Re: Digital CAMERA Negatives

[Ender100@aol.com]

I shoot with a Nikon F5 & TMaz 100 and scan with an Imacon Scanner at 6300 
pixels per inch.  I also shoot with a Nikon D1X.

I do most  of my printing in an Epson 10000, though I have made both inkjet 
and imagesetter negatives for alt photo.  Below though I am speaking 
primarily from printing digital images from both film and digital camera.  
However, the quaility of the prints should hold through to the quality of the 
digital negatives.

The resolution I get from the scans of TMax is great... and I can print these 
files BIG.  The digital files from the D1X are very nice, since it is a six 
megapixel camera.... and I have no problem making a print from the D1X that 
is 11x14... I am not sure you would be able to tell them apart... 

However, it depends on the subject somewhat.... images with very fine detail 
in them, like most scenics, fall short of expectations.  Other images, can 
sometimes surprise you with the D1X image looking sharper and smoother than 
you would expect.

I think because the D1X is a first generation image (no scanning step in 
between) it can sometimes (with the right lighting circumstances) be almost 
totally noise free—especially if you rate the camera at ISO 125 rather than 
ISO 3200.  This helps a lot because the files can be upsized and still look 
good...  I have made prints from the D1X at 100 ppi resolution and they look 
amazingly good.

Sooo.... after all this babbling... it depends on what you are looking for... 
I think you will be happy with smaller prints made from digital negatives out 
of the Coolpix 995....it's a good camera.  It also depends on what "look" you 
want in your final print... experiment with it and tell us what you think  :)

Mark Nelson
In a message dated 5/24/02 2:39:38 PM, heathmg@hotmail.com writes:

<< I've just read Dan Burkholder's past review of the Coolpix 995, which he 
said became his new "carry everywhere" camera.  It happens to be my 
carry-everywhere camera too, and I've wondered how much experience list 
members have had making digital negatives and alt prints directly from 3 
megapixel digital files.  Are there any examples on the Web?  I've seen a 
lot of posts involving digital negs in general, but most people seem to be 
using hi-quality scanned files.  I've purchased Dan's excellent book and 
hope to make my own tests soon. >>