Re: I have a crazy idea about digitizing film images.

[Robert Erickson <cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx>]

My theory is that the using an electronic flash, which
has the full color spectrum to illuminate an original,
could result in an image that may be superior to
scanned files from sub $1000 film scanners.

The problem with ALL scanners, that no manufacturer
will tell you, is that the light used to illuminate
the film does not include the full spectrum of all
colors. Scanner manufacturers are big on providing
specifications on resolution but say little about
faithful color reproduction or tonal range.

NO SCAN can equal the color and tonal range of an
image that was shot with a modern mega pixel digital
camera. I have made side-by-side comparison tests and
have concluded that direct to digital wins by a
country mile. For a while I used to shoot side-by-side
both on 35mm film and with a digital camera. I would
get Kodak Picture CDs made from the film at the time
of processing. My Kodak Picture CD images looked sick
in a side-by-side comparison on the computer. No
amount of enhancement with PhotoShop could get the
scanned image to equal the original digital image. Now
I leave my film camera at home and shoot strictly
digital. No more film, processing, or long hours alone
in the darkroom. :-)

IMHO- If you want to make a print using an enlarger
then shoot with a film camera! On the other hand, if
you plan to use an image digitally then you are MUCH
better off to forget about film altogether and shot a
digital original instead. 

I am thrilled to trade a little less detail from a
digital camera for more color and tonal range in my
image files. It has been my experience that detail on
the film does not equal detail in the final product
anyway. Scanners are the weakest link in the chain.
The really good ones cost thousands of dollars. When
my students ask me which film scanner to buy I tell
them to forget about it. They are better to spend the
money on paying a service to scan only those images
that they need to be digitized. 

For what it would cost to buy a film based Roundshot
or Hulcherama and a high end scanner you can buy a few
high end digital cameras, computers, inkjet printers,
send your kid to Junior College, and take your wife to
Hawaii. Then figure in the life long savings in film
and processing costs. If you were to invest the
savings you would retire a millionaire! 

Bob


=====
Robert Erickson, cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx
The Panoramic Network: http://www.panoramic.net

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