Anybody use Medium Format? (Page 2): I have an RB67 with 2 lenses and 2 backs that I would consider selling. I am a late bloomer that would like to get a DSLR and move up from a Cannon...

KERO Loc: Richmond, Va.

I have an RB67 with 2 lenses and 2 backs that I would consider selling. I am a late bloomer that would like to get a DSLR and move up from a Cannon s110.

KERO Loc: Richmond, Va.

I have an RB67 with 2 lenses and 2 backs that I would consider selling. I am a late bloomer that would like to get a DSLR and move up from a Cannon s110.

Richard C. DeYoung

I use a Mamiya 645 and a Rolleiflex for landscapes. Both produce great photos. Have all my developing and printing done by labs.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

I'm probably old school, but I still use my Pentax 6X7 for great landscapes and wildlife. Super sharp pics, film and processing a little pricey though.

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

Mamiya 645 1000s. Just love the shutter tripping. KLUNK!

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I have and use both a Mamiya C330 outfit and a Rolleiflex 2.8 Planar with b/w film, mostly Kodak TMX. I stopped printing several years ago and instead scan images using an old Epson 2450 with VueScan. I can easily make 16x20 prints with that system, but am currently going to only about 11x14 most of the time.

My favorite fine grain films (Kodak TechPan and Agfa APX25) are no longer available and I am trying to learn the best way to develop and scan the medium grain TMX film, including wet scanning.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

What is the quality of the V500? Can it be compared to a drum scanner or is that a waste of money?

MT Shooter wrote:

I use a pair of Pentax 645's on a regular basis for landscapes, and have for almost 20 years. I use only Fuji Provia film which I scan with an Epson V500 PHOTO Scanner. Works well for me.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

jackm1943 wrote:

...My favorite fine grain films (Kodak TechPan and Agfa APX25) are no longer available...

Try the Rollei/Agfa Pan 25. A little pricey but at least it is still around.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Actually its quite good! And for the price of less than a dozen drum scans, you own it forever. My only complaint is that the masks seem to be a bit fragile, but in 1 1/2 years use I haven't broken one yet.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Jer wrote:

What is the quality of the V500? Can it be compared to a drum scanner or is that a waste of money?
...

You and I probably cannot afford a drum scanner. The Espon 500/700/750 scanners are reasonably priced and get a clear image of the film grain. And they handle a wide range of fim densities.

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

I recently bought an Epson referb scanner and tried it out on some vintage (circa 1977) Mamiya RB 67 slides and negatives. Great result.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

Boy do I remember the day I photographed the wedding of the daughter of the lady who ran the glass and crystal department at Neiman's (she knew perfectly well what good looked like)--and it was the same time the lab started printing photographs digitaly--the lesson is "If the picture is going to be printed digitaly, you better take it digitaly"--this includes silver based prints. I put several hundred thousand dollars worth of Rollei stuff in two big boxes and all but gave them to Adorama. The Nikon D800 is every bit as good as my Rollei's ever were--and interfaces with Photoshop--etc vastly better. Don't by medium format--unless you simply want to own it--film will do nothing but get harder to come by (anybody want what I have left?)--and you will like it a lot better (and it will cost you no more)
Stan

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I have a 4X5 that is in perfect working order. That's why I was wondering about using it with a scanner.

Has anyone compared a drum scanner to a v500? I do agree that a V500 or similar scanner is the way to go. I have to buy a new scanner because my old scanner won't work on win 7 or 8 and my xp machine is down. Yes, I have three computers with different operating systems. btw, don't upgrade to win 8.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Jer wrote:

I have a 4X5 that is in perfect working order. That's why I was wondering about using it with a scanner.

Has anyone compared a drum scanner to a v500? I do agree that a V500 or similar scanner is the way to go. I have to buy a new scanner because my old scanner won't work on win 7 or 8 and my xp machine is down. Yes, I have three computers with different operating systems. btw, don't upgrade to win 8.

The V500 will not scan that 4x5 unless you do it in 2 scans and stitch it. The V700 will scan it in its entirety.
And I totally agree on Win 8, a big waste!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Jer wrote:

I have a 4X5 that is in perfect working order. That's why I was wondering about using it with a scanner.

Has anyone compared a drum scanner to a v500? I do agree that a V500 or similar scanner is the way to go. I have to buy a new scanner because my old scanner won't work on win 7 or 8 and my xp machine is down. Yes, I have three computers with different operating systems. btw, don't upgrade to win 8.

A new V750 is priced about $150 more than a V700 so you should check the specs to see if it is worth the extra bucks. Either will do a great job on 4x5 and you will have a choice of resolution (and resulting file size). They will even handle 8x10.

The carriers are delicate but I have not broken one yet.