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Category: Traditional Film Photography

Photography Question 

Donna Dunbar
 

Medium Format Film


I was recently given an old Medium Format camera, it is now in the shop being cleaned and having a few minor adjustments, I plan to use it for my landscape work and am so excited about using one of these again. My problem is the last time I used one of these cameras there was no such thing as a computer or digital editing and since I do not have a darkroom set up any more and need to have my work put to digital format I really need to find a lab that can not only process my 120 film but scan it and put it on a disc for me.
Does anyone know of a reliable lab that can do this?

Donna


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January 20, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  I use Gamma photo in Chicago a lot and have since about 1971. For custom black and white either for publication or display, C-41 or E-6 they're always my preference: http://www.gammaphoto.com or http://www.gammaimaging.com You can find cheaper but not better. I also use newlab in San Francisco http://www.newlab.com quite a bit.

Mpix.com is ok too from what I hear but I've never used them.
M.


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January 20, 2008

 

Donna Dunbar
  Thanks for you advice, I'll check them out. I use MPIX all the time I love the quality of their prints but I never knew they processed and scanned medium format, I'll check them out too.
Thanks again for your reply.

Donna


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January 20, 2008

 

Donna Dunbar
  Actually I just finished checking out the Nikon coolscan 9000 ED and it would be worth the price of purchase. Given the fact I plan to use this with my portrait business on location shoots. in just a few shoots I could pay for one.
If you do Medium Format maybe you should look into one as well, it seems to be cost effective and works with my Mac and will scan any format size I have which is a huge plus for me.

Donna


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January 20, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  I use an Epson V700. But for work I get scanned when the film is processed, I go with one of the places I mentioned earlier.
Mark.


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January 20, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  Hey Donna, BTW: Take a look at and consider joining APUG.org. The Analog Photographer Use Group. A great site strictly for film shooters with an excellent area devoted exclusively to medium format.
M


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January 21, 2008

 

Christopher A. Walrath
  First of all, I am a subscriber at APUG, Mark. THanks for the nod. Donna, I shoot exclusively TMax 40 120 roll film in my Mamiya and I always get develop only, no prints, do not cut negs. I cut them myself, put them in archive sheets and scan on my plain jane Deskjet. I reverse the colors, keep the midtones and drop the shadows and highlights, no sharpening, res about 300dpi and save/print. Digital proof sheets that I have for reference to take to the printer later for printing the negs that I have decided to get done. Color negs are very noisy and not effective at all with this process. Just an idea. After all, color is a process. Black and white is a medium. Food for thought.

Keep on rollin'
(like it Mark?)
Chris


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January 21, 2008

 

Christopher A. Walrath
  Correction, TMax 400 (fat fingers and all)


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January 21, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  Hey there Chris ! My preference is shooting Tri-X pro 320 pulled down to about 200 and processed accordingly in either Rodinal or T-Max R.S. Adds just a touch of contrast and produces plenty of detail in the shadow areas without washing out the highlights. I might also add a bit of contrast enhancing filter like red, yellow or green, depending on what I'm shooting although the Tri-X alone does a great job on outdoor scenes. :>)

Yep. I definitely like it.
M.



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January 22, 2008

 
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