Which films best for scanning? Which scanner?

[ian748s]

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It's been 4 years since I shot any film and then I only used colour and B&W slide film - Velvia, Provia and Scala mainly.

 

I'm looking to make life easier now with my purchase of the M6 and I will likely be focusing on B&W because of a personal project I wish to complete for my ARPS panel.

 

Which films are favourites (readily available still) and why? Also what are the best film scanners at reasonable cost?

 

I have no intention of setting up a wet darkroom again so will be scanning and printing digitally - I have an HP B9180 printer.

 

Thanks again in anticipation of the usual useful flood of information.

[TimF]

There was a thread on this subject not so long ago - a search may bring it up.

 

In the meantime, an article in the BJP (Aug 2005) concluded that Fuji Astia 100F and Provia 100F scanned very well - the choice was as much to do with the author's preferences in the 'look' of the films as their innate scanning quality though. He also tested Kodak's Ektachrome E100G in the slide film area. I would tend to agree with the Provia findings (I've not tried Astia yet, it doesn't seem to be carried by many places). Velvia 50 is very contrasty as we know, and that can make scanning it a trial. A mild degree of overexposure certainly makes scanning slide film easier I think.

 

As for colour neg, either of Kodak Portra 160VC or Fujicolour 160C impressed most. Chromagenic b&w films from Kodak and Ilford were also tried. The author found that Ilford XP2 didn't scan well at all, but that seems to go against the experience of others on this forum (see the other thread).

 

I liked Scala as far as scanning went (I shot it at ISO 100 when possible, as this reduced the contrast somewhat). Sadly that wonderful film is no more.

[ian748s]

Thanks Tim.

 

Regrettably I still have some Scala that I now cannot get developed so it remains unused - maybe 6 films I think.

[TimF]

Not necessarily Ian - there is a lab in France, and I think one in the US that can still process the film. The French Arka lab site is here. I understand they speak english; phone number is under the "Lab Location" button.

[graeme_clarke]

Hello Ian,

 

I've used a Coolscan 111 and now have a Coolscan 5000. I've had good results scanning Fuji Reala and 160 NPS negative film. I've not tried Kodak chromogenic b/w, but I've had reasonable results from XP2. Ilford delta 400 produces grain like golfballs but FP4 is not so bad.

 

I've scanned velvia 50, 100 and 100F, and Provia 100F with mixed results. Multiple passes with areas with shadows can lead to a kind of posterisation if I try to lift the shadow detail. If the slide is well exposed and I keep the print looking like it, its not too bad - but I can't get the wide tonal range from scanning a slide that a digital capture produces. In short, if shadow detail is blocked up on slide film, it cannot really be pulled out, and as has been said, velvia is contrasty. Shadow detail from negative film can more easily be recovered because its often there on the negative, even if not visible on a print. Stands to reason really!

 

Hope this helps, and good luck with the distinction.

 

Graeme

[stunsworth]

Ian, FP4 and Tri-X have been my films of choice for years. HP5 runs Tri-X a close second. I've never really go on with XP2, no grain, ICE can be used on the scanner, but it's always looked a bit lacking IMHO.

[Guest Jeffryabt]

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Main Photo & Imaging Service Here in the US will process Scala film.

[ian748s]

Guys

 

Thanks very much - very useful information. Especially good news on the Scala front. As I can now get it processed, anyone know where I can buy some?

[lambroving]

As you are in London, Ron still has a place in Germany which uses Agfa chemistry. Send him a mail or PM to get the details. He may also have a source for Scala. (Rona|d)

[NZDavid]

Fuji Astia 100F is definitely the best film I have tried for scanning -- super fine grain, excellent rendition of highlight and shadow detail. I get it profesionally scanned -- wouldn't have time otherwise. You can saturate it later or desaturate to make B+W as you wish.

 

Cheers,

 

David

 

http://www.davidkillick.co.nz

[tobey bilek]

Any black and white film scans well on my MK 5400 as long as it developed to print on a condenser enlarger. The Nikon does not have the nice diffused light so it is more important to keep the contrast low.

 

Film to contrasty for the process is difficult to deal with just like in a wet darkroom.

 

Best choice today is Nikon, not the cheap one. Spend $1000. I would get one with glass carriers and mask them down to 35mm. Film flatness is an issure just like wet.