MPJMP Posted January 29, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Like a lot of people here, I use a hybrid method of shooting film, scanning to digital files (in my case a Nikon CSV), and then printing on a high-quality inkjet printer (Epson R800). I'm finding that I get better results with some films than others. So far I love Ilford XP2+ for black & white. The ability to use Digital ICE to remove dust and scratches saves me probably hours of time in PS with the clone stamp tool. The look, too, is very traditional B&W, in my opinion. My prints on archival paper from XP2+ look just as good as my Tri-X negs, but require a lot less work on my part. For color, though, the verdict is still out. I get funny color casts with both Fuji Reala (magenta) and Kodak Ektar (blue-green) So, for the other film scanners out there, what are your preferred films? Anything that just didn't work for you? -Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Hi MPJMP, Take a look here Favorite Films for Scanning. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
NZDavid Posted January 29, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 29, 2009 I have films scanned professionally for publication, including for a book last year. There is a HUGE variation that seems to depend more on the scanner and scanning technique than the film, but I have been generally been pleased with 18MB scans on a Noritsu scanner. Colors varied markedly with Kodak scanner (I think) and another photographer's Epson flatbed scanner as a comparison. I use slide film almost exclusively. I definitely recommend trying Fuji Astia 100F. It has the finest grain I have seen, and highlight and especially shadow detail is superb. It's very neutral, and whites produce very accurately. Saturation can be increased afterwards if desired. For stronger colors, I like Kodak E100G. For faster print film, Fuji's 400H, or consumer grade Superia, are very versatile and tolerate mixed lighting well. The new(ish) Fuji 400 slide film is also supposed to be a goodie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted January 29, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 29, 2009 mike for color Portra 160 scans very well and for B&W I love Trix and Neopan 400..both excellent for scanning IMO and give good prints. andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted January 30, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2009 So far I love Ilford XP2+ for black & white. The ability to use Digital ICE to remove dust and scratches saves me probably hours of time in PS with the clone stamp tool. The look, too, is very traditional B&W, in my opinion. My prints on archival paper from XP2+ look just as good as my Tri-X negs, but require a lot less work on my part. Did you also try the Kodak BW400CN for comparison? Just curious as I'm planning to go the same route. Thanks, Edi. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted January 30, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2009 I use the Nikon CS V and I find that I have to tweak the colors for different color film types and save the settings. I also like Portra 160VC for scanning and I've used the new 100 Ektar but the settings are slightly different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted January 30, 2009 I use the Nikon CS V and I find that I have to tweak the colors for different color film types and save the settings. I also like Portra 160VC for scanning and I've used the new 100 Ektar but the settings are slightly different. JWW, Care to share your Ektar settings? I am getting a blu=green color cast that I can't seem to remove in PS without affecting other colors. -Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted January 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Did you also try the Kodak BW400CN for comparison? Just curious as I'm planning to go the same route. Thanks, Edi. I did try it, but that was about 5 years ago. They may have changed the imulsion since then. I recall I wasn't impressed and that prompted me to stick with traditional B&W films until recently when I tried XP2+. To my eyes, the Ilford looks a lot like traditional Ilford B&W film. Nice and contrasty. I'm very happy with the scanned results, so much so that I will probably limit my Tri-X use to the occasional batch "just for fun" when I have the time to devote to developing and dust/scratch removal. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
os1991 Posted January 30, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 30, 2009 Mike, Have you tried scanning your Fuji Reala 100 negatives with VueScan? With the OEM Epson software I was also getting the magenta cast, but now I use VueScan, which has a special profile for EVERY film, so also for Reala. The results are now much better and I now think Reala is actually very good for scanning. Check out my picture of the Notre Dame in Montreal, in the architecture photo-forum, it was done on Reala. I also agree with the above, Astia 100F and Provia 400X are great for scanning. Hope to have helped you! Cheers, Osman Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmickan Posted January 31, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 31, 2009 Have you got a profile for Acros on your copy of Vuescan? I have Vuescan Pro and do not have this profile nor do I have profiles for alot of films. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
comte de Mazan Posted January 31, 2009 Share #10 Posted January 31, 2009 JWW,Care to share your Ektar settings? I am getting a blu=green color cast that I can't seem to remove in PS without affecting other colors. -Mike I have also the same problems with the ektar 100, ...blue/cyan color in the shadows, some infos here with my last pictures : summilux.net :: Voir le sujet - Un nouveau film négatif couleur au grain le plus fin du mond Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 31, 2009 Share #11 Posted January 31, 2009 Vuescan only has profiles for a relatively small number of films, many of them obsolete. I believe the profiles date back to the days of Photo CD (remember those?), but could be wrong on that. I've scanned lots of Tri-X, and while the C41 films are more convenient, I personally prefer traditional silver films such as FP4 and Tri-X. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 31, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 31, 2009 Astia scans beautifully. I too think it's time that some new film profiles were available for Vuescan - this is it's weakest element, IMHO. Maybe would could generate some of our own and share them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted January 31, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 31, 2009 Mike, I usually scan Portra VC160 and I use a saved profile that has decreased blue and increased red. This turns out really good on my scans. For the Ektar I used the VC160 setting with increased red and comes out looking pretty good. I just used one roll of Ektar so far so am still experimenting with it. I haven't tried to export settings before so don't know if this would work on your Nikon but I'll try to PM you with the setting file. Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ai1 Posted February 3, 2009 Share #14 Posted February 3, 2009 I had been using XP-2 from time to time, but needed something faster, so I tried T-Max 400 (TMY-2) pushed to 1600. I have now switched to developing T-Max myself in T-Max developer (again pushed to 1600). While XP-2 scans well, I am getting better results with the Tmax. I scan on a Nikon Coolscan ED 5000 using Nikonscan; print with an Epson 3800. Good shadow detail and highlight control and very tight grain. The only downside is the inability to use Digital ICE. For color in 35mm I almost always use Fuji Pro 160S,again on the Nikon scanner. The only transparency film I have found to give really good results from scanning is the long-discontinued Kodak EPN -- good shadow detai and netural color. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted February 3, 2009 Share #15 Posted February 3, 2009 I found the Portrait films like the Kodak Portra series scans very well. It is designed for scanning and is also a bit lower in contrast, which helps when shooting with quality lenses like we have on our Leicas. Robert Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
magd0328 Posted February 5, 2009 Share #16 Posted February 5, 2009 Another vote for Kodak Portra 160 NC or 400 NC. Both scan very well without any noticeable pepper grain effects or other scan artifacts. In B&W I find Tri-X scans well, as does T-Max 100. On the other hand I find Plus-X to be poor when scanned. I also find the modern Fuji colour negative films can give some bizarre effects, such as grain scanning as bright pink dots. I am using a Minolta 5400. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted February 5, 2009 Share #17 Posted February 5, 2009 I have been using mostly XP2 and a little Kodak 400CN, both which scan really nicely. I expose both for 200 ASA - if the negatives get too thick (i.e. at 50 ASA) the scan is much more problematic. These films also print wonderfully in a wet darkroom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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