David,
While I still use Vuescan, I have gone back to the Epson s/w on negatives because it does the basics so well.
The Vuescan approach is to give you all these sliders that are easy to get lost in.
If they would just give you histograms & levels so you can always return to the fundamentals
The only safe thing with Vuescan is being able to scan Raw if you want to convert it in Photoshop with a plug-in like ColorNeg
Hi guys! Just purchased an Nikon fe2,just wanna ask if you guys process your own negatives?
I would like to try film photography,Is it better to invest on some negative scanner or just take it to the lab.
Thanks
The answer I think is so dependant on processing and scanning prices in your area.
I've returned to B&W processing after a gap of something like 30 years and no doubt I am re-learning some of the pitfalls along the way.
I am very glad that I had those 2 shots above developed at a commecial lab, as at that time I had not processed 120 film myself.
In theory it's a simple process with reasonable temperature latitude (for B&W only!), however the simple mechanics of loading film reels with 35mm film can be a cyclic challenge. I had just such a challenge with 2 x 35mm rolls, just when I thought that was something ticked off and only 120 medium format film was giving me such grief. Add to that the vagaries of which chemicals to use, their freshness, eventual storage, environmentally-friendly disposal; cleanliness of rinsing and drying negatives, dust on scanner and negatives...you get the picture. It can be fun but requires a disciplined approach and attention to every detail.
In the short term I suggest that you use commercial labs for processing and scanning. If you find yourself shooting lots of film than it's probably a question to which you should return.
just my 2 Aussie cents (only worth about US1.6c at present).
From an outing a month or so ago. Stumbled past this old prison. It was just shut down in the past couple years or so. What a gloomy place, backed up in a hollow in very rural TN.
robert829 wrote:
Hi guys! Just purchased an Nikon fe2,just wanna ask if you guys process your own negatives?
I would like to try film photography,Is it better to invest on some negative scanner or just take it to the lab.
Thanks
Call your local Costco (not all process film anymore)
My Costco in Venice/Marina Del Rey develops and scans C41 film (standard colour print and B&W chromogenic like Iford XP2, Kodak BW400) for $5.26 including tax per roll.
The resolution is good enough for 12 by 18 prints as long as you have not cropped your image.
All my 35mm film images on this site have been from these Costco scans.
It's a great way to get going and see how you like it.
robert829 wrote:
Hi guys! Just purchased an Nikon fe2,just wanna ask if you guys process your own negatives?
I would like to try film photography,Is it better to invest on some negative scanner or just take it to the lab.
Thanks
I process my own black and white film. However, I had a lab process it during my first 6 months or so of shooting, just to get a feel for what film could do and whether or not I'd like it. Once I found that I did like what I was seeing, then I went all in on black and white processing. I've probably processed over 250 rolls in the past 2 years, easy.
Jon Buffington wrote:
Thank you folks. Kwoodard, I would like to explore it as well. Unfortunately I doubt it will ever be opened up for any public usage.
