amfoto1 wrote:
You CAN get digital files on a DVD... but they won't be all that great when doing "cheap" processing at places like Sams and Costco. Their digitized files are pretty low resolution and not good enough for much more than 4x6" or maybe 5x7" print. Still, that might be all you need for "proofing". Then if you get a few images that you'd like to print larger, you can either have a pro lab do a high resolution scan (if only a few, since it's pricey)... Or you can buy a film scanner and do much higher resolution scans yourself (if you end up doing a lot of them and plan to do more in the future).
You'll have the easiest time getting "C41" color negative and chromogenic B&W film processed. Both can be usually be locally processed and low rez digitized quickly and cheaply by "consumer" grade labs. Note: lab prints from chromogenic B&W film tend to be low contrast and "flat" looking... but it scans and digitizes better than silver-based B&W films, particularly if you ever want high resolution scans of images to work with and print yourself with your computer and inkjet. Last time I looked, there was only one chromogenic B&W film commonly available, an Ilford product (ISO 400, "HP5"?). There is a larger selection of color neg films.
Slide processing can still be done, too, but there are fewer places doing it. Most likely you'll have to send it somewhere for processing. You usually don't get scans with slide processing, so will need a means of viewing them. You can have high rez scans done of select images later by a pro lab, if you wish. Or, if planning to scan a lot of images now or in the future, purchase a film scanner and do them yourself.
The good news is that high resolution dedicated film scanners have gotten faster, a lot easier to use and come way down in price.... There are Plustek and Pacific Image models with 7200 ppi to 10,000 ppi resolution available for under $500. In some cases, they're even bundled with excellent Silverfast AI Studio software... the best-in-the-business scanning s'ware that usually costs $400-$450 when sold separately. (My Nikon 4000 ED film scanner is very good, but only 4000 ppi and cost over $1500 twenty years ago! And that's without Silverfast AI Studio, the version for the 4000 ED costs $450! I've been using Vuescan with it instead, which is pretty good and a lot cheaper, around $80.)
Silver-based B&W film processing is the most difficult to out-source, but by far the easiest to process yourself. You don't even need a darkroom, if you can learn to thread the roll of film onto a spool by touch, inside a film changing bag. Silver-based B&W film is difficult to scan to digital though. For high quality results, it's often best to make a traditional darkroom enlargement first, and then scan that on a high resolution flatbed scanner.
You CAN get digital files on a DVD... but they won... (
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The Darkroom uses drum scanning. The best kind of scanning there is. They offer three levels of resolution. The middle level will allow you to see the grain on low grain film such s Portra Professional. It's not worth the bother to try to use a bed scanner with this feature available plus they put the results up on the cloud AND send you a DVD or a thumb drive if you choose the top level of resolution 'cause those files are HUGE. I'd offer to put up a file but I don't know how to put up high resolution on a reply