They could have kept film alive longer with better scanning at time of processing. The usual 1200dpi gives around a 5M pixel scan with great dynamic range ( each pixel is scanned for each of three colors instead of the RGBG mask which digital cameras use ), but then they compress it into a tiny file onto a CD, perhaps for throughput reasons. Then they charge extra, and often require you to buy prints as well.
I remember when a local lab changed from optical to digital, how they said that it slowed things down, so they don't dare offer higher resolution scans because it'd take too long. These days they could have a digital camera with a macro lens aimed at the film as it went past, and snap a shot every frame almost instantly. It's too bad the cheap places mangle the film and the pro lab charges a dollar a frame. Brian -- Brian Dunn Photographic http://www.bdphotographic.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
