P3D Re: Teach Cheap?

["Greg Wageman" <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


>In the not-so-far future digital cameras will make stereo
experimentation
>much easier.  The cost of camera and computer is not low but prices are
>dropping and many people now have access to both without having to buy
>them.  There is no film or processing cost involved.  Ideal for a
>learning/teaching tool IMO.


True there is no film or processing cost, but those costs are still very
low compared to the costs of printer supplies.

I just bought a new photo-quality inkjet printer (Hewlett-Packard
970Cse).  This printer has a hardware resolution of up to 2400x1200 dpi.
In addition to the high hardware dot resolution, it is also capable of
placing up to 26 ink drops per dot.  This means that the printer is
capable of printing more colors than just the usual W-RGB-CMY-K per dot.
That makes the effective resolution even higher, somewhat more like a
continuous tone printer than previous inkjets.  The actual results on
photo paper are quite impressive.  The dots are just barely visible
using an 8x loupe.

However, the CMY print cartridge costs around $35.  I'm not sure yet how
many pages that will yield, but even if it's good for 50 (which is
probably optimistic), that's already $.70 per page just for ink.  The
heavyweight photo paper, which is required for the photo-quality
results, runs around $1.00 per page.  So that's two prints for around
$1.70, or around $.85 per print.  Compare that to around $26 for film,
developing and double-prints of a 35mm, 36-exposure roll.  That's 72
prints at around $.37 each, less than half the cost per print.  Of
course this doesn't include the cost of the printer, which by rights
should also be factored in.  We'll call the cost of the film and digital
cameras a wash.  Then there's the cost of that computer...

HP also has a couple of new printers that eliminate the need for the
computer.  The PhotoSmart 1000 and 1100 printers use the same printhead
technology as the 970C, but they also add both SmartMedia and Compact
Flash reader slots right in the printer.  That means you can bring your
printer into the field and get hard copy of your digital shots without
needing to tote your computer along as well.  Of course you don't get
the kind of flexibility as you would with Photoshop running, but that's
no different than conventional photography.

     -Greg W. (gjw@xxxxxxxxxx)