiance, it will be appreciated.

Enjoy Your Lives Today...RAY

Wayne Crider

9-Dec-2010, 10:58

If your working in Photoshop, Lightroom (etc) at all, or in a product that uses lots of memory resources, I personally would opt for an Intel i5 or equivalent processor, but there are deals on the dual cores right now in laptops and towers till their cleared out and these may fit your bill. If this is just a shoot, develop and scan operation and your running a, say Pentium 4 with XP, there is still support for that processor in Windows 7 32 bit, but from what I hear and read you'll need memory if the machine can take enough of it and even then it will probably work slower.
I have an off line PC computer that I am moving to for future Photoshop work from an older generation Mac OS that came out the same time as XP. The Mac's are real nice with a very well thought out operating system, but support for software and utility upgrades is not as long lived as it is in the Windows environment.

keith english

9-Dec-2010, 11:44

Don't write off the 3880 just because it prints bigger than you need. It will pay for itself in ink savings over a smaller cartridge printer. It prints great B+W and will be there when you decide you want a bigger print.

Brian Ellis

9-Dec-2010, 17:24

If you can go up just a little on your computer/monitor you could get an NEC P221W monitor and calibration software for about $500, then maybe $700 for the computer. I've used four or five Dell and HP monitors for photography work and find the NEC to be much easier to calibrate with its own SpectraView software.

sanking

9-Dec-2010, 22:23

Just want to point out that you can get a refurbished 21.5" iMac from the Apple Store for just over $1000. It will work out of the box for image processing (with software of course) without worries about monitor, drivers, etc. that you will face with any Windows machine. And the 3.06 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo is a very fast processor with Snow Leopard and CS5.

Sandy King

10-Dec-2010, 08:57

Welcome, I've copied lots of old photos with film, and have found tmax100 to be very nice for making analog copies. I mostly used 35mm to do it, as the photos being copied were not of extreme detail, and tmx on 35mm with a good macro lens is really good.

For your digital questions, you could scan the images at the same time as photographing them, that'd be easier than scanning negatives. I would also suggest $300 on a nice monitor and you can get a lot of computer for $500-600. Go for something with lots of ram and a 64bit windows7 if you go Windows. Cheapy or included monitors usually differ drastically depending on the viewing angle.

The bigger printers do pay off in terms of reduced ink expenses. With little printers, the companies make their money on the ink and not the printer. With medium sized printers, it's probably more balanced between the two. You can also get aftermarket ink from inkjetmall.com if you do lots of volume.

sanking

10-Dec-2010, 09:37

I just noticed that you can get a 20" refurbished iMac with 2.6 GHz processor for $760 from the Apple store, with free shipping. Might be an even better buy than the 21.5" one for a bit over $1000.

That is a pretty darn nice machine for entry level image processing. I have the same processor in my MacBook Pro and it is pretty fast.

Sandy

Armin Seeholzer

10-Dec-2010, 11:14

Ray Higgins

10-Dec-2010, 15:40

Good Afternoon Photo Folks; I am researching your suggestions as fast as I can. As a result, I believe the Epson 3800 is probally the way to go for a printer. It has the B&W capability that I need and wnen the ink volume and cost is factored in it appears to be more economically viable. In addition it finally dawned on me that I could use the 3800 to produce panaramic photos, so I can use the larger size prints.

As for the computer, one of you was dead on; My Dell computer with the pentium 4 processor and maxed out on memory updates would not handle my Epson V700. In addition it seemed to be a never ending source of problems. Soooo... now I am researching for a compatible computer. I am leaning toward an apple computer as I research the thoughts you have given me. Keep your thoughts a coming as they are invaluble to me...without them I would be buying pigs in a polk!

I am still somewhat stymied by the digital lexicon of abbreviations. Do any of you know of a website that could enlighten me in this area?

Thanks Again and Enjoy Your Life Today...Grandpa RAY

Gem Singer

10-Dec-2010, 17:07

Ray,

Computer geeks seem to have their own jargon and lexicon.

Just when you think you understand what they are talking about, new technology emerges and the stuff they were saying yesterday is now obsolete.

My advice: don't waste your time and energy trying to interpret geek language.

Instead, spend it on learning how to utilize Photoshop to make beautiful inkjet prints.

I'm now making 16x20 B&W inkjet prints that surpass anything I was ever able to make with an enlarger in my darkroom, and I only know how to utilize a small number of the Photoshop tools.

Ray Higgins

11-Dec-2010, 16:48

Good Afternoon Photo Friends; OK...I think (therefor I am) going to do this: After carefully reading your thoughts on my situation, I am going to go with a refurbished iMAC computer and an Epson 3880 printer. And as odd as it seems to me, it only overides my budget by a couple of hundred bucks!

I also liked the suggestion that I scan the images at the same time I am photographing them. This makes sense to me now. It is so difficult to give up the old-ways in as much as all of my knowledge and experience is based there. Even so, logic must prevail. Also, I shall photograph them not with 35mm but with my rb67 outfit and 220 tmax film. Yes, I can compromise a bit...I'll reserve the 4X5 film for my original shooting.

I know you-all are hyped up on monitors, as well you should be. But for me it is not much of an option. I'll let you in on a little personal secret of mine. This may be shocking to you-all but I am partially color blind. I am missing 60% of my red color vision and 40 % of my green color vision.

Sooo...how did I operate a studio you may well ask? Well, I shot with color film but I did not process it; it was all out-sourced. When color was critcal. such as copying art work, I double shot it with color and B&W standard cards in one negative. That way my processors could bring the colors to standard and then print the negative without the standard cards. It worked, I never had a complaint. This may explain my love of black & white photography but only to a point. The point is that no photo medium can produce the detail and clarity of B&W film.

I would like to thank you-all for sharing your time and knowkledge with me. It was invaluable. I cannot pay you back but I sure can pass it on!!!! Oh, and don't worry, I'll be back to pick your brains again.

With Utmost Respect,
Grandpa RAY

PS...So how did I get the nickname 'Grandpa' at a relative young age. Well I worked in a small factory and my granddaughter called and asked for "Grandpa." The forman called out over the pa speaker that a little girl named Kodi wanted to talk to her Grandpa. I have been Grandpa to everyone eversince.

sanking

11-Dec-2010, 20:03