Thank you, P.J. After learning more about this, I would have to agree with you. It seems like the only lab that would get it right is A&I. While their mailers are a bit expensive, it seems they provide the proper services. What do you think? Also, if I chose their 4x6 with borders, what effect do the borders have upon sizing? I think the borders look nice, but are they inadvisable for the smallish 4x6 size?
Glen On Oct 3, 2007, at 10:20 PM, P. J. Alling wrote: > B&W printed on Color paper is generally a bad idea. That's what you > got > from Wal-Mart. To get the best results, you need to print it one real > silver based B&W paper or scan them and print them yourself. Or you > need > to find a lab that really knows what they're doing to get decent > results > on Color Print paper. > > Glen Tortorella wrote: >> I forgot to ask: is all C-41 processing the same? I ask because on >> my C-41 B&W I had processed at Wal-Mart, some of the whites have a >> bit of a purplish tone. My instinct tells me that this is a result >> of inadequate light in these particular photos...or is C-41 for B&W >> at Wal-Mart just a bad idea? >> >> Thanks, >> Glen >> >> On Oct 3, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Adam Maas wrote: >> >> >>> Try each, settle on whichever produces the better results for you >>> (I'd forgotten the N80 was 1/2 stops only). The flash system in the >>> N80 is essentially identical to the F100 (as is the metering) apart >>> from the F100's selectable exposure stop increments. >>> >>> -Adam >>> >>> >>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>> >>>> Thank you, Adam, for your detailed commentary. Also, I thank >>>> everyone else who has responded--even the fellow who said I should >>>> have bought a Pentax (Dave, I think) :-) >>>> >>>> Adam: I tried dialing-in the -0.7 FEC value you suggest. It seems >>>> the N80 will take only 1/2 increments (-0.5, -1.0, etc.). I do not >>>> see any other way to set it. Is there something I am missing? >>>> Also, >>>> if I am correct about this, would -0.5 be sufficient, or would I be >>>> wasting my time?...or is this just another reason to look into an >>>> F100 (as you have suggested)? >>>> >>>> Glen >>>> >>>> On Oct 3, 2007, at 9:47 AM, Adam Maas wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>> >>>>>> Since I have a new, more "advanced" body, the N80, I tried taking >>>>>> some shots I would have avoided in the past. The results were >>>>>> awful-- >>>>>> not one good shot on the entire role, a miserable 0-for-24 (Kodak >>>>>> Gold 200). >>>>>> >>>>>> In the past, I would avoid two types of shots: 1) indoor shots >>>>>> and 2) >>>>>> outdoor "high sun" shots in the fair weather months (i.e. during >>>>>> the >>>>>> hours of about 10:00-4:00). In doing so, I have assured myself >>>>>> decent, but not necessarily perfect, results. Since the N80 >>>>>> has a >>>>>> better metering system (10-segment) and a pop-up flash that is >>>>>> supposed to be pretty good, I figured: "let me see what it can >>>>>> do." >>>>>> As I have said, the results were dreadful. Here are the main >>>>>> issues. >>>>>> >>>>>> 1) Every indoor flash shot showed at least moderate spotlight/ >>>>>> wash- >>>>>> out effect of the subject (people). >>>>>> >>>>> Dial in -0.7 stops of Flash exposure compensation when shooting >>>>> people with Nikon flashes (including the popup). Leave this >>>>> permanently dialed in. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> 2) On the outdoor "high sun" shots, the camera turned a seemingly >>>>>> minor shadows (through the viewfinder) on the subject's face >>>>>> into a >>>>>> black blobs that covered almost all of the subject's face. >>>>>> >>>>> Add flash, leave the -0.7 stops of FEC dialed in. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> 3) When taking indoor shots with the flash, I would meter (10- >>>>>> segment) something like 1/30 or 1/45 or perhaps 1/60 at, say, f2. >>>>>> With the flash powered up, I do not think it ever metered >>>>>> differently. For example, 1/30 at f/2 was still 1/30 at f/2 >>>>>> with the >>>>>> flash enabled. Is this correct, or is there something wrong >>>>>> with my >>>>>> camera? >>>>>> >>>>> That is correct, the N80 will attempt to balance the exposure >>>>> if it >>>>> can get the shutter between 1/125 and 1/30 or so, with a slight >>>>> bias towards the flash illumination (hence the FEC I >>>>> recommend). If >>>>> you want a pure flash exposure, shoot in manual. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> 4) The one decent shot in the whole role--an indoor shot using >>>>>> only >>>>>> available light...go figure?--was spoiled by some sort of small >>>>>> speck >>>>>> on the subject's face. I usually keep my filter free of dust, >>>>>> etc. >>>>>> Could this speck have appeared as a result of the cheap >>>>>> processing I >>>>>> used (Wal-Mart C-41)? >>>>>> >>>>> Probably. Check your negs. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> I know that using a fill flash may have alleviated the problem >>>>>> expressed in issue number 2, but, since I have had my subjects >>>>>> turn a >>>>>> bit ghastly by using the flash, I am hesitant to use it >>>>>> indoors or >>>>>> outdoors. I would appreciate any advice or commentary (or >>>>>> even pep >>>>>> talk), as I am pretty down about this. What good is a more >>>>>> "advanced" camera if I cannot even come remotely close to >>>>>> satisfactory results on the more difficult shots (i.e. indoor, >>>>>> "high >>>>>> sun," etc.)? >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>> Glen >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Fill flash is your friend, but remember direct flash always >>>>> looks a >>>>> bit ghastly. A (cheap) SB-24 and an SC-17 or SC-28 cord will get >>>>> the flash off-camera with full TTL, and is a much better option. >>>>> >>>>> -Adam >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above >>>>> and follow the directions. >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above >>> and follow the directions. >>> >> >> >> > > > -- > Remember, it’s pillage then burn. > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above > and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
