Re: [APML] OT: Homemade Enlargers( and other film stuff)

[Duncan <dmunro@sfu.ca>]

Brian, I faced the same dilemma a few years back. I did a lot of 
darkroom work in the past and I was considering setting up a darkroom in 
my new house. I had the space but then I began to think about working 
with all the needed chemicals and paper and the hours locked in a dark 
and stuffy room. I considered the shelf life of the chemicals, the 
refrigeration requirements etc, etc. I finally decided that the best mix 
was to develop my own film when necessary and get a fast computer with 
lots of RAM, a decent film scanner and a high quality printer. Today, 
with the availability of high quality, low cost, multi-purpose scanners 
like the Epson 3200 (and 4800), large format printers with archival ink, 
fast CPUs and cheap, high capacity RAM and harddrives, it just doesn't 
make sense to go down the enlarger road.  However, developing film is 
still cost efficient compared to a pure digital system (6X6 film = 
15000+ x 15000+ pixels...) and you still get the fun of teasing 
information out of an analogue recording system.

just my two cents worth...

Duncan Munro

Brian larmay wrote:

>Hi guys, thanks for the feedback..
>I hadnt really known they were that cheap to buy..this
>was just a new curiosity of mine really.
>
>Someone replied offlist and offered me an Omega B22
>enlarger for free...all I have to do is pay for
>shipping.
>
>I really wonder how many people out there still do
>this kind of stuff with the temptation of digital
>quickness.
>Is the digital realm really that quick and satisfying
>or about the same in process and procedure considering
>developing, printing, taking the picture etc? What is
>given up or lost?
>Seems like it would take more time just saving up for
>anything digital, but once you get there, I guess your
>set until it outdates itself.
>I dunno....I havent tried digital to really judge it.
>Im in love with the whole mystique of film based
>photography though and cant seem to entertain the
>thought "much" of switching over.
>Everything is so quick these days ...so incredibly
>digital, it makes me want to step back and say "hey",
>slow down for petes sake", but Im sure Ill get blown
>over if I stay too long by casting my voice to the
>wind.
>
>Anyways, thanks for letting me rant, and for your
>replies.
>Brian
>
>O ..and please .. do not start a war over film vs
>digital.
>
>
>
>  
>
>>In a message dated 2/25/04 5:05:16 PM,
>>power_windows4789@yahoo.com writes:
>>
>><< Has anyone ever heard of using a slide projector
>>as a
>>an enlarger for making prints?
>>
>>Pardon the offtopic,
>>Brian >>
>>
>>Brian:
>>In theory it would work as an enlarger and a slide
>>projector are similiat 
>>but........
>>why go to the trouble?
>>
>>Studios and photographers, having gone 'digital', 
>>are almost giving away 
>>their entire darkrooms and once $1000 enlargers are
>>going for $100.
>>
>>Kent Kirkley
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