In the days when the local pros were still making optical prints for their portolios, labs like Meteor were doing a good job. But there's no high-end market for optical prints any more. I must have looked at a hundred portfolios over the last three months. Most were US shooters, some Europeans, and all very pricey. I don't recall seeing a single optical print. Everything was inkjet, even the BW. Paul
> That was a problem in the area way before digital came along. In Ann Arbor I > was > able to get very good prints made at ridiculous prices because there was a > photographer who was also a truly great color printer. He was also tired of > darkroom work, thus the high prices ($25/8x10 in 1982-85). I was only willing > to > pay that for portfolio prints, of course. To me the most amazing thing about > his > work was his color memory, he could color match a print of something he had > seen > himself several years before to the subject. > > graywolf > http://www.graywolfphoto.com > "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" > ----------------------------------- > > > > > Paul Stenquist wrote: > > I believe that somewhere in the world there may be some enlargers and > > some operators who can make optical prints from 35mm negatives that are > > superior to a good inkjet print from a 6 megapixel image. But even the > > work of the best pro lab in this area isn't up to snuff. I know I can > > print BW from 6x7 with my Schneider Compuron-S that is superior to BW > > from my digital. However 35mm printed with my Nikon 50/2.8 is merely > > comparable, although perhaps more classic because of the grain and > > superior grayscale. However, I can't get a stunning color optical print > > anywhere around here, and Detroit is a city of big studios and > > top-dollar pros. Of course they all shoot digital now, so there's really > > no need for a good optical lab support system. > > > > Yes, I said it was a plastic toy. I was wrong. > > > > On Dec 14, 2004, at 12:02 AM, William Robb wrote: > > > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- From: > >> Subject: Re: Fw: The film is dead > >> > >> > >>> > >>>> The fair comparison is to compare a high quality optical print to > >>>> digital. > >>>> Do that, and yer 6 megapixie dslr starts to look like cheap junk. > >>>> > >>> > >>> Not really. But you can believe that if you want. > >> > >> > >> You have really come to like the little plastic toy haven't you? > >> > >> The guy I share studio space with is a very good custom printer. > >> It is amazing what he can pull from a 35mm negative. > >> > >> Paul, I wouldn't say it if I had any reason to doubt it. > >> > >> William Robb > >> > > > > >
