> I suppose Efke is so totally different from the types of film
> you have used (single layer, high silver content), that
> recalibrating yourself to its use as a standard would be as
> emotionally painful as giving up and going totally digital.
I don't have a problem with going through a recalibration
process. It's just that the time and money spent on doing so
means that I don't want to go through it too often. Materials
alone could mean several hundred dollars. It can take over 100
hours to recalibrate to a new film/developer or paper/developer.
There are a few specialty manufacterers out there that might get
some attention. But my biggest gripe is that as a
semi-commercial lab operation, the primary supplier of my B&W
"System" is letting the world know that they are short-timers.
> I am holding off on making the move. Part of it is for
> economic reasons, as digital printing DOES cost more, A FACT.
For a darkroom with more than one hour per week of use, you are
correct. Sporadic operations cost more due to high waste.
Uncalibrated systems produce even more wastage.
> Putzing around in the darkroom with different developers,
> dilutions, toners, etc., just doesn't have an analogue (pun
> intended) in the digital world. At least it's not nearly as
> cheap.
Sure it does. That's what "Photoshop" is all about. It's
usually much easier to accomplish whatever in PS than in a
chemical darkroom. The look will be different in the end, but
that's due to a differing serindipity.
> Let's not all lose heart quite yet.
Well? Tell me WHY I shouldn't lose heart?
Does ANY other film have the spectral response characteristics
and grain structure of Delta 400? Does ANY other film developer
have the grain minimizing effects with no loss of film speed
like DD-X?
The loss of MGIV will be sad, but it's best for production work
anyway. Maybe Forte and Oriental will stick it out.
Maybe it's time that I start looking into alternative processes
and materials. Screw the production lab and just go "art print"
only. My dirty little secret is that except for film/developer,
I've pretty much been moving away from Ilford for my fine-art
stuff. Currently, I'm cursing Forte...
Anybody interested in a nice condition Crown Graphic?
AG
_______________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|