Digital BW, The Print

On 04/17/2013 02:20 PM, reallybelgium wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I want to scan 6x7 black&white negatives. Then I want to print them to
> A3+ size (max). I need to buy a -cheap- scanner. I want to get good/very
> good quality in my prints. I read about the Epson perfection 3200 photo
> scanner. Is it good enough to do this job, or do you advice another one?
>
> Second question: I read about Vuescan software. Is this software really
> advisable above regular scanning software?
>
> Thank you for your help/advice!
>
> Ben Albu
> Belgium

Ben,

The Epson scanner models after the 3200 improved in the sense that the 
lighting in the scanner lid went from a stationary one to a moving one 
that synchronises with the moving optics under the bed. The light is 
used more efficient that way and less heat builds up in the scan area. I 
have both the 3200 and the V700 but the model in between 4870 (if I 
recall it correctly) already has that feature. Check what the V600 does 
in price, it will do medium format but not larger frames like the V700 
does. Check betterscanning on holders for wet mounting etc and an 
article there that I wrote to get best results with that method on an 
3200. Written before I had the V700 but I still use the same method on 
the V700. If I do not use the Nikon 8000 for MF when for example a B&W 
negative is too thin in density, the Epson usually catches some detail 
in thin (shadow) parts better than the Nikon.

The V3200 actually does a better job on reflective originals than the 
V700, color and texture, the reason I still have it.

I like Vuescan and the DNG "RAW" Tiff export to ACR (can be done to 
Lightroom too) but you can always upgrade to it later on.

-- 
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst Dinkla

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2012: 500+ inkjet media paper white spectral plots.