JonD
journeyman
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 75
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I've just returned to photography after a break, and rather than upgrade my digital compact, I've dug out my Pentax PZ70 for some traditional film action, which I'm rather looking forward to!
In terms of processing, I'm going to try several services out, from Truprint to Peak Imaging, to see which suits. I already process images from digital on my Mac - I'm looking to shoot C41 film and find a service to process and scan to CD. I've no idea what Truprint (£2.99 for 36exp C41 process and £1.99 for scan to CD) quality is like, but I don't expect miracles, so I'm just taking test shots. Peak's standard CD service for C41 is £7 all in, for what appears to be JPEGs that open out to 6.1MP.
Whilst I can glean a lot of useful info from this forum in terms of relative quality of service, I'm not sure if the Peak standard CD offering would be enough, maybe I would need the £14 higher res scans? I would like to retain sufficient quality to be able to print up to 10x8 if required.
...and to beat you to the punch, yes I'm considering scanning the negs myself to get more control and better, uncompressed, results - but I want to get back into things a bit before committing to spending on a scanner. BTW, would a £80 flatbed (Canon, say) that comes with slide/negative adapters, allow better results than the Peak service?
Thanks in advance
JD
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Per
addict
Reged: 28/11/2005
Posts: 681
Loc: UK Berkshire
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Hi JD - welcome to the zoo that is the AP forum.
I shoot neg and use Peak for processing with (nearly) excellent results. Just when I think they're great something goes wrong. a strip of my last set of negs had a couple of bad scratches and drying marks as if something went pete tong somewhere. Nothing photoshop can't hide though.
For experiments, I use Boots 1 hour service on the highstreet. Sometimes pretty good, often very 'warm' prints but fine.
In my experience, you probably only want to scan a few frames off each roll, and if you shoot loads (go on!) paying £7 a time can really add up. I went for a dedicated strip film scanner (Nikon Coolscan) at about £400 - that's only 50 odd rolls worth and you can use it on your 'old' film too of course.
The Nikon does 135MB scans at 14 bit...that should be plenty!
Good luck
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There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and after
that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.
Logan Pearsall Smith (1865-1946)
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4200
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
BTW, would a £80 flatbed (Canon, say) that comes with slide/negative adapters, allow better results than the Peak service?
Pass ... I think it depends a lot on how well exposed the negs are. Dense negs are hard to scan, I'd guess the professional scanners would do a better job.
I have little experience with scanning (colour) negs but in my experience the cheap(ish) flatbed scanners are disappointing, the resolution is fine but they have difficulty coping with contrasty trannies compared with proper film scanners. You should be able to get a secondhand film scanner off eBay for not much more than £80 and I think it would most likely do a better job.
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JonD
journeyman
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 75
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Right then! I'll give all the usual suspects a one-roll test, and see what happens. And fleabay for a scanner methinks....
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Woolliscroft
veteran
Reged: 23/08/2005
Posts: 1253
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I have never regretted spending the money for a good dedicated neg scanner. It beats any flatbed or processor made CD I have ever met hands down. Yes they cost a few bob, but for me at least it is worth it.
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David.
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2217
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Quote:
... BTW, would a £80 flatbed (Canon, say) that comes with slide/negative adapters, allow better results than the Peak service?
Thanks in advance
JD
Well, it would certainly put you in charge.
I've tried both Peak Imaging (excellent for E6, I found some years ago) and my local Tescos for scanning at the same time as a C41 D&P package. At Peak I requested their very best Archival Gold service, and paid handsomely for it. At my local Tesco's in Wolverton, I paid an extra 97p and had my results when I'd done my food shopping. Other Tesco stores may charge a little more if they have to send the film away.
The Tesco CD is limited resolution, but otherwise is fine. The less said about that from Peak the better.
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Malcolm Stewart
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vicb981
journeyman
Reged: 01/10/2006
Posts: 86
Loc: UK
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I've used 7day for high quality (£10/36 exp 35mm) scans equivalent to 6MB. They seem good at about A4 - although I haven't tried larger. Only thing is that if I have a set of the same subject, the one I like best seems to have a blemish! I think they usually scan from the roll, but sometimes they scan from processed slides and at least once must have dropped the lot as the images came back upside down and generally jumbled up. They respond to questions promptly and thoroughly and I give them top marks for processing/scanning/printing.
I suspect some processors scan from prints with dramatic loss of quality.
I'm looking at film scanners as a way around the problems but there's a lot of conflicting data out there. Maybe I should stick with 7day and take two frames of everything!
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JonD
journeyman
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 75
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Mixed bag ahoy! I'll try a few different ones and see how I go. Got to give film a fair crack of the whip...
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Per
addict
Reged: 28/11/2005
Posts: 681
Loc: UK Berkshire
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JD, good luck and let us know how you get on!
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john2
journeyman
Reged: 25/09/2006
Posts: 84
Loc: Manchester. UK.
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You may like to try "The Darkroom" in Cheltenham. See http://www.the-darkroom.co.uk/index2.html
I have used them for some time for slide processing and found them prompt and excellent. I had a slide film processed and scanned to a high res CD (opens to 18 mb) and I thought it was quite good. I intend to try them with a negative film soon. I also found them very willing to discuss your requirements if you phone them.
John
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