4X5 Film shooters - Processing ?? Scanning?? In the past I have shot 8X10 and 4X5 - you know, when there were still LOTS of processing labs around that processed my film which are now...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

In the past I have shot 8X10 and 4X5 - you know, when there were still LOTS of processing labs around that processed my film which are now non-existent locally !

I CAN process my own film - especially B&W - but not sure I really want to NOW ?

So, I am looking for a SAFE way to send 4X5 film off to be processed by a capable processor AND do respectable scans and hope some of you out there are doing this already with success ! If so, what are the details ?

A secondary question might be, If I were to get a decent flatbed scanner, can I do my own DECENT scans ??

I am not looking to do a high volume of work in 4X5 - a very low volume do I foresee - at least initially.

Thanks for responding ! .....

..

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I regularly shoot and process 4x5. Then, I scan the negatives. The film is processed in a Jobo processor and then scanned with an Epson Perfection 3200 scanner. I'm partial to Epson scanners and Silverfast software to drive them.

Since I don't rely on commercial processors I'm not sure who to recommend. I'm sure someone will have a top of the line lab.
--Bob

imagemeister wrote:

In the past I have shot 8X10 and 4X5 - you know, w... (show quote)

(Download)

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

My go-to suggestion regarding a development lab is The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA. They will develop the film, scan it, make DVD of the scanned images and return it all to you very promptly for $11-13. They will include a new postage paid order form and envelope for you to send in the next roll. They will also, at your request, make prints or enlargements at the time of the order or subsequently. No muss, no fuss. I have found their Customer Service to be great. There are other labs offering such film processing services, but after I ‘found’ The Darkroom I stopped looking. No, they did not pay me to offer this endorsement.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Outstanding shots-well done!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

imagemeister wrote:

... If I were to get a decent flatbed scanner, can I do my own DECENT scans ?? ...

You can do excellent large format scans with the Epson V600-V850 series - new or used depending on how much you want to spend.

At 2400 ppi you will typically get an image over 100 MP from a 4x5 negative. You can scan at much higher ppi but that may only give you bigger files.

The Epson software that comes with the scanner is a good place to start for B&W purposes.

jcate

rmalarz wrote:

I regularly shoot and process 4x5. Then, I scan the negatives. The film is processed in a Jobo processor and then scanned with an Epson Perfection 3200 scanner. I'm partial to Epson scanners and Silverfast software to drive them.

Since I don't rely on commercial processors I'm not sure who to recommend. I'm sure someone will have a top of the line lab.
--Bob

I just used thedarkroom.com for some medium format velvia. They did a scan and e-mailed them right away, a couple days later came a CD and the transparences. They also take care of 4X5 which I will use shortly.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

rmalarz wrote:

I regularly shoot and process 4x5. Then, I scan the negatives. The film is processed in a Jobo processor and then scanned with an Epson Perfection 3200 scanner. I'm partial to Epson scanners and Silverfast software to drive them.

Since I don't rely on commercial processors I'm not sure who to recommend. I'm sure someone will have a top of the line lab.
--Bob

Bob, Awesome B&W shots, you do have talent!!!!!!!!!!!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

imagemeister wrote:

In the past I have shot 8X10 and 4X5 - you know, w... (show quote)

rmalarz offers a great suggestion — If you are serious about using 4x5 in any more-than-casual quantity. Get a Jobo processor and soup your own film. Get a scanner and scan your own files (his is very old — get an Epson V800* or V850). This offers the most control and potential for quality. *The V800 is the least expensive Epson that supports 4x5 film — one sheet at a time. Lesser models (V550 and V600) stop at 120 roll film formats. I recommend sticking with B&W and Color Transparency films — color negatives can be a pain in the patoot to get the color right.

https://epson.com/For-Work/Scanners/Photo-and-Graphics/c/w220
http://www.jobo-usa.com

Otherwise, The Darkroom is known for excellent work. https://thedarkroom.com/product/sheet-film-processing/

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

burkphoto wrote:

... The V800 is the least expensive Epson that supports 4x5 film — one sheet at a time. ...

The the Epson 4x5 holder for the V700/750 also does two sheets at a time. It's the one from http://betterscanning.com/ that only holds a single 4x5 sheet.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Malarz is doing it the same way as I do.
Epson Perfection 3200 is is a good scanner. Do your B&W's - 4x5 at home. It is better - if you wash it thoroughly.
Cheers!

Shutterbug57

The Darkroom.com. Get their super scan or whatever they call the top level and you will be more than pleased. For 4x5, I would send them color and do my own B&W.

The attached image was shot with a Mamiya M645 and Ektar. The Darkroom developed it and scanned it with super scan @$9/roll. The detail is amazing, the actual shot, not so much ... You have to download the image to see the scan quality.

(Download)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

selmslie wrote:

The the Epson 4x5 holder for the V700/750 also does two sheets at a time. It's the one from http://betterscanning.com/ that only holds a single 4x5 sheet.

If you can find the 700 or 750... Epson lists it as discontinued.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

burkphoto wrote:

If you can find the 700 or 750... Epson lists it as discontinued.

The V800/850 use an LED light source and start up faster. Otherwise they aren't much different fom the V700/750.

You can get a refurbished V700 from Epson for $415 - less than half the price of a new V850.

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

I'm an oddball here. I started shooting 4x5 after starting shooting digital. I picked up my Beseler CB7 4x5 enlarger ($20 on Craiglist) and have less that $500 invested in my entire B&W darkroom, including my JOBO CPE2+. Everything purchased off of Craigslist. I currently have 3 Beseler 23CII's, my CB7, an Omega B66 and a Beseler 67C (color) enlargers.

I really enjoy shooting film and working in the darkroom. I realize that it isn't for everyone. I shoot digital for the client work, film for my enjoyment.

My thinking is this: right now, for color I shoot digital. For B&W, I shoot primarily film. The occasional digital shot I will convert to B&W. For large color, I will look at stitched digital.

In the future, if I decide to shoot color film (I only shoot 6x7 or 4x5 film) I will develop in house and send to AGX Imaging in Sault Ste. Marie, MI for drum scanning.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I cannot really understand why people shoot film just to finish it digitally. No one ever justified that nor compared the two approaches side-by-side. The only thing I can think of is nostalgia. In comparing the two approaches, one has to look at prints, not computer monitors. I can see shooting film and then printing in the darkroom but if you scan negatives or slides, then what do you really need film for?

I did all my own darkroom work for over 40 years. I loved it and miss it. However, all digital has film beat in every regard as far as I am concerned and even for all my wonderful memories, I would never go back.