henry_nelson

We use three scanning methods here at our agency, depending on budget and quality requirements:

1. best - The Hell drum scanner at our service bureau ($129,000!) definitely the best at $98 - $350 per scan, depending on size. The PMT sensor gives the best shadow color and detail, the sharpness is perfect, and the built-in CMYK separation is the best.

 

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2. good - The Leaf 45 scanner ($14,000) This is a CCD scanner that scans film only from 35mm to 4x5. It does not have a drum, it uses Beseler enlarger negative holders and scans negs or transparencies flat in 3 passes. It only does RGB. Separation must be done later in Photoshop. It is the best method we've found for direct scans from color negs, due to the excellent LUTs. Used ones are available from $5000 to $10,000.

 

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3. fair - Making prints and flatbed scanning ($500). Fair quality shadow color and detail. One benefit is that you can color correct, dodge-burn, etc. on the print before you scan. Sharpness is not bad because you can start with a large print.

Here is the physical difference between 120 & 200: 120 and 220 have exactly the same base (the clear "film") and exactly the same emulsion (the photosensitive gelatin coating). The difference is in the backing paper. With 220, it is attached to the ends, but the film itself has no backing behind it. With 120, a single piece of paper backs the whole roll. This is what makes 220 thinner, not the film. This is also why the pressure plate settings must be different, you have to squeeze 220 just a little harder because it's just film, not film and paper. Here are some drawbacks you may wish to consider: 1. 220 is more prone to fog, because there is less black paper to seal the light leaks. 2. The choice of films available in 220 is much more limited than 120. 3. I wouldn't worry too much about 220 being hard for a lab to process, it's about the same length as 35mm 36-exposure film. 4. if you shoot 2 film sizes in the same camera you WILL occasionally put the wrong film in the wrong back, or set your pressure plate wrong. This is the reason I don't use 220.